Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-29
Sam Sonnenberg, the Omaha
Pawnbroker, Causes a Ripple
of Excitement In Court
DEFENSE is TAKING EVIDENCE
Hooker's Account Book in Which He
Claims TO Have Kept shereliffe's
Expense Account Admitted as Evi-
dence-Review Of the States Case
Attorney Thomas Life Threatened.
Special to Times-Republiean.

Red Oak, May 29.-Something Of q
ripple Of excitement was caused in the
trial Of Tom Dennison today when
Sam Sonnenberg who had been called
to testify for the defense tainted while
in the witness stand. AS a result court
adjourned until noon. Sonnenberg
afterward explained that his fainting
spell was due to the hot court room
and also to the fact that he had been
chewing tobacco and swallowed a
piece. His collapse came while he was
under calling cross examination by
Congressman Smith. Sonnenberg had
sworn in rebuttal that Pollock said
Joe Sonnenberg was not in the store
when Pollock was there November 4.
1892.
Ed Doyle, who was a drug clerk in
1893 at Logan, swore he copied an ac-
count book for Hooker and saw Hook
ler and Shercliffe settle up in jail. He
first saw Dennison two weeks ago. He
did not know that Dennison stayed
much in the drug store during the trial
at Logan.
w. w. Umsted, manager Of the Wes-
tern Union and G. o Fuller. Of the
Postal, both Of Omaha, testified in res
gard to money sent from Omaha to-
Seattle by Dennison. The Postal
had no record Of any kind and the.
Western Union had record Of only 500
being sent in April. Hooker's alleged
account book and Doyle's alleged
copy were admitted in evidence. Som
nenberg's father testified at the Sher-
cliffe trial at Logan he was in the
store. Sam today swore he was not.
Special to Times Republican.
Red Oak, May 29-The first wesk.
of the Dennison trial closed Saturday
to the general advantage Of the prose-
cution. Technically the state has not
directly proven that Tom Dennison
came over into Iowa from Omaha, dug
up the Pollock diamonds where Sher-
cliffe planted them, nor that Dennison
disposed of the gems in Omaha or else
where. The defense has brought at
least one witness whose good repute
has not so far been assailed, to swear
that Shercliffe told her that he carried
the diamonds into Omaha, sold some OF
them and held out a few Of the best
ones for his best GIRL
But the state thus far has woven
terrifying web of circumstantial evil
dence. about the defendant. Thomas
Dennison himself las been the shuttle
weaving back and forth thru a half
dozen different states, carrying threads
of circumstance thru warp Of times
and places to enmesh himself in the
robbery Of the diamond merchant.
From a multiplicity Of places between
the Mississippi ahd the Pacific the
state has gathered one by one the links
that chain Dennison to Shercliffe and
Shercliffe's crime. Shercliffe's appar-
emily straightforward story OF his
connection and relations with Denni-
son. his minutiae Of detail, unshaken In
cross examination, and corroborated
by circumstances and eorroborative WITT
nesses; the Dennison statement Of ex-
pehse that Dennison himself admits
having sent to Homer Morris, in his
own handwriting; the visits Of Denni-
son to Shercliffe in the penitentia1I
under an assumed name; the deposits
of money for the convict's use and I
benefit, as shown by the books Of the
Ft. Madison penitentiary: DennisOn's
extreme activity In Shercliffe's behalf
at the trial at Logan: his efforts to get
a parole for the unrepentant diamond
thief, continued thru the administra-
tions Of three Iowa governors; Pol
locks thus far unimpeached testimony,
Dennison by influence and
his Identification of Shercliffe as peer
Ing in at him at Sonnenberg's store,
the day before the robbery: the evi-
dence given by Ed Garrison, ex-clerk
Of Harrison county, that Dennison
came to him in advance with news that
the parole would be granted. and
would be mailed to Gar
rison In simple envelope
marked personal" and Dennison's re-
quest that the truth be pigeon-holed;i
the mortgages given the Omaha Saw
ngs bank, even Tom Dennison's own
evidence in the habeas corpus proceed
ngs at Omaha last June have been
,uflt into the wall that intervenes be-,
ween Thomas Dennison and liberty.
Aside from the directly accusative
testimony OF SHeTCllA0 tHdt 0euul0Vts
wired him that he had the diamonds,
t is all circumstantial, but It II ap-
,allingly fitted together.
Outline Of Defense.
Against 1T the defense has the prom.
sed impeachment of Shercliffe, the
possible plea OF a residence in Iowa by
0ennison that will bar conviction un-
ler the statute Of limitations and the
explanation Of the expendi-
ures itemized on the. expense ac-
:ount.
A Difficult Case.
It is difficult case to try. The di-
ect evidence pro and con is mostly
,athered from the criminal CLASSES,
SContinued On Eighth Pagel