Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-26
HORSETHIEF Is IDENTIFIED
Man Who Shot Constable Moss at Loyeland
is Thoroughly Recognized
STEALING HORSES IS HIS PROFESSION

He Retains an Attorney to Conduct
His Case in the Courts-wounded
Constable Not Fatally
Injured.
Williams, the man who shot Constable
Mess at Loveland on Tuesday, has
been identified as a horsethief who
the authorities of Iowa and Nebraska
have been after for several months
He says his right name is James Williams
To several persons to whom he had recently
sold horses and who called at the county
jail and Identified him he gave the names
OF Jack Moore, Jack Gregg and Jack Greg
ory. In Council Bluffs, where he has been
several times during the last summer, he
was known as Jack Moore. Sheriff Wise OF
Seward, Neb., who among the callers
at the JAIL Identified Williams as the man
answering the description of a horsethief on
whose trail he has been since october 1.
Wise says Williams stole seventeen horses
In Seward and adjoining counties the last
two months. Williams this morning seemed
to be troubled by only one thing and that
was that he would have to appear in court.
He told the officers that he would much
rather that the people at Loveland had
strung him UP than have to face court.
G. s. Bond OF Loveland identified Williams
as the man who sold him about a week ago
span OF black mares obtained in a trade
with commission man named Fred Terry,
In South Omaha. Williams denied having
stolen them, but admitted that he had been
! engaged in wholesale horsethieving in Iowa
and Nebraska for several months. 1t has
been learned that Williams had several
horses and buggy at Glenwood, among the
horses being two thoroughbreds called Red
Bird and White Foot. In talking OF these
thoroughbreds Williams said that If he had
been on Red Birds back nobody could have
caught him.
NJ. ]. Eicher, OF Milford, Neb., identified
Williams as horsetrader who had called
at his place several weeks ago. The night
after Williams visit Eicher lest mare and
a mule, and so far has been unable to get
any trace of the animals. Williams. when
confronted with Eicher, admitted being at
his place, but would not admit he stole the
animals. He said, however, that he might
have gotten them later from another party
The mule stolen from f. D. Laughlin OF
Ashland, Neb., the theft Of which led up to
the shooting yesterday, Williams says he got
another man to procure for him.
Pcnitentinry Bird.
was guard at the Iowa penitentiary at Fort
Madison, is of the opinion that Williams is
the same man, who, under the name Of Jack
Gregory, served a four years sentence for
horsestealing. Williams, when seen by
Treynor, at once recognized him. but denied
that he had been in the penitentiary. He
said he had frequently passed through Fort
Madison on his way to Chicago with stolen
i horses.
The Council Bluffs authorities are now
certain from statements made by Williams
that he had several associates and a close
watch will be kept on the county Jail, as
fears are entertained that they will make
every effort to effect his escape.
His preliminary hearing on the charge Of
| shooting with intent to commit murder was
fixed for this afternoon, but his wounds will
prevent him being taken into court and the
hearing will have to be postponed. His
wounded leg was dressed by DR.. Christensen.
| Aside from a little soreness, his injuries
are not very painful.
Word was received from Loveland yester
day morning that Constable Hardin Moss was
resting easily and that aside from weakness
his injuries were not regarded as serious.
Another attempt to probe for the bullet
which lodged in his back will be made
Retains an Attorney.
Williams has retained S. B. Snyder as his
attorney and assigned to him the slS5 which
he had on his person when arrested. Later
c. S. Bend and William Bradley, farmers
living near Loveland attached this money
| on proceedings commenced in the superior
| court. Bond bought a team of black mares
from Williams, paying him $3.50. Since
| Williams arrest it has developed that the
mares were stolen. Bradley bought buggy
from the desperate, paying him $50. Like
the mares, this buggy had been stolen by
| Williams.
Deputy Sheriff Slead went to Loveland
yesterday afternoon and brought to this
city the two mules which Williams had
there. One was identified by E. d. Laugh
lin OF Ashland, Neb as his property, stolen
from him last Sunday. The other was claimed
by NJ. j. Eicher OF Milford, Neb., the ami
NAL having been stolen from him on the
night OF October 20.
The barn from which Williams tried to
get horse when corraled by Officers Albro
and James, belonged to Ed Dalton aud it
was Dalton, who, after Albro had knocked
| Williams from off the horse. grabbed the
desperate by the throat and choked him
almost to death before he gave up the fight
and allowed the officers to bind him. Dalton
capture to get slice OF the money.
More About the Man.
Sheriff Trompen and Detective Pound Of
Lincoln were In the city yesterday evening
and from them considerable information was
secured about Williams. They say Williams
is one of the most desperate horsetheves
operating at this time in the west and that
there is hardly county in Nebraska where
he is not wanted.
Officers Albro and James are sure OF some
money for capturing him, as there are known
rewards OF $50 each offered by parties in
Seward and Lancaster counties and in Lin
coin and Waverly, Neb.
Chief Bixby yesterday made careful
examination OF the papers found among VIII
liams' effects and they show that between
July 20 and 26 he was in the vicinity of
Crete with a number of horses and boarded
with family named Lader. Between the
latter date and August he was in the
neighborhood OF Lincoln, where he borrowed
$500 from one J. e. Little. giving a chattel
mortgage on some horses. August 81 he was
| N np,a ha md ha spli