Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-02-18

Members of the 1904 graduation
class OF the Vermillion high schoo
nave rented clubroom which will be
used for class meetings, debates anc
social events. The class numbers
twenty-eight.
Godfrey Bechard, one Of the pio
neers OF Jefferson. is dead of cancer
OF the stomach at the home of hi.
son, Alonzo Bechard. Mr.. Bechart
was born at 1berville. in Lower Can
ada, Nov. II, 1884, and with his fam
lily came to Jefferson in 1872. where
he resided up TO the time Of his death
Mr.. Bechard was one of the wealth.
men. OF this vicinity aud leaves 400
acre sof land and other property,
An examination Of the records OF
The United States land office in Aber
deem shows that only one tree claim
remains in the district upon which
hnal proof has not been made. The
district embraces the counties OF
Brown, Mcpherson, Edmunds, Wal
worth and Campbell. Many fine groves
of trees were the result Of The tree
claim law, the claimants generally
making q success of the planting.
The first semester OF the state uni
yersity for 10000 has closed. The at
tendance thus far has been satisfac
tory, and with the new students who
arrive the enrolment will probably be
40. The Institution is doing NOTHING
in the way of athletics this winter
having no suitable place to practice
basketball or indoor baseball. Ath
letes will soon be getting IN shape for
the spring track meets
The contract has been let for the
carving of mail between Fort Pierre
and White River. This is line which
the people along White River have
long desired. Up to the present, mail
for the Offices along that stream LAS
been obliged to make a circuit by way
OF Huron, Mitchell and Chamberlain
to reach point not more than thirty
miles from Fort Pierre. The new line
will give direct communication.
Deputy Sheriff Gilman of Potter
county, Texas, came to Britton and
took into custody Ebert D. Lutz, who
is wanted at Amarillo, Tex, to answer
certain charges. Lutz came here only
day or two prior to the officers ar
rival. 1t seems that Lutz had identi.
fed a person having check for over
$4,000 at bank there. The person
identified was not the rightful owner
of the check, and, as the bank had ad,
vanced 5000 upon it, Lut2's presence
is now desired in Amarillo. 1t is
thought that Iutz left Amarillo in
company with the forger, and possibly
can give information as to the latter's
Whereabouts.
State Supt. Nash has selected his
board OF examiners for the next meet
ing Of the board to pass upon papers
Of teachers who take the spring exah,-
nations The board is called to meet
on March %, and consists Of e. L..
Biederstaedt, Madison; o. e. Brown,
Mount Vernon; G. A. Clark, Yankton;
Maud r. Carter, Pierre; w. P. Dun
levy, Pierre; Margaret Duthie, Miller;
G. H. Ellingson, Canton; G. A. Fry,
Mitchell; S. G. Hartranft, Aberdeen;
Ida P. Hatch, Pierre; B. M. Harden
brook, Marion Junction; c. F. Koehler,
Aberdeen; c. T. King, Bryant; Eva M.
Lange, Pierre; Emma Nelson. Onida;
M. NJ. Ramer, Milbank; G. J. Schel-
lenger Selby; NJ. M. Guhin, Eureka.
Although he is the owner Of $50
IS, IL e., u =,
property, descendant of tie Morse
kings named Oscar Berkland finds
himself a prisoner at Sioux Falls, with
several serious charges against him.
Since August last scores of officers
have been on the watch for him. but
no trace was found until his unex-
pected appearance in Sioux Falls
Chief Of Police Martin to the sheriff
OF Lyon county, Iowa, by whom the
prisoner was taken to Rock Rapids,
where he will be tried. He was also
wanted by the authorities OF Lincoln
county, this state. He will be tried at
Rock Rapids for two separate crimes,
both Of them serious ones. One day
last August Berkland became involved
in difficulty with 4 Lyon county
farmer named John Rasmussen. After
severely beating Rasmussen and
breaking several OF his ribs. and 9th
erwise mutilating him. he is said to
have proceeded to the Rasmussen
home, where he is alleged to have
committed criminal assault on Mrs,
Rasmussen.