Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-01
STORY OF A CONSPIRACY
Illinois Veterinary Surgeon Alleges
Brother Was HoundOd to Death.
SAYS LAWYER WAS PROBABLY MURDERED
Resident of Sandwich Brings Serious
Charges Against Prominent Citi-
Gems of Cambridge, but Does
Not Name Them.

CHICAGO, Sept. s0.-Details of a series
of sensations which are alleged to have
smoldered for months in Cambridge, ILL.,.
and which may explain the mysterious
death of John v. Streed, a prominent at
torney and politician who was found life
less at his office door in Cambridge a week
ago with a bullet through his head, were
revealed here today.
DR.. Byrdt c. Powell, a veterinary sur
geon living in Sandwich Ill, came to Chi
cago and told a story back of the recent
suicide OF his brother, William d. Powell
OF Cambridge. The story discloses a chain
OF facts connecting the Powell and Streed
cases with the virtual murder OF Swedish
domestic in the home OF a wealthy and
prominent man in Cambridge, more than
FIVE years ago. She was buried secretly,
without death certificate or inquest. In
the opinion Of DIR. Powell Attorney Streed
was murdered because streed knew the
truth behind the woman's death. Streed
got the facts from William d. Powell, who
committed suicide August 20 last. after
William Powell's home had been broken
up and the guilty persons shielded. it is
alleged, by influential political friends. DR..
Powell declares his brother was driven to
his death by a clique in Cambridge.
live about the time of the death of the do
nestle, the facts of which he learned ac-
cidentaliy. His own domestic life was I'M
happy. He suspected several men OF promi-
nence of being too friendly with his wife,
and encountered as a result persecution
which, 1t Is said, drove him to suicide
First stories detrimental to PowelIs busi-
ness was circulated. Then the crowd made
it their business to offend him in the street
Threatened with Arrest.
He wanted to arm himself, but was told
the sheriff would arrest him for carrying
concealed weapons. Men came to him at
unexpected hours day and night, to his
home and to his ONCE. and told him he
had better leave town. He refused to be
inundated.
Finally came q climax Powell awoke
one morning to ind tar and feathers"
written on his door with a note ordering
him to leave town within four days or
suffer violence at the hands of a mob.
Then Powell summoned his brother. They
talked all night long, William detailing
the story OF his sufferings, OF his love for
his wife. the prosecutions and the threat
OF death.
What shall dor" ne asked in despair.
go after them" replied his adviser.
''You know something OF the death OF this
Swedish girl. The men prosecuting you
are involved in that case. Go after them"
Two detectives arrived in Cambridge as
a result. to work up evidence in reference
TO the death Of the domestic. W. D. Powell
took the evidence to Attorney Streed and
asked him TO prosecute the men. Streed
refused to do II because IL involved some
of his best friends William ID. Powelrs
suicide followed. DIR. Powell believes that
Streed and some OF the suspected men
quarreled and in the heat OF dispute Streed
betrayed knowledge Of the domestic's
tragedy.
my brother" said DIR. Powell today,
was bounded to death by a clique OF men
who control everything in the association
of law In Cambridge. His knowledge Of the
girls death, passing TO streed, shifted 10
the attorney the fatal mark OF that gangs
enmity. II streed was murdered 1t is a
simple matter for the Cambridge authori-
ties to ngpre out who are the persons in
terested in bringing about his death. But
they have purposely suppressed the truth.
which, II revealed, may lead to the dis
covery OF Streeds murderer and bring TO
light another murder"