Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-10
LAWYERS In WARM TILT
During Examination Of "kid" Sly,
opal" Of Frank sherclIffe, Thomas
and Attorney Cornell, Denison's Ad-
viser Inject Politics Into Spirited
Debate.

Omaha, Neb Oct. 9.--Attorney Elmer
Thomas famous lecture on the THE
crime Of Two States" will be. intro
duced in the trial of Tom Dennison
for the Pollock diamond robbery. This
is one outcome of tilt between At
torneys Thomas and Connell Saturday,
during the taking Of the disposition OF
Alfred Sly, known as kid" Sly, which
was intended to impeach the testimony
of Shercliffe.
The most interesting Of the informa-
tion furnished by SLY came out in his
cross-examination by Thomas, when
he stated that he had been told that
SO long as he behaved himself he
could remain in Omaha without being
molested by the police.
Went to Church to Steal.
Sly further stated that 1t was
practice of his to go to church and
Sunday school whenever he thought
1t might be possible to steal a pocket
book or two. He denied, however,
that he ever did anything Of the kind
in Omaha, as he was always good"
when in this city.
Sly was released from the peniten-
tiary at Lincoln two months ago and
admits that his only occupation has
been that Of thief. He declared.
however, under oath that he has never
committed any crime of any kind in
Omaha. When asked his reasons for
this by Mr.. Thomas, SLY replied:
II do not steal in Omaha because
this Is my home; this is where I
liye.n
Denies Any Agreement.
Have you any arrangement with
tile police in Omaha whereby they let
you live here unmolested II you will
not steal in the city?'' asked Mr..
Thomas.
No sir; have not"
"But you understand that there Is
such an arrangement, do you not?"
persisted Attorney Thomas.
II can only speak for myself" was
the reply. II have been told that SO
long as I behave myself can remain
In Omaha unmolested"
Mr.. Thomas attempted to get Sly to
say that either Chief Donahue or
Chief Detective Dunn had given him
this promise Of protection until Con-
nell interposed with the remark:
"I object to Mr.. Thomas injecting
into this case his fight with the po.
lice of Omaha and object to him
bringing politics into the case. II he
persists in trying to mix UP politics
in this case then insist that he file
as evidence his Crime of Two
States,' SO that Iowa politics may be
injected
'I consent to that" retorted
Thomas quickly. want the jury to
read that speech"
Pal of ShercIlffe's.
Sly testified that he and Shercliffe
had been pals and had worked togeth-
or at several places. The day before
the Pollock robbery Shercliffe, he said
was in Kansas City and he arrived in
Omaha the morning of the robbery.
The two met at the Windsor hotel
and there Shercliffe, he said, told him
that he had a man spotted who had
lots of diamonds and that he wanted
Sly to go with him on the deal Sly
consented, but changed his mind be-
cause he wanted to pick Pollock's
pockets, while Shercliffe wanted to
throw him up in the air and If neces-
sary shoot him."
IhaC is not the way l WORK., SAID
Sly. II will pick pocket and do
most everything, but l won't do the
gun act.'
Sly, continuing, said he accompani.
ed Shercliffe to the Webster street de.
Fot, where the latter took the train on
which the robbery was committed and
fatty contradicted all the evidence OF
Shercliffe to the effect that he met
Denison at "a saloon near the depot q
few moments before he left on the
train.
Following the taking of Sly's testi
mony an adjournment was taken un.
til next Saturday at which additional
dispositions will be received, which)
will complete all the evidence which
the defense proposes to introduce at
the trial at Red Oak