Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-10
NO One SEES BLOW STRUCK
Preliminary Hearing of ROderiok en- 0hargt
Of Killing CLARK Meyer.
DISMISS CHARGE AGAINST WILLIAMS
Held Under Bonds, However, TO Ap'
pear as n witness In Case Against
Roderick-Preliminary
Not Concluded.

John williams, the young farm hand
who, with otto Roderick, was held by the
coroner's jury as responsible for the death
Of Clark Meyer, the railway mail clerk, is
now a free man, the case against him hav-
ing been dismissed yesterday morning. He
was not subjected to a preliminary hear
ing and the case was dismissed by Justice
Bryant on motion of Assistant County At
torney Kimball. this action being taken by
Mr.. Kimbail after a private conference in
the office Of the justice with Williams at
torney, John Lindt.
Mr.. Kimball asked that Williams be held
as a witness before the grand Jury and his
bond was placed at 800. Justice Bryant
at first stated the bond would be 5000, but
Attorney Llndt protested and the court
reduced 1t to 800. The bond was signed
by williams, his father and a friend.
Following the dismissal OF the case
against Williams, the preliminary hearing
OF Roderick was begun. Williams was the
first witness called by the state and his
examination occupied the entire morning.
His testimony was substantially the same
as the statement he made to Chief of Po-
lice Tibblts following his arrest after the
verdict of the coroner's jury. He said that
he came to town on the evening OF the as
sault on Meyer and met Roderick, whom
he had known since they were boys to-
gether, at a Main street restaurant. After
taking supper they visited a number OF sa-
looms on Main street and Broadway and
partook OF a number OF drinks. They were
on their way down South Main street, re-
turning home, when they passed Meyer and
three young fellows in front of the Cres-
ton house saloon, when one of the three,
Keller, applied a vile epithet to him, Will
lians. He said he and Roderick turned
back and that he struck Keller. About
the time that he slapped Keller he heard
Meyer fall.
He declined to say that he saw Roderick
strike Meyer.
Chief Of Police Tibbets, Detective MUIR
ply and Constable Albert testified to Rod
erick admitting to them that he had struck
Meyer and that he had hit him a terrific
blow in the face with his left hand.
story of Meyers Companions.
Leroy Keller, William Frisbie and Frank
Cook, the three young fellows who had
been in the saloon with Meyer and left It
with him all gave varied accounts of the
trouble in front Of the saloon. None of
them was able to state that he saw Rod
erick strike Meyer. Keller testified that
Williams first started the trouble by APP
plying a vile epithet to them as he passed.
also that he was struck by Roderick and
not by Williams, as the latter had testi-
hed. Cook also testified that when Rod
erick and Williams started back toward
them after the exchange of more or less
strong language, Williams was taking his
coat off as IL preparing for a fight and
that Meyer interposed, saying to Williams
not to strike them, as they were friends of
his. They say that when Roderick struck
them they ran down the street.
DR.. Seybert testified as to the nature OF
Meyers injuries and his testimony i'm
pressed those who heard 1t, that he was of
the opinion that Meyer had been struck
with something harder than a mans fist.
The evidence for the state had not been
completed when court adjourned for the day
and the hearing will be resumed this
morning. Roderick is represented by At
torney Emmett FINLEY. The courtroom was
crowded all day.
The small amount OF Williams bond was
the subject of considerable talk and crit
icism among the dead mans friends, as
Williams is considered by them to be the
most important witness against Roderick
and that in the event of his leaving this
part of the country, the state would have
a hard time to convict Roderick. Friends
Of young Williams, however, say that the
bond is ample, as he will undoubtedly be
on hand to testify before the grand jury
when 1t convenes in September.
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