The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-12-14
BIC DEAL AT BENTON WERE THEY IN RACINE.
Racine Police Are Asked to Take
Look at LOescher and Harkin as
Suspects of Cheney Crime.
LITTLE GROUND FOR SUSPICION

LII l. LIZ GhOONO E I'm DO01 4OAON
Chief Of Police oHare Asks the Racine
ofHcials to be Present at the Hearing
This Afternoon to Make an Effort to
Identity the Men-Strong Chain of Cir
cumstantia1 Evidence-Racine Police Not
Satisfied with Corbett's Identification.
A startling story was going the
rounds of the city this morning to the
effect that the police had secured some
evidence which would tend to show
that Loescher and Harkin, arrested in
this city yesterday on a charge of at
tempted burglary, were the men who
were connected with the robbery and
attempted murder at the home of Rev.
Cheney in Racine last week. The
story is given little credence.
When seen this morning in regard to
the story Chief of Police O'Hare was
not inclined to talk, but he said that he
thought there was good reason for
suspecting the men and stated that he
had found a strong chain of circun1-
stantia1 evidence. Even the Identified
ton of Corbett by Mrs. Cheney is con-
sidered very weak and Chief of Police
EO'Hare said last night that he would
not be surprised if the crime was the
work of Kenosha talent. So strong is
the belief of the Chief of Police that he
has asked the Racine police to have
the men taken to Racine and before
Mrs. Cheney. The main evidence by
which the men are suspected is the
! fact that either of them will answer
the description of the man wanted.
Further, on the night of the attempted
robbery one of the men was wearing
coat which he claimed was not his
own and which very closely resembles
the one worn by the man who entered
the Racine house. Of course the story
may prove without foundation, but the
work of the Racine officers as to the
Identification of the men or either one
is awaited with great deal of interest.
Mrs Cheney Sees corbett.
Mrs. Cheney, wife of the Rev. David
| Cheney, furnished somewhat of sem
sation yesterday afternoon when she
was shown a pictare of H. F. Corbett,
of Milwaukee, who has been held on
suspicion of being inp1ics ed in the
shooting of the minister and his wife.
The moment her eyes fell on the picture
She exclaimed: "That is the man who
shot David and me-"
With these words she sank on her
bed and it was some time before the
physicians were able to revive her.
The picture, life sized one, was fur
nished by the police and given to Mrs,
Bennett, of Chicago, sister of Mrs.
Cheney. The later is still in a critical
condition and the police will probably
not be allowed to bring Corbett before
her for several days. The local police
/ refuse to say what will be done with
the prisoner. He still insists that he
is innocent, but the developments to-
day will not permit the police to release
him.
Yesterday afternoon long telegram
of coincidence was received at the
Cheney residence from the Chicago
Baptist Minister'S association.
The police did not believe that Cor
/ bett was the man and had about come
to the conclusion that the assai1ant of
Mr.. and Mrs. Cheney had made his
escape, when Mrs. Cheney's positive
statement this afternoon tended to up
set their previous conclusions. They
had been following one clue which
they had thought might be promising
4--a man thought to be the cu1prit was
seen hiding in the weeds near Berry
vile and watching carefully for officers
and others who might follow on his
trail. J. Officers Ne1s Petersen and
Police Commissioner James Corse
went south after the clue. The man
in the ditch hid until after the officers
passed, and then ran toward the lake
and 1eaped down the hill into clay
pit. He came up the hill again and
ran across the fields toward the west.
Farmers describe him exactly and state
that the officer was informed of the
actions of the man. There seemed to
be little doubt that the fellow succeed
ed in getting into Chicago.
Both patients are in fair condition
today and unless blood poisoning sets
in bothsswiu get well. No attempt has
been made to probe for the bullets and
the doctors cannot tell when it will be
done.