Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-07
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Thomas, Murderer Of Mrs, Geeter, Insist
BE Loved Her.
WOMAN REFUSED 70 LEAVE HER FAMILY
Amos Gates, an Honored Pioneer In
Nebraska and Banker Mt south
Omaha, Dies Mt Age of
seventy-Six.

! It shot her because I loved her" was
the statement made by John X Thomas
to Chief Briggs and Captain Shields while
/ these two officers were taking the negro
/ to the county Jail Saturday night after
he had killed Mrs. Edmond Geeter. Going
on with his talk. Thomas asserted that
he was so infatuated with Mrs. Geeter
that he wanted her to leave her husband
and two children and go away with him.
! When she refused on Saturday night he
| fired four bullets into her body which
| caused death.
| Thomas further stated that he saw
Briggs and Shields head him off when he
was headed for Sarpy Mills and doubled
| on HIS tracks and started north through
the fields near the Burlington tracks.
| When near L street he lay in a bunch
of weeds for about twenty minutes and
for fear Of being located he started to
change from one weed patch to another,
when he was pounced on by Gus Hughes,
Officers Morton, Tangeman and Todd.
The remains Of Mrs. Geeter are at
Brewers morgue. Coroner Bradley made
an investigation Sunday and announced
that he would hold an inquest at 2 o clock
this afternoon. The police have located
a half dozen witnesses and want a few
more before the inquest comes of.
The mother of Mrs. Geeter who lives at
| Clarks, Neb.. has been notified and is ex-
pected to arrive today
When Mrs. Geeter died and the coroner
was notified, the husband of the woman
| refused to permit the coroner to have the
body, but he gave in when told that he
| would be arrested IL he persisted in his
| refusal.
Pioneer Passes Away.
more at o'clock Sunday morning. The
funeral will be held on Tuesday forenoon
at 10 o'clock at Union church, Rev. c. w.
Savage of Omaha officiating. Interment
| will be at Bailey cemetery The deceased
had been a resident of Nebraska for fifty
years, and many of the old-timers in the
state will be surprised to learn of his
death
Mr.. Gates was born at West Jefferson
O., on September g. 1929, and was educated
at the West Jefferson academy. He mar
ried Samantha Arnett in 1852 and moved
to Muscatine, Ia, where he remained for
three years, moving to Sarpy county in
1855. Six times Mr.. Gates was elected to
the state legislature and was was a men,
ber Of the legislature when Nebraska was
admitted to the union.
OF eight children born to Mr.. and Mrs
Gates, seven are living. They are Mrs
Mary e. LIlley, Anna E. Gladhill. Maggie
b. Trumble, j. NJ. Gates, Charles f. Gates,
Ruth NJ. Daniel, all OF Sarpy county and
E. c. Gates of South Omaha.
For years past the deceased has been
heavy stockholder in and one of the
directors of the Packers National bank
OF late years Mr.. Gates has been troubled
great deal with rheumatism and his
death is attributed to the frequent severe
attacks.
kntchama Getting Better,
Mike Katchama, who is supposed to have
been thrown from the L street viaduct Sat
urday night and was expected to die be-
fore Sunday morning, is still living and
DR.. koutsky now expects that he will re-
cover. When DR.. Koutsky left the hospital
sunday afternoon he said that when Katch-
anna came out of his stupor he asked for
something to drink and for food.
The police are still investigating the case
and assert that at least one witness can be
produced to show that the man was thrown
over the viaduct to the tracks below Blood
stains are found on the footwalk, the rail-
ing and on the ground below the bridge
where Katchama was found. The blood
most likely came from several wounds on
Katchama's body. which were caused by
the breaking of a window during the fight
outside of Rozewicke's saloon
Carnival Grounds Opened.
Sunday portion of the fencing surround
ing the carnival grounds was taken down
and the streets closed temporarily are now
, open. The Parker Amusement company got
away early Sunday morning for Fremont
A great deal of refuse was left on the
grounds and 1t is expected that Mayor
Koutsky will put some of the street force
to work today cleaning up Work is tc
start at once removing the fencing. While
the Workmen Carnival club did not make
much money the exact amount will not be
Known until the bills are audited
Union Pacihc station.
General Manager Mohler of the Union
Pacific has had blue prints prepared show.
= ing the size of the passenger station to be
erected in South Omaha. Since the com
pany has completed the deal for the pur
chase of the triangle plans for the building
will now be made. 1t is reported in Soutf
Omaha that work is to start soon on tn,
building of this station and the rearrange
= ment Of tracks in the yards.
Look for Injunction Today
This evening is the date set for the open
ing of bids by the city council for thu
paving of Twenty-fourth street from A Z
Q street AS previously stated in tn
, press injunction is to be served tha
will put stop TO the letting OF contract.
until there is a hearing in the distric
a | court. Councilman Adkins said last even
ing that he expected that the injunction
4 would be served today and City ATTORNEY
Lambert has been notified that the pro
$ ceedings will be started this forenoon.
= Aside from some sidewalk matters Their
e is little to be done tonight and the meet
ing may be a short one.
May Elect JanitOrs.
There Is a possibility that when tn
Board Of Education meets tonight in reg
q ular monthly session the question Of elect
ing Janitors will come up. The publi
a schools open on September 5 and Janitor
are generally elected a few weeks befor
!, the opening. Teachers are to be assignee
S before long, but Superintendent McLeai
will hardly complete his list Of assignment
e before the middle OF the month or pos
+. siblg later.
Magic City Gossip.
l. The few prisoners sent to the street gan
are engaged In cutting weeds these days.
r Rev. DR.. Gorst conducted services at tn
First Methodist Episcopal church las
10 evening.
Work will be resumed today in an al
n tempt 70 open the Railroad avenue san
tary sewer.
2 South Omaha was unusually quiet Sun
day, but there enough doing SatuI
l. day niAht to last for few days