Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-04-04
MURDERED BY HOLDUP MEN
Bert FOrney of Council Bluffs Shot and In
stantly Killed in His Saloon.
MEN WHO DO SHOOTING MAKE ESCAPE
No Clue 60 Their Identity and Only
witness of Tragedy Too Much
Frightened to Give n Good
Description of Them.

Bert Forney was shot and instantly
killed in Council Bluffs last night by two
robbers. Fcrncy was sitting in his saloon
at 1928 West Broadway. Just east of the
Northwestern depot, at 1890, playing a
game of cards with James CLANCY. There
was no one else in or about the place at
the time.
The two holdup men entered the rear
door OF the place and the first the occu-
pants knew of their presence was the com
mand Hold up your hands" Instead Of
complying Forney made a move as II TO
draw a revolver from his hip pocket and
the robbers Immediately opened fire. The
first shot went wide Of the mark passing
through the stove, near which Forney and
CLANCY we're sitting. the ball imbedding
itself in the woodwork OF the building.
CLANCY rolled of his chair on the floor
as though shot and the robbers paid no
further attention to him. Forney, how
ever, jumped up and star, I'd to run for the
front door The robbers fired two more
shots at him, both OF which took effect.
with the exclamation, "oh. my God"
Ferney fell and apparently expired in
stantly, at least he was dead when the
first persons reached his side and was not
heard to speak again after making the one
room occupied by the saloon and partly
ir hallway into which a side door opens.
Furney's revolver was found on the floor
under his body, but II had not been dis
charged.
Murderers Disappear.
Immediately after the shooting the two
robbers ran out the back door, making no
effort to take anything from the saloon.
After passing out the door they disappeared
as completely as though the earth had
swallowed them up, not the least trace of
them having been secured.
Immediately after their departure CLANCY
ran out and gave the alarm. Among the
irst to respond was Sheriff Cousins, who
had been standing only a block away and
being attracted by the shots, had already
started for the scene. The police were also
notified at once, but neither they nor the
sheriff have been able to secure the least
| clue as to the identity Of the murderers
| or their whereabouts. Coroner Treynor
was also among the early arrivals and had
the body OF Forney taken to Cutters un-
dertaking rooms.
| CLANCY was SO badly frightened that he
was able to give only a meager description
Of the murderers. He says one of them
| was short and thick set, the other some
what taller. Both were shabbily dressed,
| wore black slouch hats, 'handkerchiefs
partly over their faces and had no over
coats k4 .;--g Ha -
RnIIet Goes Through Body.,
| The bullet which evidently caused
Forney's death struck him under the right
shoulder, passing clear through the body
coming out OF the left breast and lodged
in the muscles of the arm. Indications
are that it passed through both lungs and
possibly the heart. The other shot struck
him in the hip.
Last evening was the first time for over
year that Forney had been on duty after
| supper, but he came down on that occa-
sion to allow his bartender to attend a
social gathering. He leaves a wife, but no
children. He is we'll known in the city,
having been engaged in the saloon business
here for a number of years.
The police OF Omaha and South Omaha
have been notified and the local force, aided
by the sheriff and members of his staff,
are working the case, but with the
meager clues at their command there is no
immediate prospect Of locating the MUIR
derers.
\ which may ultimately prove of value. Wolf
Lebovitz. who runs small clothing store
at 500 South Main street, informed them
that yesterday afternoon late he sold two
red handkerchiefs one each to two men
whose description tallies with that given
by Chaney Of the murderers