Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-12
MORE WINTER WHEAT SOWN
Several Counties Report an Increase of One
Half in the Acreage.
CONDITION OF THE CROP FIRST CLASS
Governor savage Hears Argument In
Favor of william Rhea, who IL
Under Sentence 60 Hang
on April 20.
CFrom a stan CORRESPONDENT

NEIoh n ONdH correspondent |
LINCOLN. April 11.-(Specia deputy
Labor Commissioner Watson has received
reports from reliable sources in nearly all
Of the winter wheat counties in Nebraska
and with but few exceptions all say that
the acreage Of the grain this year is
greater than a year ago and that the pros
poets for a good crop are unusually en-
couraging. Only two counties reported a
decrease. Several OF the counties show an
increase Of over so per cent over last years
acreage and Buffalo county heads the list
with an increase Of 200 per cent. The Buff
falo county report was received from d. T.
Phillips. a real estate dealer. He said he
found on Investigation that some farmers
sowed Ave times as much wheat as the
year before.
The counties reporting an increase in
acreage over last year we're: Adams, Buff
falo, Cass. Clay. Colfax. Fillmore. Frank
lin, Gage. Gosper. Hall, Hamilton, Harlan,
Howard, Jefferson. Kearney. Lancaster.
Lincoln. Merrick, Nemaha. Nuekolls. otoe,
Pawnee. Polk. Phelps. Red Willow. Rich
ardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward. Thayer,
Webster and York.
A slight decrease in acreage was reported
by Frontier and Hitchcock counties. while
Johnson county was said to have the same
acreage as a year ago.
Prospects for the Crop.
In response to the inquiry, as prospect
as good as in years past at this timer
replies we're as follows: Affirmative
Adams. Frontier, Gosper, Hall, Harlan,
Hitchcock. Howard. jefferson. Johnson.
Kearney, Lincoln. Merrlck.' Nemaha. Muck
oils. Pawnee, Phelps, Polk, Richardson.
Saline, Saunders, Seward. Thayer, Web
ster.
These counties reported that never had
the prospects been better: Buffalo. Kear-
ney, Otoe Red Willow. Conditions were
reported slightly unfavorable In Butler,
Cass. Fillmore, Franklin, Gage and York.
The next question asked was, Has crop
suffered from lack Of molsture?' and the
replies have been classified as follows: No
Adams, Buffalo. Frontier, Hall, Harlan,
Howard. Jefferson, Kearney, Lincoln, Mer-
rick, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe. Pawpee.
Phelps REQ Willow. Richardson, Saline,
Saunders. Seward. Buffalo did prior to
April s, when rain fell; Cass, somewhat;
Fillmore. yes. very materially; Franklin.
very little; Gage, slightly; Gosper. in
some places injured by freezing of late
sown; Hamilton, slightly; Hitchcock. also
from wind: Johnson, rather dry; Lancaster,
somewhat; Thayer, in places; Webster,
very little; York. need rain at once.
Rhea's Friends Ask C~lemency.
Governor Savage today listened to argu-
ments for executive clemency In behalf Of
William Rhea, who is under sentence to be
executed at the penitentiary on April 20
for the murder OF Herman Zahn, a saloon
keeper In Snyder, about a year ago. In
the morning Rhea's three attorneys, George
w. Loomis and W.. J. Courtright Of Free
mont and George A. Adams Of this city, APP
peared before the governor and pleaded for
mercy, and this afternoon Mrs. Callen
Thompson of this city had an interview
} with the governor on the same mission.
t Mrs. Thompson has been circulating a petit
ton among the women Of the city and up
to noon today had obtained several hundred
n signatures.
The attorneys call attention to the fact
I that Rhea, when the murder was com
o mitted, was in the company Of older men,
= They insist that he is only 10 years Of age
= and that under the conditions existing al
the time Of the murder was unable to dis
d tingulsh the difference between right and
g wrong. or that he was Influenced by the
d older men to do that which he would mo-
y have done had he been alone. Mr.. Court
[ right. who is the governors cousin. was re-
= tanned in the case yesterday and today mad
II his FIRST effort in behalf Of the condemned
Q man.
e Governor Savage took the case undei
a advisement but minated that a decision
e would not be given for several days. TIT
d governor expects to visit Mr.. Courtrigh
e in Fremont tomorrow and Sunday and 1t Il
Is not likely that the decision will be an
nounced until next week.
N Following the decree OF the court Clerl
Herdman has issued a mandate. directe'
h to Warden Davis, commanding him to exc
cute the sentence OF Rhea on the day hxe'
Is by the court. April 25, between the hour
OF IL a. m. and 3 p. m. The last section
Of this document. which is the first one is
sued to the warden under the new law
reads as follows;
Now. therefore, this is to command yo
TO proceed to carry said sentence into ex
10 ecution within the walls OF said pentten
h tiary, upon a gallows therein erected, unde
your supervision. so as 10 exclude IN
= TO be present az provided by law. and tina
on said Friday. April 20, you cause tn
10 said William Rhea to be taken to said plac
hanged by the neck until he IS dead. Q
turn of this warrant 10 the clerk of sal
D. district court of Dodge county, wherei
rs said sentence was pronounced.
-" warning to
~ stat Veterinarian W. A. Thomas has is
&c sued the following notice:
10 | wish to call attention OF stockmen I
y. the disease known as itch or mango /
TO cattle. which has become very widespread
"A IN the range portion OF our state, This
iu "a contagious PARASITIC disease and accorC
re ing to our state law Il is a misdemeano
es 10 harhor IL
A large number OF dipping plants haV
ch been erected at great expense for the pul
is pose OF exterminst ting this disease. n
one having cattle so diseased should ia
this spring to treat them so as to destro
said disease. Assistant veterinarians wi
AZ be put in the field 20 render all possib
" service in the work.
Fremont Militia Gets KraEs.
Fifty Krag-Jorgensen rines were sent Il
day as a portion Of the equipment Of Il
engineering and signal corps recently o.
ganized at Fremont. This Is the hrst col