Each week we’ll take a step back into the history of Great Bend through the eyes of reporters past. We’ll reacquaint you with what went into creating the Great Bend of today, and do our best to update you on what “the rest of the story” turned out to be.

In November of 1914, Pope Benedict XV called for peace in Europe, calling the Great War “the suicide of Europe.”  His request was not heeded.  
War reports from Europe made the front page every day of the week this week in 1914.  Great Bend braced itself for the imposition of war taxes, and was relieved to learn they weren’t too much to bear.  They then turned their attention to how they could help.  The flour mills of Barton County provided the answer with an urgent request for donations of wheat to aid the people of Belgium, who found themselves without, displaced by the ongoing battles between the Germans and the Allies.  
American farmers had benefitted from the increased demand for their grain since the onset of the war.  “We appeal to the farmers in the name of brother farmers in distress, whose misfortunes have enhanced the price of their products to give liberally and quickly.”
The editors of the Tribune added their words of encouragement.  
“The local mills are working in co-operation with Millers of America whose purpose it is to send 45,000 barrels of flour to that European nation.  Both France and Germany, while engaged in the war, have money and plenty to eat and their homes generally are intact, but the neutral Belgians are without food; without money and without homes.  A worthier cause to which you may make contributions will not be found and the project has received the commendation and support of both Germany and the Allies.  The wheat will be miled in this country and shipped in 24 pound sacks.”
The state arranged for a Kansas representative to accompany a ship carrying 50,000 barrels of wheat to Belgian on Dec. 1, and asked area newspapers to give the matter prominent publicity.  Readers were implored to do their parts to meet the goal.  
It was part of a greater mission, organized and led by a young, 30-something Herbert Clark Hoover, called the Commission for Relief in Belgium (CRB).  According to a story by biographer George H. Nash on The National Archives website,
“It had its own flag, it negotiated “treaties” with the warring European powers, and its leaders parleyed regularly with diplomats and cabinet ministers in several countries. It even had a “pirate” leader in Hoover, who enjoyed price controls, agricultural production, to contend with combatant governments and with world shortages of food and ships, was mercifully hidden from us.”  
The CRB would continue for four years, find a billion dollars, transport five million tons of concentrated food, and administer rationing.  After the war was over, Hoover, of course, went on to become the 31st President of the United States.  

Triple murder sensation
In September, readers learned of the murders of more than one of the family members of the Morgan family of neighboring Heizer.  Mr. Lee Morgan, his housekeeper Mayme McQuillen, and a hired boy, Clarence McGugin of Enid, Okla., were all murdered, presumably for cash the killer had anticipated Morgan would have on his person.  In the end, it turned out Morgan did not have the cash, and the killer left empty handed.
A local boy, 21 year old Tommy White of Great Bend, confessed to the murder of his former employer and family friend and associates.  He also implicated another young man, Lou McCurley, also from Okla., who had recently left the area and was tracked to northern Iowa.  The young man was picked up, and so began the nightmare which was finally resolved two months later.  
Tommy White admitted he lied about the young man’s involvement, and the confession once again was heralded in bold type, the story taking up the entire front page of the November 12, 1914 Great Bend Tribune, and continued further into the paper.
McCurley had repeatedly declared his innocence from the time he was captured, as he waited for trial, according to the Nov. 12, 1914 Tribune.  
“But it is not to be.  The trial will probably not be had, and Lou McCurley, instead of facing a jury charged with first degree murder will doubtless step forth a free man and join his anxious parents in a rare Thanksgiving feast.
“For Tommy White has made a second confession and in this he takes upon himself the entire responsibility for the brutal crime and exonerates McCurley.”
White’s second written confession appeared on page one.  
“My reason for implicating Lou McCurley in my original confession was revenge,” he said.  While the two had planned to do it together, McCurley had a change of heart, and White did the job alone.
“When it was over I made up my mind to make Lou McCurley divide the guilt with me for I felt that he had betrayed me and was the cause of the crime being committed... I feel that I was in this awful fix because of him but I can not send him to prison for an act which I alone committed.”
White was described the next day as showing no emotion during sentencing, and many observers still could not believe that he had acted completely alone.

On Nov. 17, it was reported White received a life sentence with hard labor at Lansing Penitentiary, and McCurley was released as there was no evidence to hold him.  All charges were dropped, albeit reluctantly, by the county attorney.  
“People do not profess any belief that he is the guilty man, but that Tommy White is shielding someone...What the public does want to know, who is the other guilty man?”

On Nov. 18, the Tribune reported about the suspicions of the Reno County sheriff who cross-examined both White and McCurley over the two months they were held in the Reno County jail.  
“It will all come out later,” said Murry.  “It will be proven that White is shielding another.  He had an accomplice in that crime.”
The story, as far as we can tell, however, ends there.  Keep in mind, however, that Lee Morgan had an estranged wife.  His housekeeper, it turns out, was his sister-in-law.  He was due to receive over $7,500 dollars that day for the sale of over 7,000 bushels of wheat, but the check didn’t come in.  He died with several acres of land, plenty of personal assets, and a life insurance policy of $8,000 made out to his wife and her sister.  We were unable to find news about his wife, however.  Presumably she found some comfort from her inheritance.


Suicide in the county
On Nov. 14, it was reported that Ray Rathbun, 23, a farmer of northern Barton County, “...committed suicide by turning a gun into his mouth last evening.”
He had said goodbye to his half-sister and housekeeper, and headed to town with his mule team.  When his brothers came home, and he had not returned, they went to to find him.  It was reported that they found the team in the yard.
“The brothers started out in search of him and about nine o’clock they discovered his lifeless body near a straw stack about a quarter of a mile from the house.
“No motive is known for the act and the only clew is a note that was discovered beside the body.  The writing could not be deciphered other than the one word “love.”
A few days later, a follow up story revealed the suicide was likely not motivated by love.
A correspondent from that part of the county sent a letter to the Tribune explaining the note was not blurred, and did not mention the word “love.”
“Since returning from his service in the army Ray lived with is brother Carl and half sister, Elsie Prindle, on the homestead.  This summer he rented the Jim Susank farm and put most of it in what and was preparing to move to the place Friday.  He had told his brother Carl that he wanted him to help him move his stuff...but Carl did not return until later that evening...and found Ray gone.  
Carl found his brother with the revolver in his hand, and called for help from the doctor from Hoisington, and some neighbors.  The coroner confirmed the death was a suicide.  A note was found on the body which read, “I do not want anyone to shed tears over me.”  It also said, “Little girl, I now do and always have thought the world of you both.  Let them think what they like.”  It is supposed that he referred to his brother and sister in the note.  One of the neighbors for whom Ray worked a number of years ago says that he was a sober, industrious young man, a hard worker and a friend to be desired.  His reputation had always been excellent and the motive for the suicide would probably always remain a mystery.”