Omaha daily bee., 1894-12-17


very pointed and we're easily taken by him
as leading up to a direct charge OF theft.
At times he had talked loudly, and in
somewhat excited manner, but just before
the shooting he cooled down, and we had not
the slightest intimatlon OF what he was
about to do. He suddenly got up. without
any show Of anger, and, pulling out a re-
volver, commenced firing, first at Cromwell
and then at me. We had no weapons and
we're not prepared to defend ourselves nor is
II likely that we should have thought OF
doing so, even II rc had been armed. the
shooting was done so rapidly. and 1t was all
over SOON
HAPPENINGS BEFORE THE SHOOTING.
j. d. Edmundson, the president of the
bank, was seen and asked for his version of
the affair He said:
Huntington, Cromwell Hayden and
were sitting in the private Office. Cromwell
was in the northwest corner OF the room.
in the northeast. Hayden about the center
and Huntington between Hayden and myself.
We were seated about table that stands
against the north wall MIR. Hannah the
cashier had been sitting between Hayden
and Huntington until a few minutes before
the shooting took place, when he went out
into the front part of the bank. Hayden and
Cromwell had been questioning the young
man very closely about his mode of living
On one occasion he had deposited $40 in the
bank. and Cromwell asked him where he
got It, Huntington said he borrowed It. but
when asked OF whom he borrowed 1t he
could not remember, and said that II was
none OF their business anyway. He was also
unable to say from whom he got the money
to pay back the loan.
II saw that something unpleasant was
about TO occur, and got up and left the room
Just | got up Huntington did likewise
He passed behind Hayden, and supposed he
was going to get drink at the water tank
There was nothing in his actions that indi-
Gated nervousness or excitement. | was
about half way between my chair and the
door when heard a pistol shot, and looking
around saw Huntington standing between
Cromwell and Hayden and a little behind
both, with his revolver pointing at the former
/ hurried out of the private Office, and as
went heard several more shots fired. | ran
out and gave the alarm, and when several
OF us went into the private Office we found
Huntington lying on the floor with blood
streaming from wound in the back OF his
head, and the two other men suffering from
the effects of his deadly aim.
I'VE have always considered John an hon
est young man, and if there was any wea.
point in his character 1t was little tend
ency to extravaganza. OF course the amount
he was In the habit of spending would not
nave been extravagant in a man of means,
but was rather more than a young man
ought to spend who draws only SIS a month";
WAS NOT CHARGED WITH SHORTAGE
In further conversation with Mr.. Ed
munds0n, he said 1--WE have not at any
time, and do not now charge Johnny with
the shortage The charge was not brought
against him any more than 1t was against
every other employe of the bank. Neither
ana Hayden and Cromwell charge him with
the theft during the interview, except as their
questions might have implied such suspicion
In the conversation that led up to the shoot
Ing Huntington became very much excited
and also very angry, but he seemed at all
times to be perfectly cool and collected, and
i was very much pleased with the way he
seemed to be holding his own against the
shrewd, sharp men. His answers seemed to
particularly nettle Mr. Cromwell, who was
leading In the questioning and he became
angry and was bearing down on Johnny
pretty hard. But before the shooting all
excitement had apparently cooled down, and
John. at least, was as free from excitement as
he would be at any time. The $500 item is
one that the public will have some difficulty
In thoroughly understanding, and it is diff
cult to explain 1t to any not familiar with
the details of bankirg business. The check
was simply "a charge to the South Omaha
bank of $500. Not receiving the check the
bank refused, Of course, to give us credit for
the item, and we, were short just that
amount. The books for the day balanced
and the shortage only appeared in the course
OF corresponding with the South Omaha
bank" ,s-,y W.
One of the bank employees described how
1t was possible for the person who retained
the check to have procured the money upon
it. This would only be possible for some
one who had access to the books In which the
daily accounts are kept. He could have
charged it upon the paying teller's books,
and while doing so could have taken $500 in
currency.
The appointment with Huntington for the
last tragic interview was made Saturday
evening. AT the request of Hayden and
Cromwell he was to meet them at the bank
at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. He was
there. not only promptly, but somewhat ahead
OF time, opened the bank and waited for
them to come 1t is evident that it was
during this interval that he went into the
paying tellers cage and procured the revolver.
Circumstances seem to point to some des-
perate determination upon the part of the
young man, for In addition to the revolver
taken from the teller's desk Huntington had
provided himself with his own revolver, which
he was not in the habit of carrying. This
was found in his left coat pocket. The
weapon he used so effectively was a six
shot affair but 1t only contained five loaded
shells, the hammer resting, according to a
time -honored custom in the bank, upon one
empty she'll
HAD LITTLE CHANCE TO STEAL.
f. o. Gleason, one of the directors of the
bank. was last evening and said
spoken Of The sum Of $500 was charged
up on Huntingtons books to the South
Omaha bank. 1t also appeared on his tai
and on the book kept by Ira Hendricks. Bu
II does not appear on Hendricks tab. Tha
would not be conclusive evidence, however
that anything is wrong. for, while Hendricks
Is supposed to keep on this tab record O.
all checks that pass through his hands. as
matter OF fact he does not. That his tai
is correct In this instance, however, is showI
by the fact that no Cashiers check" CORE
spending to the one In question was ISSUED
by the South Omaha bank on that day. Tha
Is evidence that both Hendricks and Hunt
'ngtons books are incorrect, SO far as th
entry is concerned"
'Were Huntngton's duties such as to ena
BILE him to get hold of $500 of the bank
money and doctor up his books to CORE
ppond?" was asked.
"He did al the clearing business, deliv
led the different checks each day to thu
fSnks on which they were drawn, and pait
-r collected, as the case might be, the diff
ference in cash. Whatever money h
handled, however, was kept straight b!
means OF the various checking systems IL
use all banks"
"Did the officials OF the bank ever see tn
young mans parents. or try to obtain an
settlement rather than turn the case over I
the bond company?
mo; when the representatives OF the bon
company came here they had no reason TO