The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-03

Ike Rivers, colored and a member Of
the Williams & Walker theatrical COM
pany, has been indicted for the murder
Of Richard Conner, his fellow perform
Ell, who died last Friday at Asbury hos
pital. ger"
The accused man is under surveillance
in New York city, and, armed with the
proper requisition papers, Sheriff j. w.
Dreger and Deputy Sheriff George 10th
left for the metropolis "Wednesday
night They will arrest and bring him
to Minneapolis, where he will have to
stand trial.
First Assistant County Attorney J. F.
Dahl and w. R. Morris, local colored
attorney, are now in Pittsburg, Pa,
seeking to get convietinlg evidence from
members Of the Williams & Walker
company who witnessed the tragedy
and who are now playing an engage
ment in the smoky city.
Conner at first claimed that the
shooting was an accident, and members
of the company confirmed the story.
Before his death, however, he made a
statement to Assistant County Attor-
ney John Bernhagen that he had been
shot by Rivers, or "Livers,' as he was
called. This statement was at first
! thought to be inconclusive and con-
| viction was considered out of the ques'
| ton.
The case was, however, taken up by
County Attorney Al J. Smith, who, 10y
vigilant and strenuous search uncov
cred important evidence pointing tc
Rivers as the guilty man. Telegraph
wires were kept hot and when he hat
finished his work he had in hand evi
dence that justified the Indictment.
There was a quarrel. A woman be
longing to the company is involyed
| ~ ~ I'D =,
the shooting. Rivers is said to have
pulled revolver, which dropped to the
floor. Both men sprang for it. River
reached it first, and before any one
could interfere he had fired the fata
| shot.
Shielded by Associates.
Members Of the company who ar
said to have witnessed the ARRAY ar
staunch friends of the accused and hav
refused to tell anything that would ten(
to ineriminate him. By various mean
and thru various agents, however, MI
} Smith has secured admissions from
} them.
Mr.. Dahl and Mr.. Morris are now il
Pittsburg andby this time, probabl,
have secured the statements Of four O
state against their former comrade.
! The task Of securing the attendant
Of antagonistic witness who are out o
the state was no easy one. But tn
county attorney has handled the con
pany managers and members in such
way that they are afraid to disobe
orders. He has informed them that
l any one Of the witnesses refuses
obey his summons he will be indicte
by the Hennepin county grand jury O
the charge of being an accessory to
, felony after the fact, and extradite
. without delay. This has placed tn
> colored troupers in subsection and it
! understood that they are now the meel
: est of the meek.
May Bring Whole Troupe.
The "play' was not all bluff, eithe
Mr.. Smith asserts that he meant ever
: word he said, and even now there ma
be indictments drawn against these wi
8. nesses and ready for any emergenc
x The owners of the show realize the
=. :. they fail to comply with the Hennepj
county attorneys orders the who
company may be packed into a car ar
brought to Minneapolis, thus endiI
= their season and entailing a large fna
- cial loss without doing their friend al
- service. .. ..
~ ~ The present plan is to get signt
"a statements from all the witnesses. w NJ
- they are wanted here they will be n
~ tilted and they will come.
j ia If the witnesses are all good thu
10 will not be bothered until they a
wanted here. The county attorney W
"play fair' and if the theatrical pe
pie do as he says, he will not subpe!
them until the end Of the season.
L. this way the show will not be int
er fered with and their, engagement CT
is all played. The trial will thus pro
le ably not be called until late in June.