The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-05-05

some time be fully known. we haze
had the election Of the heavenly
twins, the Dietrich scandals, John N.
Baldwin and his man Mickey Hickey, all with
in the last two years. In Iowa tie
same sort of men have been running
things for the party over there. Tie
secretary of the treasury, Shaw, seems
to be on the same moral plane. The
railroads run things in both states.
What sort of men these leaders of the
party are has been shown up Oftcl,
but the mass Of the republicans con-
tinued to vote 'er straight" 1t is
well known to all intelligent men that
Omaha has been held in line with the
republican party by collision with
Tom Denison and his gambling ring.
Now Denison has been indicted by
grand jury over in Iowa and the off,
cial records-tbat part of them that
has not been stolen or destroyed-are
revealing the criminal connections OF
a whole lot of the great republican
leaders.
Some years ago one Frand Shercllff,
one OF the most dangerous criminals
in the United States, committed
robbery of $4,000 worth of diamonds
on a railroad train, slugging and
shooting Mr.. Pollock, who had them
in his possession. The jewelers. as
ISOLATION hired the Pinkertons aud
they followed Shercliff through sew
eral states. Shercliff committed near
.ly a dozen other robberies before the
Pinkertons got him, but he was final
Nv captured and sentenced to seven
teen years in an Iowa penitentiary.
Great efforts were made by leading
politicians to get Shercliff pardoned.
Two Iowa governors refused, but
finally Governor Shaw, now secretary
OF the treasury. did parole him. This
was brought about by pressure from
great railroad attorneys, and leading
republicans.
Judge Hubbard, an attorney for tie
Northwestern in Iowa, was most In
sistent. He informed the governor
that Dave Mercer helped him to get
railroad bill through congress and he
wanted to return the favor. John N.
Baldwin was still more insistent. He
wrote several letters to the governor
declaring that Shercliff was innocent,
while the judge that tried Sherc.iff
wrote that there was no doubt at all
as to his guilt and that there was net
a single extenuating circumstance
connected with the crime. The Pink
ertons protested most vigorously.
William A. Pinkerton wrote to Gov
ernor Shaw as follows: a
AS / previously advised YOU,
there is strong effort being made
for the liberation Of this man;
all sorts of inducements have been
held out to me to withdraw my
opposition. The wealthy pawn
broker, Sonnen5erg of Omaha,
Tom DenisOn, the gambler. and
several other persons of that kind
are behind this movement Son.
nenberg was the receiver of the
stolen property and bought the
diamonds from Shercliff, giving
him something like $4,000 for
$4,000 worth of stones.'
The papers on file show that great
efforts were put forth by Nebraska re-
publican politicians. Martin White,
chief OF police OF Omaha, made per
sonal appeal to Governor Shaw and
brought with him credentials signed
by Frank Il. Moores, mayor of On.a-
ha. Mr.. White also brought creden-
tials from Victor Rosewater, manag-
Ing editor OF the Omaha Bee. Bo.h
these gentlemen urged Governor Shaw
to grant any favor Mr.. White might
ask. and sought to impress him with
the idea IL would be great personal
favor to them. II. J. Clancy, clerk OF
the palIer eaurt M Omaha wa. ar