Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, March 19, 1912, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    Looking Backward
This Day in Omaha
rhlrty TwsatyT. Team Ag
"- Mtiu hn mt mt ksras
The . OMaha Daily Bee
WEATHEB
Fair; Moderate
V01s XLI-XO. 236.
OMAHA, TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 19, 19li TWELMI PAGES.
SINGLE COPY' TWO CENTS.
Man-Hunt Ends in Death fo
and Capture of The Third in Bloody Battle
TBESIDENT tapt
FOR PBIMABIES
Chief Executive in Address to Gen
eral Court of Massachusetts Out
lines His Views.
CEBTAtTI SAFEGUARDS SEEDED
Toll and Fair Hotice Should Be Given
to All Voters. " '
"WELCOMES VOICE OF PEOPLE
Preference Elections Are Advocated
Where Protected by law. '
EEBUXE FOE CABELESS TALK
IimpmlkU Attack lean Csartsl
aad Pahlle Officials Are Con
' deaaaed Htaara Eadar
lag Geveraaaest.
BOSTON. March li-Praaident Taft to
day declared himself In (aver of prefer-
'entlal primaries surrounded .by certain
conditions (or the eomlnc campaign.
"Wherever full and fair police or the
election can ba given, wherever adequate
election safeguard can bo thrown around
to protect a preferential primary (or the
presidency, wherever, the constitution of
the Mate permits Its being made ap-
plloabla to the present election, I favor
tt and welcome It."
This was the president's statement to
day before the general court of Maese
causstts. It was his first persons! reply
te the challenge for preferential prlmsr
lea Issued some time aco br Senator Jo
srph M. Dixon. Colonel Roosevelt's man
.. agar. President Taft did not refer to
ths challenge, however.
The president made a rather pointed
reference to the proposition, "let the peo
ple rule," and had something: to say about
ths recall of the Judiciary and the recall
of Judicial decisions. . .
Stobake law Careless Talk.
"Irresponsible assaults upon ths courts,
either by Intemperate Isagusg or an
baseless assumptions of corruption or
blss or Incompetency,, made by those
whose statements have Influence with
nyv part of our people, are a serious
Snsnav to enduring government.'' il
president , "
Hia address In part follows:
'.I'Too recently have passed what Is called
'presidential primary law for ths elec
tion ( delegates to-the national conven
tions upoa wblou will fall ths duty at
selecting the presidential nominees ot the
respective parties. I have not had op
portunity critically ao examine ths new
Hi, but I am sure It makes proper pro
vision to meet the obvious requirements.
"I am glsd you have done this. The
question of how delegates sre to us se
lf cted to sny political convention, or now
nominees sre to be selected by, a party,
originally was a matter merely of volun
tary and party adjustment, but so Ira.
portant to the public at large did the
character of the candidates to be selected
by such Tarty become that the stats
properly hss Interfered so as to throw
safeguards around ths exercise by all
those who belong to a party of their priv.
liege to have a voire In (he choice of
their party candidates.
What Primaries May Da.
. "I sm not going to discuss in detail the
question o( direct primary elections, their
uses and abuses. I think every one will
admit, however. an order that they may
accomplish the good they are Intended
to accomplish they should be ssfegusrded
by effective provision, ss to the psrty
eleglblllty of voters who participate In
them and by penal provisions, securing
conformity to rules of such eligibility
and the honest csstlrig sod counting of
the ballot.
v "I do net hesitate to ssy that in my
Judgment a -voluntary primary outside
the Isw known by Its Informal character
as a 'soapbox primary Is worse than
none, (or It gives full opportunity to the
Ineligible electors of the ether psrty to
cast unfair votes and without ths sanc
tion and safeguard of penal provisions In
respect to casting and counting the bal
lots Is aa epea areaue (or fraud and
: violence.
"It Is emlently appropriate that in every
election and In the discussion of all Is
sues that affect the republic we should
discuss and hear much of the popular
will and the rights of the people. This
Is a government based on popular con
trol. "We all concede that the' operation of
elections and the operations of govern
ment are sot perfect and sometimes sre
subject to corrupt Influences and control
and that It Is the part of patriotism to
remove, as far as possible, the obstacles
which prevent honest government In the
Interest ot the people.
People Have Staled.
"But the continued Iteration and reiter
ation of the proposition. 'Let the people
rale.' If It hss any significance at all
V . A Lincoln Quotation - ' '
. 'I, ,:
l 1 ' KTOsrav w I 1 1 II I, 1111 A
-.'-isVt W i i ',
'mi.i lies t?aar wrm w '-wj '
mmm-- mmci!
BANDITS' TRAIL
ENDS IN DEATH
FOR THREE MORE
Escaped Convicts From Nebraska
Penitentiary Bounded Up by the
Posses and Two Killed.
TOUKO FAUCES THIRD v VICTIM
Driver, Whose Services Were Im
pressed, Shot in Battle.
BLOODY FINISH TO TEE FIGHT,
Desperadoes Cornered by Farmers
and Police Officer. '
Ii thirsts ifld bums lor distinction; and, B possible, it wiD hive IL Is It onreucii, ta. to expect
that some men. possessed oi the loftiest genius, coupled with anbltioa sufficient to posh B to the jftottl
stretch, will at sometime spring up '.man. rcT And whea sod i esc ija it 3 tt ti ,
be united with each other, attached to the government and Jaws, and ntn$j tattteot, ItmaMp,
Irustrate his design. 7 (; 1 "
Distinction wui oe nts p&ramoum oojeci, ana aitnoujn ne mm u mangij diipic.inj duwi ,w
as harm, yet nothing left in the way of buQdin. up be would at down boldty to the task of puffin, dowtv
Here then is a probable case, highly dan.eus. ' ,
-f rn If. Usial'l Syttd kltrt JMtJ lll lya, Ssrk(ncat E
WEEE HEADED FOB, OMAHA
Had Secured Clothing- and Arms and
Were Seekinf Shelter.
LORIMER FILES HIS BRIEF
It Declares that Ho Proof af Corrnp-
tion is Submitted.
PUCES BLAME OH TRIBUNE
Eatlr Case, It Hays, la Based aa
Testlmeay ef W hite and that ke
v One Vearhes fer Mia
Crrdlblllty.
(Continued on s'ounh Page.)
The Weather
FOR NEBRASKA Generally fair; mod
erate temperature.
FOR IOWA Generally fair: warmer la
east portion.
Temperatarw at Oaass Yesteray.
Hour.
Deg.
'rYi''y m m :
T- ta. m
(V.Cy. S ra.m
4 II a. m..... tt,
f is. Urn.. ...44)
S J, p. m 47 t
SC- 4 p. m
a p. m......w...s i
p. m
p. m 42 I
UDDIOTIM-
'WASHI.NOTON, March M.-A hiief
summing up argument on the facts in
the investigation of Senator Lorimer's
election wss filed with the sensls Invest,
gating commutes today by sfr. Larimer's
counsel. It declares that no proof has
been given either of the raising or ex
pending of any corruption fund for the
election, and that "the charges are the
outgrowth of ths determination I of the
Chicago) Tribune and Its allies to destroy
Senator Lortmer politically and other
wise." J
The brief, supplementing ons of the
legar points filed recently, contends that
the basis of the charges sgslnst Lari
mer, "though Intangible and Irresponsibly
made," Is that votes were cast for him
aa the result of the bribery of members
of the Illinois legislature. Four votes
were attacked, those of Charles A Whits,
who sold the Chicago Tribune a story
that he had been bribed for SUB to vote
for Lorlmer; If. J. C. Beckemeyer, Indicted
by the Cook county grand Jury on other
matters than the Larimer case; Michael
Link and Daniel W. Holstlaw.
Immaaltr Ornate Three. '
Ths brief says that Beckemeyer, Link
and Holstlaw we're all gives Immunity
frowTpunishment for offenses other than
la toe Lortmer case as a reward 'for
stating they had received money fer vot
ing for Lorlroer, though ail three swore
at other times that their votes were not
procured by bribery. As to White, coun
sel argued that no one vouched for his
credibility.
"Even the Tribune, who bought him
and his story." ssys the brief, "aid not
recognise In him or claim for him anv
trustworthiness. The Mate's attorney,
who need him aa a witness, sdmltted
White was so discredited that no convic
tion eoukt be based on his uncorroborated
testimony, and that there wss no evi
dence outside White's own testimony to
sustain the charges of White. 1 ,
Other Tcstlaaaar IMscredlten'.
"The testimony eg Beckemeyer, Link
and Holstlaw kt unworthy of belief by
every recognised rate and (est of credi
bility. Their testimony has little tendeacy
to sustain the eharges. and so far as It
la adverse to Lortmer It Is unworthy of
any better.
"Coder somewhat theatrical circum
stances public attention after the former
dedatoo by the senate of the matter was
directed to aa alleged conversation be
tween Clarence 8. Funk and Edward
(Continued on fourth Page.)
The National Capital
Monday, March IN, I1J.
The Senate. r
In session hi ! n. m. -
Chairman MeCumher of the pension com
mittee announced he would try to clear
the calendar of all pension legislation
this week.
Senator Cummins Introduced bill for a
national primary law. providing for the
I. . 1 I . . i..iu's
President. Taft asked concress to ad
Journ neit Paturday and In a body at
tend memorial services for battleship
slslne victim' t
Senator I counsel eobmitted
brief mimnili ;uinents ta Loriasr
Investigation. av
Tee House.
Met at noon. ' '
Resumed debate oh excise tsx bill.
Soesker Clark aaked thst his -vote
against recommitment of sugar hill and
for its pssssKe be recorded.
Former ifwretary ot War Wright, be
rnre HelnS committee. Daesed responsi
bility for the non-court-martlsl of Major
Hay to former inlet or man neii. ,
Nebraska-Railroad ;
Files Articles of
Incorporation
PIKKKK, . D., March IS.-peeial
Telegram.)-Articles of incorporation
were filed today for the Niobrara
Sioux City Railway company, with head
quarters at Pierre and a business office
at Omaha, It la capitalised at Sl.ow.sm
The Incorporators are W. W. King. H C.
Pellcouw. C. W. Baker, R, R. Kinkald
ot Omaha, Glenn W. Martens cf Pierre.
Thy proposed line Is 1st miles la length
In the counties of Knox. Holt. Cedar sod
Dtxon. Nebraska, and Woodbury. Iowa,
extending from Niobrara to Sioux City
and with a breach te O'Neill.
NEBRASKA WOMAN'S LETTER
READ INEWIS TRIAL
ST. LOUIS. March la-Mrs. Elixa A
Webster' desire for a "heart to heart
talk" with K. G. Lewis regarding her
SUM Investment in the Lewis enterprises
wss expressed In her letter to him which
was read today during her testimony In
hat trial on a charge of using' the "mails
to defraud. .
The term "critters" was applied by Mrs.
Webstsr In hrr letter to the Interim re
ceipts' which she received Instead of the
stock which she said she expected to get
when she sent her money money, ralaed
by mortgaging her home at Emerson,
Neb. -
Mrs. tMets' Trial lestnsa.
EAU CLAIRE. Wis.. March M.-Mrs.
John Diets and Myra, Clarence and Les
lie Diets, charged with attempt lag . te
kill Deputy Sheriff Rogeieh en July JS.
IMS. near Cameron Dam. arrived from
Mayvllle. Wla. today, accompanied by
their attorney, prepared te stand trial,
but the ease ta scheduled ta be aut aver
(mill Sep lest her.
TWENTY- HEM ARE KILLED
Locomotive Boiler.' Explodes in
Bonndhouse at San Antonio. ;
BODIES ABE HOBBHtLT MAXOLED
Meet mt tlrtlaas Are ftrtke Break,
era 'Whs Were I aa ported te
Take Places la heathers
' , Peel tie Inane.
BAN . . ANTONIO, ' March 11. -About
thirty persons were ' killed, .ta the ex
plosion N of a locomotive boiler of the
SoutbenfTaclflo roundhouse today'
Most ef ths dead and Injured were
trike breakers who toak the places of
Southern Pacific, shopmen: who struck
here. several. 'months', ago. t ,
So fearfully mangled were several of
the bodies that tt. at thought they never
ceo ba fully identified, . -
Twenty-seven dead have bean removed
from the wreckage and the search la net
complete. Nearby stores and building!
were filled with injured. 'The roundhouse
and . cooper shops were wrecked iby the
explosion and many man ' working in
them were hurt by falling; walls.
The army hosptul staff here wss
rushed to the yards and police, ambu
lances ' and young" Men'a Christian as
sociation . workers rwara organised mto
rescue bands Is take owl the dead and
try to save the lives of the wounded.
The victims Iwere Mid ta be largely
strike breakers, who have been working
In the Southern Pacific shops ever since
the shoproea's strike began several
months ss. After ths explosion rumors
In tjio downtown section ef Man Antonio
were that dynamite was the cguae, but
Investigation at. ths yards showed no
Indication that such rumors had started
there. San Antonio haa been practically
free from violence during the strike.
Mrs. B. S. Glllla, years old. In her
home seven bkcks away, waa prohablv
fatally Injured whea the front end ot
the locomotive crashed late the roof, de
molishing three rooms snd continuing
through to ths ground floor of the house.
1 I4STWZJEK
Displiy AdTcrtisin
Conipared - with the" cor
responding week of 1911.
THE BEE
gained 995'inche
NEAREST COMPETITOB
Lost 945 inches.
BATTLE 7JT SABTT C0B1ITZELD
1 '
Sarrwasded by Fanner Oatlawa
Shew Fight and) Resist until T
' Am Deed and Third le
f Msde PrtaeaST.
' SBAB.
nil TATW,sllsBTTwaWlT.
lOXaT BOIS. -
svot nvsr.
Bloody end came te the manhunt that
has been, in progress line Thursday ot
last Week, when three desperate convlcti
literally shot their way out of the Ne
braska penitentiary at Lincoln, posse i
that warn on their trail having rounded
them up 'southeast of Gretna In Sarpy
county Monday afternoon. In the battle
that followed two of the outlaws wars
killed and the third waa captured.
Roy Blunt. farmer, who waa drlviag
th convicts toward Omaha undir durtss.
waa.atse killed, but whether by en ef
the 'pees or one of the desperadoes 'hi
not definitely known. Morlay, third af
the trio, wag taken by the pursuers and
returned to Lincoln. '
To John Brlggs,-thief -of police of
South Omaha, ' la given the credit for
killing the two bandits and capturing
the third. '
- Meaning right.'
The battle cam on early In the after
aeon after a chase that had taken up
most of thk morning. Definite word of
the whereabouts of the murderoiia trio
was obtained by the police of the stats
early on Monday morning, when word
was sent mt from Murdoch, in tCass
county, that on Sunday night a hardware
star there hsd seen broken Into and
otothlng and arms secured by men who
answered to the description of the men
who had escaped from ths penitentiary,
and who had last been heard from on
Thursday night, whsn thsy forced a boy
to drive them 'Into Lincoln and through
Its streets In a milk wagon. While the
police ' of Omaha, Lincoln and - South
Omaha, war preparing t welcome the
arrival ot ths desperadoes, the sheriffs
ef Lancaster, Cass and Sarpy counties
were getting posses ready for pursuit.
and ths manhunt was begun without any
delay.
Steps at Blsae Paras.
Definite news of the . whereabouts of
the hunted men was brought to Omaha
about M o'clock Monday morning, when a
telephone message told of their having
visited the farm home of Roy Blunt,
about three mile northwest of Spring
field. Here trfey demanded breakfast,
snd enforced their orders by threats of
murder. After breakfast Blunt was com
pelled to hitch up a team and drive the
bandits toward Omaha. As soon aa she
could Mrs. Blunt ran to ths home of her
father, Peter Peterson, and- from titer
the news wss telephoned.
The alarm was spread and very aoun
farmers of ths neighborhood had formed
a posse and were la pursuit. Blunt drove
over the hills la ths direction -of Omaha,
and the posss soon hsd ths trail Sheriff
Hyers of Lancaster county and his depu
ties joined the pursuit, snd the Omaha
and South Omaha police forces sent out
squads to Intercept the oncoming bandits
Sheriff McShane of Douglas county or
ganised a posse later and went to the
front, but the battle was over before he
and his men got there. .
Brian a Take Lend.
The South Omaha police were first to
encounter toe a agon In which the con
victs were riding. The pursuing farmer
soon cam up, sad ths battle was joined.
The murderers lay concealed In the wagon
box, and undertook to carry on their
fight from that position. Roy Blunt, who
wss driving the wagon. Jumped to run
for cover and wsa shot, being mistaken,
perhaps, for one of the convicts. Ths
haute wss ef short duration, as th fir
soared m upon the wagon from th poerei
wss too hoL ,
Adam Sloup, deputy sheriff of Douglas
county, says that Chief John Brlggs at
OFFICES WHOSE GOOD ADC ENDS
BAHDrr HTJDT
n . iir
JOHN K. BRIUU8.
Chief of Police of South Omaha. Who
Knot Taylor and Dowd In the Fight.
South Omaha's nolle fore killed, both
Dowd and Ts lor. , Jt wss reported here
that Brlggs waa wounded,- but this later
proved Incorrect. II was In th hottest
ot the filing, however, and aa he la a
good marksman and always cool tt la hot
unlikely that Bloup'a credit to Mm la de
served. Jlorley wss captured." The bod.
lea of the dead men were tsksn to Orstna,
that being the nearest town to the scene
of the conflict, and from there were
taken to Lincoln on a special train, along
with Jlorley, who was In custody of Sher
iff Hrer snd his posse. '
Chief Biiggs left for Chicago last night
to attend th bowling tournament
BRIO'S KILLS BOTH B AUDITS
tenth Omaha t hief- Ale Captnrea
. the Third After Hard right,
I .lust did what any other sworn of
ficer would have dene under th dr
ctimstanc,'' said Chief of Police John
Brlggs of South Omaha as ba told of the
battle with th three convicts on th
road near. Blount's farm yetrdy af .
Uraeosk, ,';'.' " , k . '
r, 'War war a hundred bards "behind ths
bandit and the reason I waa not killed
kt because 1 was a better marksman
than they. ' - . ,
-Ky bullets killed both Dowd and Tay
lor snd perhaps young Blount t do
sot know about Blount It waa a de
plorable thing, but the bandits opened
fire and th fight was Inevitable."
In ehort crisp atntanbes did Chief
Brlggs recount to a crowd of friends
yesterday evening the story of bis fight
with the bandits. Ths cfilef waa bur
rtsd for time and during the Interview
occupied himself In preparing his kit for
a J ournsytd Chicago where be goes te
take part In a bowling tournament to
be held today. Ha wenon.
Early an the scene.
"We bit' Springfield some time near
noon. Sherff Grant Chass of Sarpy
county. State Fir Warden John Trouton
and myself got together.. Chass hired
a rig. I don't know the name of ths
maa who owns It . Wa drove two miles
south and four miles welt toward the
Blount farm where rumors hsd located
ths three convicts. At the Blount home
we satisfied ourselves that we bad not
the right trail and struck west across
ths farm to th road to Chaleo about
one-fourth of a mile distant We sighted
our man about 40S yards north on then-
way to Chatc.
Driver le Frightened.
We were three mile south ot Chaleo
and th fight from then on was a running
fight. W Inst ur ' driver about Ut
yards to the south of where we started
ths fight" , He ssM: . "this Is .near
enough for m and I ordered Mm from
the rig. Then I took the lines and laid
ths whip to ths - horses so ss to doss
up th dlstanc ' bet wee the Blount
wagon In which the three, wers and ear
"W were a little over, le yarn from
them when I turned tha.ieasa over to
State Fir Warden Trout. , Th gray
team ahead and the big wagon were go
ing at a furious rate. The driver seemed
te be sitting or half bent The three
men were standing up In the wagon. ,
Telle Theaa te HaM. . '
W were probably 10) yards heated
when I hailed the men and ordered them
to belt." I said; "8 top there we've
got you. Oct out of the wagon and
yen will not be harmed."
'My answer was a rata of bullets.
Then Chass Trouton and myself opened
fire. I hsd my big Springfield. Both
Chase and I kept firing then Chass
stopped to load. The men ahead kept
firing and ducking after they flrad,
Kills Mis Maa.
I fired whll Chaw was silent sad
I ssw r on of the men go dowa. Hs
did sot .come up. Almost Immediately
after l saw Blount crumple atp. I am
not sure thst my buHet bit him be
cause he was sitting down or bent over.
My rifle was empty by this time and
pulling my revolver. I Jumped from the
rig keeping eleee a ta head ef the
V
v
esm. I fired and on of the two re
melalng me turned and then went
down. He did not com up. -
Marmy wait. . --.':
"When th tw went down ' Morle?
threw up his hands. A revolver wss In
on hand. "Drop that gun you I
ordered and Morlay threw the weapon
on the road. Oct out of - the wagoa.
I ordered and be got out I pok a
second gun from bis pocket Then t
asked him If ths others were dead. He
said yea. I feared a trap and told him
that he waa lying and that If the men
were not dead I would kill him. He
mid, 'Don't kill me, they are dead.'
both of them. Then the sheriff and
TroutSn look him and later the rest
oame up."
Jieer their. -"Our
rig was H yards behind th
bandits for over tw mMes. . W made
the arrest about one-half . mils- south ot
Chaleo, Both the other men were
sprawled In th bottom of th rig. As
far ss I could see th men bad each
been hit only one. One bullet finding
a mark In the' head of on and on th
right side of the othe-"
When asked as to .-. ttwr ths orawtf
of pursuers bad mistreated Morlay after
his capture Brlggs ssld: "No one bit,
htm. Sheriff Chase took charge of bin
snd alt th officers were Interested In
protecting th man from th growing
anger or the mob when It was learned
af th death ef young Bluat. ''
"Except for the determined front
shown by th officers I think th.
farmers would kav taken ths law Isld
their own bands when they learned -af-th
death of young Blunt."
. Meay abate rtred.
Commenting on the fight the chief
ststsd that the firing was very bav)V
He aloo emptied his rlfUv severs! times
befor discarding It . for th shortef
range revolver.- Sheriff Chase and Fir
Warden Trout both used titles. '
Ths man, according to th chief, were
more than well prepared tor battle. lav
the wagon h teuad Are JS calibr serv
ice Colt revolvers and three rlflsa "I
took two guns from ' Morley; Her Is
en ef them,'" and ths'shlsf shaved ad
ugly looking Colt' rate the"-Tsc af fh
IntervMweA t.. '...,' ,
' ,' Lssghe ht Raaaer.
' Brlggs laughed when told af , ths rumor
ot his death at th bands of the con
victs. "I guess soma an (of twisted.''
smiled the chief as be gathered up his
traveling bag and sprang Into, the wall
Ing automobile that was to take them
to ths trala. . t
Following the report ef th capture of
th bandit Twenty-faarth street and
ths vicinity of ta pone elation - at
South , Omaha was alive with curious
people miming dowa the wild reports
that gained circulation.-, Chief of De
tective james gnesban and a poss
composed ef pollc and 1 others, left
South Omaha Iste In th afteraeon tak.
Ing ths routs along In Rack . Island
and going as far a Ramsay Station,
where the news of ths capture reached
thsm. , Their return ta th srty was
ths occasion for added Interest en th
part of th public Th Ramsay detail
took no part In th fighting and wer,
not within sight of the battle.
. SfrSaaae Half Mil Away. '
It wsa Just about the time of the re.
turn of the Ramsay crowd that Sheriff
MeShane and a band af deputies drov
up In his automobile to the nolle sta
tion. A deputy la th machine state 1
they bad not gotten within bast a ma
of the fight- c
Th report of th death r ssrtoua In.
Jury of Chief Brlggs caused great axcReT
meat and when he returned a llttlerafter
4 o'clock knots snd groups of friends aa 1
curious ones halted th chief as he
Don't Hesitate
If you have "any rooms
or any houses which you
wish to rent for this
summer - or longer, let .
the vast number of peo
ple who are going to '
move within the next
three months know.
They will get your mes
sage if you put it in a
small want ad in The
Bee. .
Every day hundreds ;
who are looking for
good rooms and houses
read The Bee classified
pajres. " '
Turn there whenever
you waBt to- find the
best bargains. Use these
ads when you want to
!rct,the best customers.
Tyler .1000
J -