Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-28
Melbourne Citizens Clear Him
by Affidavit From Suspic-
ion of Omaha Crime
SWEAR THEY SAW HIM AT 1880
Evidence Shows That sheroIiffe
Husked Corn Monday Nov. 2, for His
Brother at Melbourne, Was at Mel
bourne Until II That Night and
Slept at His Brothers Homo.
Special to Times-R Republican.


Melbourne. Nov. Fisherman Nor
ris alias Frank Shercliffe. principal In
| the notorious diamond robbery, has
been fully exonerated of the charges OF
the Omaha police connecting him as a
suspect with the demolition OF Attorney
Elemer j.. Thomas home In Omaha by
dynamite on the morning OF November
90, by the dispositions of ten reputable
citizens of Melbourne who saw or talk
ed with him at late hour Monday
night. Nov. Fl. or early Tuesday MORN
ing, Nov. %. Their evidence Is con-
elusive of Shercliffe's innocence OF the
Omaha crime and establish an absolute
alib!.
The theory sprung by Chief Donahue
OF the Omaha police, connecting Sher-
cliffe with the attack on the Thomas
residence, was based on the allegations
that Sherclffe had mysteriously dlsap-
peared from Logan the Friday before
the Omaha outrage; that he wos known
to have been in Council Bluffs Monday.
Nov. Il. and that special inquiry at Lo-
gan showed that he had not returned
to that place. These were made the
basis of the theory that Shercllffe came
into Council Bluffs Monday, blew up
Thomas house at 2 o'clock next morn
ing and disappeared again to unknown
whereabouts"
Shercliffe left Logan with his BROTH
err openly. He did not disappear. They
went to Council Bluffs and came di-
reotly to Melbourne. He gave out in
Logan that he would be back the fol-
lowing Tuesday. His destination was
known In Logan. He was seen in Mel
bourne Friday night, and dozens Of
people saw him and talked with him
in Marshalltown Saturday. Melbourne
people saw him Sunday in Melbourne
There was no mystery in his move
ments.
Monday, November 81, when he was
"known to be in Council Bluffs" Mil
ton Morris employed by Homer Norris
Opposes that he huskcd corn with him
in the forenoon but stayed at the house
In the afternoon. Milton saw him next
at supper went with him and Homer
Morris to Melbourne In the evening,
returned to the Morris home at mid
night with him, slept with him until
morning, and saw him leave with
Homer to stick up sale bills Tuesday
morning, Nov. %. His testimony Is
corroborated by that of Homer Morris,
who swears he was with Sher11 and
Milton Monday evening. and that
Sherm was with him all next day post
ing bills They registered at the Hotel
Mack in State Center for dinner Tues
day noon. Joseph Backoff proprietor OF
q billiard hall in Melbourne makes af-
fidavit that Sherman Morris, Homer
and Milton Morris were in his place Of
business after IL o'clock p. m, Monday
November FL. Backoff adds that the
ordinance compels closing at 10:30, but
a medicine show being In town the
mayor and council had granted an ex-
ira hour and that he closed at 1880
Monday night, and other nights OF last
week. He saw Sherman Norris In his
hall shortly before he closed Monday
night. He saw him again Tuesday
morning, November %, at about s
O'Clock. Sherm sat In the buggy while
Homer bought cigars Of Backoff. He
swears that 1t was an impossibility for
Sherman Morris to have been In On
aha on Monday night and Tuesday
morning in question.
Charles Seely, proprietor Of the Seely
Drug Co., at Melbourne, testifles under
oath that he saw Sherm Morris as late
as II o'clock on the Hateful Monday
night and as early as 8 o'clock the next
morning. j. II. Lamer saw him at 10
p. M, at Backoff's and again early
Tuesday morning. T. r. Dennis, dep
uty CITY marshal, saw him at 10:30 or
II o'clock on the street and swears pos
itively that Sherm. Morris took no
train out Of Melbourne that night. Den
mis- carries the mail and makes every
night train. No one, he says, gets In
or out Of town without being observed
by him, and he swears that Shercliffe
neither went out or came into Mel
bourne by train Monday night. Others
whose testimony goes to complete the
alibi are c. s. Wood, city marshal: o.
A. Diggins, rural mail carrier; e. l..
Wallace, retired farmer; and q. II.
Wicheal, who testify along lines similar
to those quoted. These affidavits
might be supplemented by dozen
others. They absolutely clear Sher-
CllIIe from ANY PAL liSApellAoiA III SAe
crime.
Donahue's theory seems to have been
built entirely about his knowledge that
Shercliffe, who expected to pass thru
Council Bluffs Monday.
The attempt on the life of Attorney
Elmer e. Thomas, bore a lesson of
vigilance to the Homer Morris farm
house where Shercliffe or Sherman
Morris is a guest. The house stands
on a hill isolated from other residences
by about a quarter of mile. Both
men. Sherm and his brother, realize
that they are in danger and there is
an air Of intense watchfulness about
the home. The house is an arsenal of
deadly weapons. A shot gun stands
handily in a corner of the kitchen, and
both men carry long, heavy, cruel look
ing Colts ass, of the pattern favored
by plainsmen. Two Of these big guns
accompany Shercliffe wherever he
moves. They hang just inside of his
coat. and his hands fly to them with
the instinct of the man who carries his
life in his own hands, and the dexterity
of long practice. Shercliffe is a handy
gun fighter. Standing with his hands
by his side he can cover his object
,,I+h both onns f1ipped like liphtninp