Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-06-02
TRIAL OF TOM
DENN|S0N
Defense Tries to Prove Gamb-
Ter is a Victim of
Conspiracy.
DENNISON TAKES THE STAND
Tells the Story Of His Life and De.
MES That He Had in Any Way
Participated With Shercliffe in the
Pollock Diamond Robbery.

!
! Red Oak, May 27.-Shercliffe yes
! terday left the witness stand after
two and half days examination and
exhibited his nerve by hitting the
| bulls eye ten times in succession in
a local shooting gallery.
Deputy Sheriff A. o. Lund of Black
well, Okla, attempted to arrest Sher-
| clitfe but Sheriff Thomas denied the
right until requisition is secured.
Warden N. N. Jones of Fort Madi-
son penitentiary stated that Dennison
visited shercliffe at the penitentiary
and left money for him under the
name of E. w. Blunt.
c. G. HipwelI of Davenport stated
that he was paid $500 by Davenport
gambler to assist in the parole Of
Shercliffe and did it as political
favor
H. E. Duel and Frank Boardwell of
Omaha, both public officials, swore
that Dennison's reputation for honesty
and veracity is good.
Pardon Clerk Garrett of Des Moines
filed seventy exhibits of papers in the
Shercliffe parole matter, showing that
important papers are missing.
Witnesses were called showing that
all papers in the Shercliffe trial at
Logan have been lost.
Red Oak, May est developed
yesterday under the severe cross ex-
animation of Judge Walter I. Smith
that G. E. Beane, principal witness
f0r h@ l1f1 hot
while in a hospital ward in Kansas
City, Shercliffe confessed to him that
Dennison was not connected with the
Pollack robbery, and that he intended
to ruin him by prosecution, is him.
self convict and has served two
terms in penitentiaries for burglary.
Dispositions of various persons were
read showing Dennisons credit in
1892 as we'll as Shercliffe.
Deposition of Mike Conroy was read
in which he practically admitted that
he wants revenge on Fay Of Clinton.
Mrs. Swartz of Logan swOre that
Shercliffe made confession of the
Pollack robbery to her, taking all OF
the responsibility.
Red Oak May 30.-In the Dennison
trial yesterday. M. P. Hooker swore
that he was Shercliffe's banker and
that the eX-convict gave him $4,000
and he paid out of that all expenses of
the Logan trial. He further stated
that he turned over the balance to
Dennison, who then acted as Sher-
cliffe's banker. Hooker stated that
the gambling fraternity recognizes
this method OF planting money with
one another.
Charles Wetmore, ''private detec-
tive" swore that Shercliffe confessed
to him and Joe Sherry, an Omaha
deputy sheriff, that he had planned to
hold Dennison up for large amount
of money by prosecuting him on the
charge of completely in the robbery.
J. NJ. Davis. editor Of a Logan news
paper, testified that in a conversation
with Shercliffe, the latter confessed to
him that he alone had committed the
Pollock robbery and that he intended
to make Dennison pay for the long
years he has spent in the state prison.
Ed. Doyle, a druggist Of Hampton,
stated that he copied the Hooker ex-
pense account from one book to an
other. and that he heard Shercliffe
pronounce them correct.
Red Oak, June Tom Dennison
took the stand in his own behalf
yesterday afternoon and recited in
detail on direct examination every de-
tail of his life from his birth to the
present day. He denied any knowl-
edge of the Pollock robbery or the
money expended in Shercliffes de-
tense.
Andrew Coulthard, ex-sheriff of Log
an county, said Sherclifre confessed
his guilt to him.
Charles O'Connor said Tom Den
nison was eating supper with him at
the time Pollack swore that Dennison
was in the Willard hotel.
Joe Sherry. deputy sheriff. said
Shercliffe wanted him to mulct some
one for evidence
John Dennison. brother of the de-
PENDANT, said Shercliffe did not talk
with him and Tom on his return from
the robbery.
Robert Fleming. who was on the
train when the robbery occurred, told
the story of the crime and of Den
nison's whereabouts on the succeed
Ing days and identified a letter writ
ten by him to Attorney Cochran
about the Logan trial.
Red Oak June 2.-In the Dennson
trial yesterday. Chief of Police Dona-
hue of Omaha and Aid Ed. Evans and
Fred Hove both swore that Dennison's
reputation is good Notwithstanding his
gambling business. Dennison, on
cross-eXamination said the statement
of expenses was padded and the en-
tire matter fixed up for the purpose
of getting shercliffe his inheritance.
Judge Smith started fight on cross
examination for the purpose of show
ing that Dennison was in the Kimball
house in Davenport OIL November 8,
1892. .
The defense objected, holding that
Harrison county could not be left oz
cross examination and warned the
court that the Kimball register would
be proclaimed forgery If the prose-
cution began on that line.