The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-05-13
DENNISON,S CAREER.
omaha's Powerful Gambler and Politi.
clan Near the End of His Rope.

IKE Iom DenniSon, policy shark and
political manipulation of Omaha, had
run his race and was nearing bitter
end. His trial in this county, on charge
of being the brains of the Shercliffe
diamond robbery. will also inevitably
open up his entire unsavory record and
dozen other cases equally criminal IL
not quite so famous are certain to be
dragged into the limelight and Den
nison made SO bad proposition that
even the powerful friends who have
stood by him in the past will be COM
PEELED to desert.
This being accepted, the next ques-
ton is whether Dennison will turn In
former, as Shercliffe did. and peach"
on the prominent politicians, officials,
etc. who have stood by him in the past.
II he does. he Will unfold a tale that
VIII shake two states to their political
foundations. 1t is well known that
scores OF men OF high position and
standing in Iowa and Nebraska tremble
whenever these possibilities come into
their minds
Denntson outwardly Is anything but
attractive. long, lank, uncouth, and at
flicted with a most unpleasant impede
ment of speech. Under the surface he
Is different. He has proved himself the
possessor Of the best political brain In
Omaha.
Has Been Power.
His bidding has been hearkened unto
with dutlful ear by great and small
In that city. For almost score of
years has Dennlson not only largely
dictated the political complexion OF
Omaha, but after inaugurals, city Of
ficials, county officers, governors OF the
state and congressman have lifted their
tile at his wink. No one knew or could
estimate the power and influence this
man eXerted, and Omaha and Nebraska
men not alone under his influence, for
Iowa men too Succumbed to his in
tluence
The beginning OF the end came, when
Sherman Morris, alias Frank Shercliffe,
openly made his confession to the rob-
berry of from $4,000 to 100000 worth
of diamonds from w. l.. Pollock, near
California Junction, in November, 1902.
Shercliffcs story recites many crimes,
aside from the diamond robbery, that
We're undertaken by him at the instance
of Dennison.
Sherciife was located In Colorado in
July, 1893, after the robbery, by Pinkcr-
tons force, and tried at the August term
of court In Harrison county The trial
created considerable excitement, and the
case was fought to the bitter end by each
side. Judge Van Wngenen of Sioux City
presided, and Attorney s. II. Cochran
of Logan defended. while the then county
attorney, il, II. Roadifer, assisted by an
attorney in the employee of jewelers.
Protective association. prosecuted. Pol
lock- Conductor Ashmore, who had charge
Of the train that cventful night, and two
or three passengers, swore positively to
Sherclffc's Identity.
An Alleged Alik,i.
Tom Dennison, Jake Sonnenberg. a
pawnbroker and three ball artist of Oma-
ha, and Nestlehause, Dennison's right
hand man. swore an alibi These three
We're constantly at the trial, and their
presence and untrng interest, on one
side, and that of two Pinkertons on the
other was something to the citizens of
Logan and Harrison cou.t.. But Van
Wagenen held his ground and while
there was no question as to She honesty
and veracity of the jury. the court took
no chances and kept them under guard.
The trial lasted five days. and the jury
found Shercliffe guilty. Van Wagenen
pronounced a sentence of seventeen years
Time ran along and partially effaced
recollection OF the crime and trial. and
Dennison, IN 1894, petitioned Governor
jackson to parole Shercllfc. His efforts
We're unavailing, and in 1896 he tried Gov
crnor Drake. His efforts were fruitlcss,
but in 1900 Governor Shaw granted Den
nison's request. This cost Dcnnison some
thing over $4,000 and his present troubles.
According to Shercliffc's confession and
circumstances corroboratc his assertion,
Dennlson was no sooner made aware Of
his parole than he began laying slams for
more iniquitcua operations. and through
threats of having the parole revoked en-
ticed Sherclifre into bad company and be-
np J1,,t u,
too far and Shercllffc baked. Then 1t was
that Dennison exhibited an temzed ac-
count of procuring the parole, but that did
not work and Shercliffe was again landed
In the pen. 1t might be that even then
Shercliffe would not have ''squealcd,'' but
other matters developed that caused GER
tain parties to apply the pump and Sher-
clifrc revealed His story.
A C.s.ton Case.
AT Clinton, Ia, some time ago the jew
elry store of c. A. Fay was robbed and
the goods sold to Harry Bernstein of
Omaha. One Burrier was arrested and
convicted After the conviction Fay
sought to recover the goods and with his
attorney visited Burrier at the peniten-
tiary Soon after he made a confession,
In which he alleged that Tom Dcnnson
could reveal the hiding place of the goods
This brought about visit to Shercliffe.
and he also referred any who desired in
formation in that line to Dennison. Then
came his confession.
1t began to look to the Clinton rnen as
IL Dennison might know something, so
they decided to visit him, but when they
met the gentleman he was much sur
priscd, could give no Information The
chief of police proved colder STILL and as
much as told the visitors that Omaha had
ali She could handle and advised that they
off IISi
ness. This was more than they could
stand, so they called upon a number of
prominent citizens of Omaha with the re-
suit that Civic Federation" was
formed, and shortly thereafter the mill
of justice began to grind.
When the grand jury met Shercliffe
was In custody of Sheriff Shinn, and told
the SAM story he had put in his con-
fcSSion.
Proved the Story.
In order that his story might be more
fully substantiated the sheriff took SHEER
cliffe to the place where he had said the
diamonds ana gun had been buried but
the gun could not be found. 1t has since
been learned. however. that about one
year ago some boys found a revolver at
the point where Shercliffe had hid his.
If the conviction Of Dennison was left
entirely to the present county attorney,
J.. w. Fallon, the affair would virtually
amount to naught, for the county is en-
barrassed by the poorest prosecutor it has
had for years: but when the matter comes
up for trial Omaha's better citizens Will
see that eminent legal assistance is on
hand and another hard battle will be
fought
But Dennison may not be brought into
court. Upon being notified of his indict-
ment he sent word to county attorney
Fallon that he was Ill, but as soon as able
would come TO Logan and surrender. At
torney Fallon seems disposed to take him
at his word.
When one looks back over the deeds of
Dennison. Of how he obtained assistance
from Mayor Moores, Congressman Dave
Mercer, Governor Savage, Chief of Police
White r. r C,lancnv N M IJubha ri