Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-01
ADMITS KILLING OF MOVER
Otto Roderiok, Arrested as a Suspect, Makes
Confession to Chief of Police.
ALLEGES He STRUCK IN SELF-DEFENSE
Men Mt Restaurant Contradict n Por-
ton of His story and Assert He
Admitted Having Been
Engaged in n Fight.

The mystery surrounding the assault on
Clark w. Meyer, the railway mail clerk,
Saturday night, which resulted in his
death at st. Bernard's hospital Sunday
morning, was cleared up yesterday after
noon at the inquest. Otto w. Roderick,
the suspect arrested by the police Sunday
night, made a confession. in which he ad-
mitted being the person who had struck
Meyer, Telling him to the ground. He
claimed that Meyer struck at him first and
that when he hit back he had no idea that
Meyer had been badly hurt.
The coroner's Jury, consisting Of o. H.
Lucas, J. W. Scott and A. j. Stephenson,
brought In a verdict to the effect that
Meyer came to his death as the result of
a blow or blows inflicted by Otto W.. Rode
rick, the latter being aided and abetted by
one John Williams.
Williams is a ARMAND working on the
Martin place, near the Iowa School for the
Deaf. He was arrested yesterday after
noon following the inquest and is in the
county Jail with Roderick. An information
charging Roderick and Williams with the
murder of Meyer was filed In the court
of Justice Bryant yesterday afternoon. 1t is
expected that they will have their prelim-
mary hearing some time today.
Roderick all of yesterday morning con-
tlnued to adhere to his story that he had
nothing to do with the assault on Meyer,
that he did not even know the man and
was not in the vicinity of the Creston
House saloon at any time Saturday night.
After he had eaten his dinner and shortly
before the time arrived for the inquest,
however, he broke down and admitted to
Chief OF Police Tibbitts that he was the
man who had struck Meyer. He claimed
that he had only struck him after Meyer
had made two passes at him. Roderick's
statement to Chief Tlbbits. which was
inquest, was as follows:
Statement of ROderick.
He said that he and John Williams had
taken supper shortly before 8 o'clock at
Billy Gray's restaurant on South Main
street, near Seventh avenue, and after
ward he and Williams had come uptown.
Shortly before midnight he and Williams
started to return down Main street. In
front Of the Creston House saloon they
passed a bunch" of men. Someone in
the bunch made an insulting remark to
Williams and the latter went back. He ad-
vised Williams not to pay any attention to
| 1t, but to com along. He then went back
to assist Williams and three Of the men
in the crowd ran, but a heavy-set man,
wearing glasses, whom he afterward
learned was Meyer, struck Mt him first
with his right and then with his left hand.
He warded off both blows and then struck
! Meyer with his left hand. knocked him
down and he and Williams continued on
their way down South Main street. He
said that when he struck Meyer the latter
went backward and kind Of sunk down"
He did not stop to see IL the man was
seriously injured, as he supposed 1t would
cause trouble.
He said he had not been in the Creston
House saloon that night and had not been
there for six weeks or two months. He
said he did not know Meyer and as far as
he knew had never met him. He said that
Meyer muttered something when he struck
at him, but he did not hear what he said.
He said he had never seen the three fell
lows who were with Meyer before and de-
MED having had any trouble with them
earlier in the night. The three fellows
ran when he started to go after them. He
denied having told any person in Pabst's
saloon that night that he had knocked out
Clark Meyer.
C~Ontradicts ROderick.
Roderick's statement that he did not tell
anybody about knocking a man down In
front Of the Creston House saloon was con-
tradicted by two witnesses, Roy Jones. en-
ployed as a cook in Gray's restaurant, and
John Clary. who was visiting Jones satur-
day night. jones testified that Roderick and
Williams came into the restaurant about
midnight Saturday and that Roderick asked
for the loan OF rs cents with which to get
across the river. He said that Roderick
told him he had had a fight near the Cres-
ton house with a big fellow who wore
glasses. Jones told him he could not loan
him the money and Roderick, he said, then
told him to 90 to hi. Jones told him that
place was too hot for him and Roderick, he
said, answered that he had just put one
four-eyed - there.
Clary's evidence was in corroboration Of
Jones testimony.
to finding Meyer lying unconscious on the
sidewalk in a pool Of blood, with a wound
under his right eye,
!, These were the only witnesses before the
inquest, Coroner Treynor deciding that in
view OF Roderick's admissions there was
D no need for further testimony at this
!, time. The jury then brought In the YER
dict as above.
Z Roderick is a young man about 2s years
OF age and claims Council Bluffs as his
home. His wife lives In South Omaha. but
: It is said has been separated from her hus-
band for some time. Roderick is a laborer
and has been arrested more than once by
4 the police for being drunk. lie had been
4 drinking Saturday night when he had the
3 trouble with Meyer.
s Roderick in his statement said Meyer
s was wearing glasses and this is probably
!. true, as he usually wore them, but when
he was found unconscious on the Sidewalk
there was no sign Of the glasses and they
have not been found since.
Relatives of Meyer Coming
Word was received yesterday afternoon
that a brother and sister OF the dead man
would be here today to take charge OF the
body. Meyer was a member Of the Knights
Of Pythias in good standing. He belonged
to the lodge in Fairfield, la. John H
Merckens, county clerk Of Jefferson county
at Fairfield. in a letter to City Clerk Phil
lips yesterday. asked for information con-
corning the death Of Meyer and stated that
the only relative OF the dead man there was
a brother, who was a patient in the insane
ward Of the county hospital.
Roderick's statement that Meyer hrst
struck at him is not credited by those who
were acquainted with the. dead man
a Meyer, while known as a drinking man
8 and a frequenter Of saloons. was never
d kn1an to raise his hand against any man.
. For quite a while he had been almost q
crinpIe having within the last two wars