Omaha daily bee., 1885-08-08
Some Points on the New Sewer En-
ginGHr, Chester B. Davis,
His Former Career and Methods
Shown Up,
~ suicide Of Perry Shotwell-Gov.
Dawes and the Grant Obsequies
Police News-Oity Briefs
state Personals, Etc.
IA CAPITAL.
TILE CITY MRR

present is more or less directed toward
public improvements Of all KINDS and In
order to have them Of q substantial char
acter, care should bs taken that compe.
tent persons have them In charge; those
who have the welfare of Lincoln at heart
and are honest and capable besides. At
the last two meetings of the city council
some action was taken with regard to o
survey for a sewerage system, and Mayor
Burr recommended the appointment Of
chester B. Davis, q so-called sanitary en-
gineer from Chicago. A proposition has
been made by that individual to make a
survey of the city for sewers and charge
only so, 600 for his services from this
time to January l, 1886. Mr.. Davis re-
qulres, however, that the amount shall
be paid him in advance.
Mr.. Davis Is not an entire stranger In
Nebraska and for the benefit of o conid-
Ing public his immediate history will be
given. He came to Omaha during the
time work was being done on the river
front at that point under government au-
spices, and was a raw graduate from the
Troy Polytechnic school and was without
an hours practical experience. MAJ
Boehmer had charge of the work aud In
o short time Mr.. Davis severed his CON
nection with the rlp-rapping and opened
an engineers Office In Omaha.
When the water works were projected
at that city considerable difficulty was
experienced In finally deciding the proper
system. At length e.. II. Cook, q very
competent engineer from Toledo, Ohio,
drew plans with were accepted and
adopted by the company and work was
commenced.
Nathan Shelton, at that time an en-
ploye of the Union Pacific railroad, be-.
came Interested In the works, and though
his fundamentally Davis was given EN-.
ployment in the water works, and after
the work had progressed to the
given Stage, Cook wal displaced
and Davis given supervision. 1t Is al
legged that this was due to a put up job
between Shelton, himself and one or two
others for interested motives. Anv way,
the work done under Davis was extrava-
gantly done, and In the opinion and
knowledge of stockholders of the com.
pany, the plan cost about 5000, more
than IL should on account of the loose
and ignorant management of Davis. He
was finally let out of this job, and then
went into the iron founding business
with q citizen Of Omaha named Richards.
He soon ran that business in the ground.
After that, Nathan Shelton, at present
of Evanston, Ill , started out to build
,-nko,. uuorla thro,,rh 4ko nl,Aou ---
and Illinois. He took Davis with him as
a stool pigeon, and together, and by
rather questionable msthods they sue
ceeded in securing contracts fer building
works In several small towns In the states
named. Shelton would work a sentiment
In favor of WAFER works and get the Git
zens to call a special election for voting
bonds and authorizing the work. Mr..
Davis would happen along, as an expert
engineer, and Shelton would suggest that
he draw the plans and do the work. He
always got 1t.
The twain have kept quiet for the past
year and 1t is possible that Davis came to
Lincoln on a skirmishing tour to see how
things are. Davis lives In Chicago, while
Shelton, ss stated, resides at Evanston,
which is o suburb of Chicago. it Is more
than likely that these two gentlemen
have their eyes fixed on Lincoln, and
after Mr.. Davis makes the survey, If
Mayor Burr proposes to let him, Mr..
Shelton will be on hand to do the work,
A BEE reporter visited several prominent
citizsns to get their views on the matter
and they were unanimous In declaring
that they would stand no queer or lille.
climate methods In any Improvement
to be %inaugurated in Lincoln. Consider
able surprise and regret was manifested
that Mayor Burr should be willing to
award such important work to Davis,
who Is IN entire stranger here.
SUICIDE AT II PEN.
At forty minutes past eight o'clock yes.
terday morning an attendant at the PEN
etentiary walked into cell No. 81 and
stood over a cot upon which lay the rigid
form of convict Perry Shotwell. A ter
rible expression overspread his face, his
throat was cut from ear to ear and clotted
blood covered the clothes, features and
bedding. The convict had got up at the
usual time In the morning and went
to his duties. Shortly after, he walked
back to his cell and was never seen alive
again. Shotwell was employed asa hostler
In the penetentiary stable, and for the
past few days had been sick and
Respondent, which Is tho only reason
given for self destruction. The deed was
committed with q small p~enknife, such as
the convicts are allowed TO use. He
drew 1t across the upper part Of the
throat, and from the appearance of the
u was determined to take his life.
The deceased was 20 years old, and
was received at the p~enitentiary April 6.
1888. from Omaha. He was sentenced
for ssven years under a charge of man.
slaughter, and had served q little more
than two years of his time. Shotwell
formerly lived In Lincoln and while here
bore a good reputation. He has two or
three brothers living in this county, and
q divorced wife and two children are at
present living on the farm of Sheriff
MelIck of this county. When Shotwell
moved to Omaha he fell into dlssolute
ways and ended his career In prison.
DR.. Beardsley, the coroner. was sum.
moned to the ~penItentisry. but upon
looking over the matter found that an In
quest wss unnecessary. The remains
will bs turned over to relatives for
burial.
GOV. DAWES AND GRANTS FUNERAL
Considerable surpIise has been ex-