Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-21

gers who were on the car were, so badly
scared that they could do nothing toward
helping Pollock, and two Of them, while
the shooting was in progress, had leaped
off the rapidly moving train.
The package taken from Pollock con-
tained diamonds OF the estimated value OF
$4,000 The robber Jumped from the train
about s o'clock p. m, when 1t was dark.
and he soon disappeared in the grass and
weeds.
He wore a small mask and a false beard
OF black hair when he made the attack.
Pollock was taken back to Omaha and re-
nained in a hospital until he recovered.
Frank Shercleff was subsequently ar
rested in Leadville on suspicion Of being
the robber. Pollock went to Leadville and
identified him in the Leadvile Jail Those
who were on the train at the time were so
much excited and scared that they could
not be relied upon for Identification. Sher-
cleft protested innocence, but was taken
back - Harrison county Iowa, and held
for trial.
Frank Bruce is In IL.
Afer he had been indicted a gang o.
thieves was put on trial in Terre Haute,
Ind, and among them was one Frank
Bruce. They we're accused OF safe blowing
Robert Fleming, detective, clai ned that
Bruce was the man VINO robbed Pollock
and tried 20 secure the reward offered for
his arrest. Pollock went to Terre Haute
and declared that Bruce was not the robber.
| Despite this, when the trial OF Sherclef
came up in September. 1s93 an effort was
made to show that Bruce and not Shercleff
was the real robber.
| There was some strong evidence In favor
OF Shercleff. Pollock positively identified
atm htt txtn fhn thn uit,
swore that Shercleff was not the robber.
One John Hollensworth OF Lesdville tes-
| titled that he knew Shercleff WE'LL that he
had known him In Montana Ave years be.
fore; that he saw him at Aurelia, la Oc-
| tober %, 1892, and that Shercleff went to
Leadville from there. He said that Sher-
cleff was In Leadville on November 4, tho
day of the robbery; that hs came to Hol-
lensworth and deposited money with him
and that he left Leadville on November
10. The jury deliberated three hours and
found Sherclef guilty, and Judge Van
Wagenen sentenced him to seventeen years
In the penitentiary.
Frank Sherclef said he was native Of
| Canada, 22 years old and that his father
and mother lived in Pittsburg. He pleaded
for a light sentence on account of i'll
health and before sentence was pronounced
again protested his innocence. There hat
been considerable reward offered for the
arrest and conviction of the robber and
great many believed that there was reason
for some doubt that Sherclef was thu
right man. The claim was made by tn,
prosecution that the effort to fasten th
crime on the Indiana man was only rus
by friends of Shercleff-notably Pat Crow
to divert suspicion from him. Pollocl
never wavered in his testimony agains
Shercleff. Shercleff was also called f,
Burke and Kid Mccoy, and 1t was said h
was one Of a gang OF gamblers and thieve
in Omaha and Denver.
Diamonds and Jewels stolen.
Two weeks after the robbery OF Pollock
November "a, 1S92-diamopds and jewel
representing a value OF $40 900 were stole
from the store Of s, Jcnasen, on Farnar
street near Thirteenth. A man who ha
: previously paid a deposit of 81 on a mante
, clock entered according to appointment o
o the morning OF this day and on some pre-
, text called the matchmaker. who was alon
t in the store, to the rear of the room. wher
D he engaged him in conversation at a poin
where 1t was impossible for him to see tn
| front door. While this talk was in progres
the accomplice OF the robber entered, passe
behind the counter and began selecting tn
o most costly jewels from their cases. goin
about his work with the utmost delibera
tion.
second Jewelry Robbery.
Several customers entered while he wa
thus engaged, but paid no attention I
him. doubtless mistaking him for clerl
These waited until such time as he woul
be at leisure TO wait upon them.
It is supposed that the man who entere
first must have given a signal for his pa
suddenly left off his occupation OF sackin
diamonds and leisurely passed out OF tn
front door. The other followed imme
diately.
As soon as the matchmaker glanced a
the display of jewels in the showcase h
saw the empty trays and realized what ha
taken place. He tried to run after tn
robbers, but found his exit disputed by
heavy walking stick thrust through tn
handle OF the door on the outside. Befor
he could get out of the store by the rea
way the thieves were well out of sight. n
arrests were ever made as the result
this robbery.
Reports OF this crime, brought forth froi
the archives. have been studiously reviewe
by the police and detectives during th
last few days. They have also studie
copies OF reports on file at the HEADQUARTERS
Of the jewelers. Protective association
the famous Pollock robbery. What tn
result of this research IL they decline
state. but II must be that they have foun
matter to warrant a search for Sherclei
for they have been sending out scores
kilograms to the various chiefs OF polio
Of the country in an attempt to locate hin
The Iowa authorities say he dropped out
L.