The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-03-07
THE HENNESSY CASE.
Polietz Confesses That IIo Was
Present at Meeting.
TWENTY WITNESSES EXAMINED.
Horse Thieves Saved From Lynching at
KIngGsher, OLA Gang of Train Rob
bers Arrested Grave Charges
Made by a Mother.

New ORLEANS, March I-On the
streets and in the clubs the chief topic
discussed was Polietz's confession III
the Hennessy case. While follctz
stated that he wassinnocent, he also
stated that he was present at the meet
ing before the killing and divided up
the money between those who were to
do the shooting, though he failed to
say who the cOnspirators were. me fact
that the state did not ask for severance
in the Polietz case, but kept him on trlal,
was regarded as an indication that his
statement was either not credited or
that it was not important. On the othcf
hand, the interpreter, Frank Marfrel,
admitted hat he was never so shocked
in his life as he was by
Polietz's statement. This fact leads to
the conclusion that other prominent
Italians besides those on trial were I'M
plicated in the matter in some way.
The evident belief among the states
attorneys was that Polietz had not told
tho whole story; that he knew all about
the conspiracy; that he attended the
meeting, and that he received Il portion
of the 81, 900 alleged to have been paid
to the men who did the shooting. The
prosecution is quite certain that they
have all the conspirators except the
man who returned to Italy and 1t 10 I'M
derstood they know where he is located.
About twenty witnesses were exam
ined. Polietz was identified as one of
men who took some guns in sacks to an
Italian grocery on Poydras street two
days before the shooting. He was also
identified as being present at the shoot
ing and slipping and falling while run
ming away, his gun going into the gut
ter, where it was picked up the next
day. When arrested he had a wound on
his wrist, as if it had been scraped. The
clothes found in his room were identi-
fed as those he wore On the night of the
killing. His pointed shoes tell whore
he fell.
Bagnetto and Scaffedi were again
identified as having been present at the
shooting and Scaffedi was further iden-
titled as the man in the oilcloth coat
who stood at the corner and fired at
Hennessy, while Scaffedi, Polietz, Sin
ceri and Natal were recognized as the
men who stole away in the darkness in
the direction Of the new canal Sinceri
and Natal are not on trial and the de-
Tense claim that one Of them was on the
Chicago train and the other at a the
atrical performance and afterward at
supper during the hour the shooting
took place.
The finding of guns and shells along
the route taken by the fleeing murder
ers was proved and the weapons identi-
fed. They were double-barreled shot
guns, with sawed-off barrels, two with
skeleton sticks and stocks working on
hinges, so as to fold away into small
compasses. Some of the barrels were
loaded and capped, and the loads when
extricated proved to be slugs or large
shot. Experts in firearms testified to
never having seen hinged guns on sale
here, that they never saw such guns be-
fore and that the barrels were not
sawed off by skilled worlsmcn, as the
rough edges were not ever finished.
SAVED FROM vIGILANTEs.
WICHITA. Ran, March 4.-Sandy
Thompson and John Logan, two colored
men, and Jack Pitcher were brought
here from Kingfsher last night to save
them from the fury of the farmers OF
Oklahoma. The men are said to be
among the most desperate horse and
cattle thieves of the territory, and on
Saturday were captured in possession
of a bunch of stolen animals.
TRAIN ARRESTED.
Brownsville, Tex, March 4.-Aftei
weeks of patient watching and untirinq
effort City Marshal Brits has arrested
and brought to Jail several of the gang
of train robbers. He has in custody {
prominent rancher living not over fifty
miles from this city, who Is not the
actual leader, but was prominent in The
schemes. He has wealthy friends whC
are trying their best to clear him, bu'
there seems hardly a doubt hat thu
right parties IRE now under arrest
From confessions made by some of thu
parties Marshal Brits hopes to bug al
of the gang.
CHARGES MADE by A MoTHER
GREENsBURe, Pa, March Airs
Elizabeth Nicely, mother of Joe anc
Dave Nicely, whose execution for tn,
murder of Farmer Umberger is set TO,
April 2, swore yesterday that JOIN
Roach, a constable, Rufus Schaffer ant
James w. Ambrose, of Ligonier town
ship, and Howard Camp, a member o
the Gilkinson detective agency of Pitts
burgh, agreed to get her to falsely ant
maliciously charge and convict her son
of homicide.