Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-31
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
OOronsrs Jury Returns Verdict Of Suicide in
Randall Frazier Case.
STREET sQUATTERS CANNOT GET TITLE
Police omcers on sharp Lookout for
Bank Robbers-Last smallpox Pa
tient Leaves Hospital
Magic City Gossip.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon
over the remains Of Randall Frazier, and
the Jury, after hearing the evidence. re-
turned a verdict Of suicide. Arrangements
are being made with Undertaken Brewer
for the removal Of the remains to Wayne,
Neb., for interment. Frazier, It appears
from the testimony. had been Respondent
Tor some time and lack Of funds to meet
running expenses worried him greatly. on
the afternoon OF the affair Frazier called
at his barber shop and secured possession
of his cup and brush, saying that he was
lgoing awey. He,t then stepped into a saloon
and paid a bill amounting to IS cents and
stated there that he was going away. Sew
eral other little accounts we're settled and
then Frazier purchased a bottle Of car
lbolic acid and went home and drank the
contents of the vial.
Years ago the deceased was one Of the
fbest known cattle men in the state and was
lconsidered we'll fixed. Through speculation
he lost the money he had made and saved.
aside from assurances in a couple Of lodges.
he left his family practically without
funds. Frazier was a member Of the
Woodmen and the Workmen at Wayne,
tNeb., and it is at the request of the mem
Tbers OF these lodges that the remains will
be sent to Wayne for interment
There was little testimony OF Importance
introduced at the inquest, as the coroner
from the start understood that death had
lbeen caused by the taking of carbollc acid.
Cannot Secure Title.
City Attorney Murdoch has declared that
he proposes to go after squatters at once.
or at leab as soon as the weather will
permit Of squatters moving without injury
to the health OF families. A statement was
made In The Bee a day or two ago to the
effect that those living on streets or alleys
for a period of ten years or more would
acquire title to the ground. This was the
law the former city attorneys worked
under. but II now appears that by an act
OF the legislature OF two years ago title
cannot be acquired on any dedicated street
or alley by squatters. Such title may b2
acquired by the consent of the mayor and
city council, but not by adverse possession.
This places the matter in an entirely Diff
ferent light and the only thing that can be
done now will be to 20 ahead and demand
leases from those who now occupy city
property. An effort will be made to have
the engineer and the city attorney go over
this matter together in order that the mat
ter may be Strengthened out, with the least
expense possible to the city.
Looking for Suspects.
The South Omaha police are on the look
out for bank robbers Just now. 1t has
been rumored in police circles that the
gang operating in this vicinity is making
a harbor OF South Omaha ind that when a
trick is turned they make a run for cover
here. Chief Briggs is having a special
watch kept and all suspicious characters
are being put through an examination.
There seems to be no fear Of any of the
South Omaha banks being robbed, as the
system of protection appears to be perfect,
but the chief has detailed special officers
to look out for suspicious characters here.
No smallpox Here.
Yesterday DR.. Sapp. the city physician.
discharged the third patient at the Emer-
gency hospital and now the city is free
from smallpox. The isolation of the three
cases reported here so far this winter has,
1t is stated. tended to decrease the num-
Der OF cases. Every effort is being made
by the health department to prevent tho
sending of cases from other points to this
city. While last year at this time the city
had several hundred cases, the number has
fallen so low this year that hardly any
comment is made. So far the city has been
enabled to get along with only a light ex-
'penditure as compared with one year and
two years ago.
school Addition Completed.
At noon yesterday the two-room addition
10 the Albright school was completed, and
the work was turned over by the con.
tractors to the school district. 1t is un.
derstood that on Monday these rooms will
be occupied by pupils. While these two
rooms will help out the southeastern par
of the city, there is still a demand for ad'
ditional room. The proposed additional
room in the Brown park district will not
have to be rented now, but more room IL
still needed in the locality south of c
street.
Railroad ORciaIs Visit.
Superintendent Baxter Of the Union Pa.
cihc and a party of officials visited soutl
Omaha yesterday afternoon. The part!
came down from Omaha In a private car
and looked over the stock yards and som,
Of the packing plants. The visit OF tn,
Union Pacific officials here revived tn,
story OF the construction OF a viaduc
across the tracks. but il was stated b!
those who are in a position to know ina
there was nothing OF the kind in contem
plation, just at this time at least.
Need CrOssvaIk.
For a long time the memoers OF IN,
First Presbyterian church have been petit
tionlng for a new cross walk at Twenty
fifth and J streets. The wash OF the hill
and the travel north and south soon wear
out a walk, and now a new one is badl
needed. Thu last walk was laid there whel
DR.. Ensor was mayor. and 1t is SO 10
gone that those attending church ca
hardly find II, especially II the tempera
ture happens to be above the freezing point
It is stated by those who claim to kno,
that the cost OF a new walk will be slight
and as there Is lumber on hand now