Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-31

CLAIMS CONFESSION WAS MADE
Says shereliffe Told Him He Alone
Was Responsible for the Pollock
Robbery and Sold the Diamonds
HimseIf-Letter Asking for Parole
Weakens Evidence.
pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to TimeS-Republ1can.
Red Oak, May 31.-Taking of testl-
mony in behalf of the defense in the
Tom Dennison trial was resumed this
morning and a number of witnesses
were examined who are believed to
have somewhat strengthened Denni-
sons case. One of these witnesses
was ex-Sheriff Coulthard Of Harrison
county. o. j. Wilson, Charles O'Con-
nor, C. A. Peterson and George Sherry
were other witnesses. On cross-exam-
ination Coulthard's letter to the gov
ernor stating he believed Shercliffe
was innocent and recommending a
pardon, was introduced. This letter
was entirely at variance with his tes-
timony and will have the effect Of
weakening his otherwise strong evil
dence for the accused.
Wilson swore he had been deputy
Of Harrison county since 1875. Asked
If he was not first appointed in 1894,
he couldn't remember distinctly. Sher-
cliffe was taken to prison in 1892. The
question suggests Davis was not dep
uty at that time.
Charles O'Connor swears he was
with Dennison all the afternoon of
Nov. 4, 1892. Dennison couldn't have
had conversation with Shercliffe.
O'Connor remembered that he had
supper Nov. 4, 1892.
c. A. Person Of Council Bluffs, swore
Ghorojffo al hn
was going to get large sum from the
Civic Federation for testifying against
Dennison. Knew Shercliffe in Logan.
Sheriff Joe Sherry, of Omaha con-
firms Private Detective Wetmore's
story and says he met Shercliffe in the
Iowa hotel room Is, and Shercliffe
was willing and anxious to get money
out of both sides. Sherctfffe wanted
$1,000 as his share. Sherry held his
own and made good witness. Frank
Williams wrote policy for Dennison
and swore he heard and saw draft
Of the Statements made. Shercliffe
wanted to show his mother and get an
estate. Knew it was padded.
Ex-Sheriff Coulthard and Deputy
Wilson went on the stand this morn
ing. Mr.. Coulthard's evidence as of
fered is fairly sensational. He swears
that at the time he took Shercliffe to
Fort Madison on September %, 1893,
Shercliffe made some very damaging
statements. It was just before Sher-
cliffe was taken UP to the prison and
as he was washing in the lavatory he
turned to Coulthard and said: ANDY,
this is the last good wash I'll have for
long time"
YES" Coulthard responded, cts
YES" replied Shercliffe, ut was a
hard job, but I did it alone.
Coulthard spoke Of Dennison and
Shercliffe is alleged to have said in re-
ply that Dennison had nothing to do
with the crime, and that he, Shercliffe,
took the diamonds into Omaha and
disposed Of them.
Asked by Coulthard as to whom he
disposed of them, Shercliffe Said:
"Andy, that's something I won't tell
you."
ID. Wilson, deputy sheriff, who as
sisted CouIthard on that trip and who
had personal charge of Shercliffe, says
he heard the conversation and sub
stantiated Coulthard's testimony.
chided ShercIiffe.
Coulthard further testified to con-
versation alleged to have been held be-
tween himself and Shercliffe in De-
cember, 1904, at Logan wherein he
chided Shercliffe for duplicating Tom
Dennison after having confessed that
he did the, job alone. The conversa-
ton at Ft. Madison was referred to
and Coulthard "chided" Shercliffe for
changing his story. Shercliffe is alleg-
ed to have replied:
candy, Pm getting old and I'm Grip
pied up, and some one must pay for it. I"
Gun In Evidence.
C. e. Lewellyn will testify to the
alleged conversation between himself
and Shercliffe on the return trip after
his release on parole when Shercliffe
said that the only time that he was
ever scared was the time he took the
lost his gun.
The gun, savage looking weapon of
Al caliber was produced in court.
Political Lid May Lift.
The. lid may lift little over Coult-
hard's testimony. Coulthard wrote
letter on the narole matter which is
supposed to be among the mass OF
documents from the governors office
filed as exhibits in the case. In this he
protested that he believed Shercliffe
innocent and had always believed him
innocent. If this is offered by the
state the defense will insist that the
entire mass of correspondence and
other papers relating to the parole
case must go before the jury. This
will bring out the published letter and
much else of interest. The attorneys
for the defense say they are willing to
do all in their power to keep politics
out of the case and have no desire to
drag in names of past and present
public officials to their injury or to ex-
plot we'll known names of Iowans in
T., f1,a o,IH OF 10