However, Trognitz found four of the Bickel five dollar bills in the end of his spectacle case, and some silver in his pockets.

The papers headlined a story of "cowboy Sheriff arrests a preacher." Two days later Cashier Stone of Sioux City Savings Bank, arrived and identified Benton, as a swindler named Simpson. His method was to get part cash on a large draft, drop his c!ergyman"s attire, and don the garb of a tramp until well out of the community. He was also wanted at Central City. Sheriff Trognitz received one thousand dollars reward.

First Celebration of the Fourth

The first Fourth of July celebration held at Sidney in 1877, was at the same time the first event of the kind held in the Panhandle of Nebraska. An extensive and interesting story of this affair, which lacked the hampering espionage customary in older communities, is told by the Sidney Telegraph of July 7, 1877. American humor was a part and parcel of the young west, as evidenced by high lights of the narrative.

"The National salute of one hundred and one guns was fired by Sidney's battery at sunrise. Let it be stated, for once, that more than a hundred shots were fired in Sidney without in a< ' ident."

"Fitzpatrick was ruled out of the greasedpole climbing contest because of his great length. He was too near the top of the "pole :ii the start."

"C K. Allen came within an ace of plucking

immon, but just as he was reaching