Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-17
PINCH CLANCY FOR MURDER
FOrnsy's Companion in Gard Game Arrested
p on Charge Of Killing Him.
SURPRISED WHEN WARRANT is SERVED
Decline TO state what Evil
dence, IL AnT, They Have to
Connect Him with the
killing.

The police made an unlocked for move
last night in the Bert Forney murder case
by arresting James CLANCY, the hackdriver,
who claimed to have been alone with Forney
In his saloon playing cards at the time the
latter was shot and killed, as he claimed,
by two masked ~highwaymen. Nothing could
be learned at police headquarters last night
as to what evidence there was against
CLANCY, but the charge Of murder was
placed against his name on the Jail reg
lister. He was taken into custody at $50
o'clock by Detective Murphy and Constable
Albert. II is known that Chief of Police
Tfbbits had a long conference yesterday
morning with Assistant County Attorney
Hess and 1t is supposed that the arrest Of
CLANCY was then decided upon. At the po-
lice station 1t was stated that no informa-
tion as yet had been filed against CLANCY.
The day following the murder Of Forney
CLANCY was taken into custody and detained
as a state witness. After the arrest OF w.
| C. Rogers he was released on a cash bond
of $3.50, the money for the bond being furn-
ished by Mrs. Davidson, who conduct a re-
sort on West Broadway on the opposite
side from the saloon in which Forney was
killed. CLANCY is said to be the husband
Of the Davidson woman.
clancy Much Surprised.
CLANCY, when placed under arrest last
| night, was evidently much surprised. and II
is said that he almost collapsed when the
officers said they wanted linn. AS soon as
he could recover his speech he exclaimed:
why, / never had any hard feelings
against Bert Forney and all his people
know that. What would l have wanted to
shoot him for?'
A. fba citv 4aI1 Nhopav uoa IocIad nm IN
one Of the upstairs rooms by himself.
CLANCY, who claimed to have been alone
with Forney when the latter was shot and
killed, stated on the night Of the murder
that after the highwaymen left the saloon
by the back door he picked himself up from
under the table where he had fallen at
the first shot and ran out of the front door.
CLANCY, when confronted with Rogers, said
that he believed Rogers was the taller OF
the two h~lghwaymen. Thib was his state
ment at the city jail when shown Rogers.
and also his evidence before the coroners
jury. At the time of the inquest II was
believed by some that Clancy knew more
I about the murder than he was then willing
to tell. While he was confined at the city
Jail where he was being held ostensibly as
a state witness It was believed that he was
more than cnce on the point OF breaking
down and telling what he knee At least
this was the opinion of Chief Tibbits ant
he was opposed to CLANCY being released
on such , small bond as $3.50, but Assistant
County Attorney Hess was of asdifferent
opinion and ordered his release.
Keep Evidence Guiet.
1t is not known what evidence the police
have against CLANCY. but It has been fire..
quently reported since the murder Of Forney
that CLANCY was seen driving about the
city the day prior to the shooting In G
buggy in company with Rogers. On the
afternoon of the Gay Forney was killed
Chahey is said to ave been seen driving
with a we'll known local character who has
served two terms in the penitentiary.
When CLANCY ran from the saloon aftel
Forney had been shot it is said that hi
failed to call for assistance or give the
alarm. but ran straight across the stree
into the Red Light saloon, through which
he passed into the alley and from there
gained access to the Davidson resort by
back stairway. He staid quiet a little tint
in the Davidson place, 1t is said, before go
ing back to the saloon after the arrival o
Sheriff Cousins.
Friends OF the dead saloon keeper sa!
that Forney had a much larger sum o
money on his person the day he was killed
than was found on him when the body wa
taken to the morgue and searched by Cor
oner Treynor. A roll of S165 in bills wa
found in an outer vestpocket, but Forneyl
friends insist that he always carried a bill
sum either in the hippooket OF the inne
pocket of his vest. 1t is said that eithe
on the day OF the murder or the day befor,
he drew $3.50 from the bank.