The Way It Was

100 years ago:

Postmaster appointment 'topic of the hour'

The Nevada postmaster appointment is still the topic of the hour and new candidates continue to be reported, the last two names mentioned being Dr. Bargesser and Assistant Postmaster Keck. The plan to decide the contest by the primary method seems to be gaining headway. In fact, it is quite likely that a primary will be ordered by the City Central Committee. It has been reported that possibly one or two applicants will not be satisfied with a primary and may continue their fight for the appointment after the primary is held.

75 years ago:

American Legion Drum Corps in Kansas City today

About 100 persons went to Kansas City on the morning train to attend the Royal Stock Show and many others went by automobile. Among those who left on the morning Missouri Pacific train were Col. John Welty, H.L. Webel, Mrs. R.C. Williams, Mrs. H.L. Lang, Mrs. Marie Williams, Mrs. Barney Bacon, Mrs. Robert Box and Capt. Alva Diehr of Nevada and Mr. and Mrs. Homer McDaniel and daughters, Misses France and Ruth, of Badger township. The American Legion Drum Corps also went to Kansas City on the morning train to participate in the Royal Stock Show parade this afternoon and to give an exhibition drill tonight. While in Kansas City the drum corps will be the guest of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

50 years ago:

Defendant in rape case makes his plea to jury

The 12-man jury which has been hearing the second trial of the State vs. James Burl Johnson on rape charges, hold the fate of Johnson this afternoon after receiving instructions from Circuit Judge O.O. Brown.

The jury began its deliberations at 1 p.m., after hearing three days of testimony in the stormy trail climaxed by stammering plea to the 12 men in the jury box this morning by Johnson in his own behalf.

Johnson is specifically charged with the forcible rape of four Lamar women on the night of Jan. 10-11, north of Lamar. In June 1953, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison but last spring the Supreme Court ruled that there were irregularities present in the first trial and ordered a retrial.