Soapweed
Well-known member
From THE GORDON JOURNAL Wednesday, August 16, 1972
Sheriff seeks Makovicka; 489 cattle stolen from Eli (Nebraska) rancher. The Saunders county sheriff is seeking a 43-year-old man for questioning in connection with the disappearance of 489 head of cattle that he was feeding for an Eli man.
Alfred Makovicka, a farmer from Ithaca, Nebraska was being paid by Ronald C. Snyder of Eli to feed and care for 489 head of cattle this past winter, according to Sheriff Joe Divis. Makovicka had been pasturing cattle for Snyder since 1968, Divis noted. Makovicka leased cornfields, etc. during the winter for the cattle to feed on.
Early in April this year, Snyder contacted the sheriff's office. He reported that he had come to see his cattle and that he could find neither the cattle nor Makovicka.
An investigation ensued. It was discovered that some of the cattle had been sold in December, some in January, and others in February. Snyder said that Makovicka had called him in January and asked for a portable corral to be used in moving the cattle to another feeding area. He reported that he had brought the corral to Makovicka. When he returned in April to see how the cattle were doing, they were gone.
Further investigation revealed that pens at the Omaha Stockyards had been rented to hold some of the cattle. An advertisement was published in a newspaper offering cattle for sale as the owner had lost his pasture, Divis indicated.
All but about 30 head of the cattle have been accounted for, the sheriff said. Most of them were found in Missouri and Kansas, he noted. Some skeletons were found in a creek and several dead cattle from the herd were traced to rendering plants. Several head died because of the poor condition of the cattle, Divis explained.
A large number of the cattle were located through two trucking firms. They had been contracted to haul the livestock into Kansas and Missouri, Divis pointed out.
A married couple at Wakeeney, Kansas had purchased 203 head of the cattle, using a big share of their savings. They turned them over to authorities when they were told that they were stolen. A total of 198 head of cattle were recovered, Divis said. Four had died and another did not have sufficient brand to be identified positively as Snyder's, the sheriff explained. The Wakeeney residents had paid over $50,000 for the cattle.
Another 42 head were found at another ranch. The owner had written checks for more than $10,000, Divis pointed out. After that, the cattle were sold in smaller number, he said.
Jack Middleton, a Nebraska brand inspector from Aurora, played a large role in the recovery of the cattle, Divis said. He checked the brands on the cattle and identified those that belonged to Snyder.
The sheriff said he was not sure exactly how much money was involved in the selling of the cattle. Some of them had been sold several times before they were recovered, he explained, and there are still 30 not accounted for. An investigation is still being conducted, he said. "The whole thing is unbelievable," Divis said.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Makovicka for suspicion of embezzlement. His whereabouts at the present time are unknown, the sheriff explained.
Divis said that he is not certain how long Makovicka had lived in the Ithaca area. He did have a farm sale November 29, 1971. He sold 315 acres of land, machinery, and improvements on property four miles south of Wahoo, five miles east, and another mile south.
Sheriff seeks Makovicka; 489 cattle stolen from Eli (Nebraska) rancher. The Saunders county sheriff is seeking a 43-year-old man for questioning in connection with the disappearance of 489 head of cattle that he was feeding for an Eli man.
Alfred Makovicka, a farmer from Ithaca, Nebraska was being paid by Ronald C. Snyder of Eli to feed and care for 489 head of cattle this past winter, according to Sheriff Joe Divis. Makovicka had been pasturing cattle for Snyder since 1968, Divis noted. Makovicka leased cornfields, etc. during the winter for the cattle to feed on.
Early in April this year, Snyder contacted the sheriff's office. He reported that he had come to see his cattle and that he could find neither the cattle nor Makovicka.
An investigation ensued. It was discovered that some of the cattle had been sold in December, some in January, and others in February. Snyder said that Makovicka had called him in January and asked for a portable corral to be used in moving the cattle to another feeding area. He reported that he had brought the corral to Makovicka. When he returned in April to see how the cattle were doing, they were gone.
Further investigation revealed that pens at the Omaha Stockyards had been rented to hold some of the cattle. An advertisement was published in a newspaper offering cattle for sale as the owner had lost his pasture, Divis indicated.
All but about 30 head of the cattle have been accounted for, the sheriff said. Most of them were found in Missouri and Kansas, he noted. Some skeletons were found in a creek and several dead cattle from the herd were traced to rendering plants. Several head died because of the poor condition of the cattle, Divis explained.
A large number of the cattle were located through two trucking firms. They had been contracted to haul the livestock into Kansas and Missouri, Divis pointed out.
A married couple at Wakeeney, Kansas had purchased 203 head of the cattle, using a big share of their savings. They turned them over to authorities when they were told that they were stolen. A total of 198 head of cattle were recovered, Divis said. Four had died and another did not have sufficient brand to be identified positively as Snyder's, the sheriff explained. The Wakeeney residents had paid over $50,000 for the cattle.
Another 42 head were found at another ranch. The owner had written checks for more than $10,000, Divis pointed out. After that, the cattle were sold in smaller number, he said.
Jack Middleton, a Nebraska brand inspector from Aurora, played a large role in the recovery of the cattle, Divis said. He checked the brands on the cattle and identified those that belonged to Snyder.
The sheriff said he was not sure exactly how much money was involved in the selling of the cattle. Some of them had been sold several times before they were recovered, he explained, and there are still 30 not accounted for. An investigation is still being conducted, he said. "The whole thing is unbelievable," Divis said.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Makovicka for suspicion of embezzlement. His whereabouts at the present time are unknown, the sheriff explained.
Divis said that he is not certain how long Makovicka had lived in the Ithaca area. He did have a farm sale November 29, 1971. He sold 315 acres of land, machinery, and improvements on property four miles south of Wahoo, five miles east, and another mile south.