Out of the past 1/26/08

25 years ago: Jan. 26, 1983

A year has passed since the murder of Margie L. Call at her home at 1829 Brink Ave., and like three other murders of women in the neighborhood, police still have been unable to come up with suspects; police chief Ray Johnson says all paths taken in the investigation of Call's death have been "cool."

The Southeast Missouri Secondary School Principals' Association gathers on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University for its 17th annual Winter Conference; presentations at the conference deal primarily with extracurricular programs and instructional management.

50 years ago: Jan. 26, 1958

The guest speaker at the morning service at First Christian Church in Cape Girardeau is the Rev. O. Eugene Moore, assistant to the president of Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo.

Firefighters extinguish a blaze in a room on the third floor of the Hotel Idan-Ha in the morning, after a mattress burns and the interior of the room is damaged; considerable damage is also done by smoke.

75 years ago: Jan. 26, 1933

Farmers and gardeners aren't exactly enthusiastic about the current spring-like weather; most believe it packs some concealed wallop in the form of a wintry blast which will make its appearance one of these days and smite ambitious buds.

James Adams of Egypt Mills has purchased the large residence on North Main Street, known as the Ranney place, from Fred Starzinger; Adams plans to leave the building much as it is now, making only minor repairs; it is rented out, and several families occupy it.

100 years ago: Jan. 26, 1908

D.A. Chapin, one of the well-known conductors on the St. Louis-Memphis line of the Frisco Railroad, was shot twice in the back at Blytheville, Ark., yesterday, and since has been in a Memphis hospital.

The wild animal sensation at Jackson isn't abating; added to the actual depredations and strange cries made by the unknown beast are pranks by boys with squallers to torture the atmosphere; the children are terrified; many people are seen going through the streets at night carrying lanterns and clubs.

-- Sharon K. Sanders