Out of the past 12/8/09

25 years ago: Dec. 8, 1984

After numerous delays, the first-degree murder trial of Douglas Wayne Thompson, accused of shooting a Cape Girardeau auxiliary police officer almost 24 years ago, is scheduled to begin Monday in Scott County Circuit Court in Benton, Mo.

An open house is held in the afternoon at the Lindenwood Apartments, 1100 Linden St., for people to view the new apartments, which are similar to Cape Garden Apartments, 611 S. West End Blvd.

50 years ago: Dec. 8, 1959

Commissioner Max G. Stovall reports the last pour of concrete has been made on the new Kingsway bridge across Walker Creek, which has been out of service for more than a year; the span should be open to traffic in about three weeks.

Edward L. Downs, assistant prosecuting attorney, says the pressure of other business has caused him to submit his resignation to Prosecuting Attorney Richard E. Snider, effective Jan. 1.

75 years ago: Dec. 8, 1934

William Vedder, until August co-owner and manager of Excelsior Music and Furniture store, has purchased and taken charge of the Frigidaire and washer sales establishment at 418 Broadway; the business was purchased from A.P. Rueseler, who had operated it since last February.

Federal investigation begins to determine the cause of the sinking of the dipper dredge St. Paul of the U.S. fleet at Brooks Point, 26 miles south of Cape Girardeau on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River at noon yesterday while the 50 members of the crew were at lunch on a quarterboat a short distance away.

100 years ago: Dec. 8, 1909

A building boom has struck Smelterville; in the past two weeks, 17 lots have been sold there, and people are looking at the area constantly with a view of locating there; there are seven houses under construct, and a new store building will be begun tomorrow.

The Republican newspaper's new Mergenthaller typecasting machine has arrived, and experts will begin its installation tomorrow.

-- Sharon K. Sanders