Mrs. Fulton and her sister had run out of the house but he followed them around the house and Mrs. Fulton emptied the contents of her purse -- which was little enough -- into his hand. He then went to Wellington Clark's place and told of the killing. He was arrested and at first the case was called at Sidney where a continuance was granted. The trial came on after Scotts Bluff county was organized. Heist & Rayner conducted the defense and the prisoner got off with twenty-three years. He was released some years later on the insanity dodge and he and his family utterly faded out of sight.

THE STORY OF IRRIGATION

The part played by irrigation in the North Platte valley marked its wondrous development. Without irrigation the county prosperity would still be large like the rest of western Nebraska, but the added insurance provided by the network of canals that spread over the county, has made it indeed a garden spot -- a paradise clone in seventeen shades of green.

Francis Parkman tells us that in 1847, there were some Mexicans at Fort Laramie, who were trying to raise gardens by irrigation, but with indifferent success. Since then climatic and soil conditions must have changed, for the application of water by irrigation to the same lands today, brings marvelous result.

The first dry farming in western Nebraska, as heretofore stated, was by Otto Baumgarten, at the Shiedley ranch near Big Springs. He raised some vegetables on a plat plowed upon an island, but this had the benefits of sub-irrigation. The extraordinary showing that vegetables would grow well was not encouraged by the ranchmen, who foresaw the end of the open range, if such evidence was to be put before the homeseekers.