Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-10-08
THOMAS SPEECH IN TRIAL
Crime Of Two States" to 60 Is Evidence
in Donnison Case.
DISPOSITIONS ARE TAKEN IN OMAHA
Nid sly gives TestimOny-COnneII
Wants Immediate trial, while
PrOsecutiOn VIII Ask for
Further Continuance.

The TCrime Of Two States" by Elmer
Thongs will be introduced as evidence in
the t7ial of Tom Dennson at Red Oak. Ia
Oh tfe charge OF completely in the Pollock
dia1hond robbery. This was a stipulation
OF the attorneys which came about while
Alfred Sly, Alias Kid Sly. was giving his
Opposition in the case before stenographer
Charles A. Potter Saturday morning I'm
Omaha.
Thomas was trying TO make Sly admit he
was protected by the Omaha police. He
had repeatedly said that number Of Off
GERS whom he had met on the street had
told him he would not be put in jail as long
as he was good" but that Chief Donahue
nor Captain Dunn had ever made such
statement to him
As Thomas persisted in trying to get Sly
60 mpllcat9 the chief w. ]. Connell, Denni-
sons attorney. objected.
81 object to Mr. Thomas injecting into
this case his night with the police of Omaha
and I object to him bringing politics into
the case" said Connell. He has tried his
charges against Chief Donahue and he has
failed absolutely to sustain them, so that
should settle that. But II he persists in try
I. ing to mix up politics in this case, then
insist that he file as evidence his Crime
OF Two States so that Iowa politics as well
as Omaha politics may be injected
Two Lawyers Clash.
81 consent to that" retortsd Mr.. Thomas
81 want the jury TO read that speech. And
I'want to object right now TO Mr.. Connells
pettifogging."
And / want to object 10 Thomas calling
my objections pettifogging," holly retorted
Connell, and as the referee ran out or
paper upon which to record the objections
the case went on.
Sly testified that he and Sherclife, the
prosecuting witness against Dennison, had
been pals" and had worked together In
several places. The day before the Pollock
robbery Shercliffe, he said was in Kansas
City and 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 man spotted who had
lots Of diamonds and that he wanted Sly
TO 20 In with him on the deal. Sly con-
sented but changed his mind because he
wanted to piclSthe pockets Of Pollock while
shercliffe wanted ito throw him up in the
air and II necessary shoot him"
''That Isn't the way ! work." said Sly.
'I will pick a pocket and do most every
thing. but I won't do the gun act"
Sly continuing said he and Shercliffe went
TO the Webster street station and that
shercliffe did not meet Tom Dennison In a
saloon near there as he had testified The
day after the robbery he said Shercline
again met him at the Windsor hotel and
there showed him handful of diamonds
and said: 'If you had had nerve you
could get an even split on these"
ContradIcts shercIiRe.
His testimony contradicted in many es-
sentiaI points the testimony of Shercline.
II was brought out that Sly had served
time in the penitentiary of Iowa one term
with ahercllffe two terms in the Ne
braslxa penitentiary and one term In the
Utah prison. This latter admission came
on REORGANIZATION and Sly said he had
made his escape after serving one month.
He gave a dissertation on robbery and
piclxinR pockets and offered to meet Mr..
THOMAS in a crowd and show him the
difference between picking pockets and
purse snAtching, which Thomas had asked
him. He told the attorneys that he was
A common thief and had never worked
40 Il could be noticed" He frequently
went to church, he said but merely be-
cause he thought 1t a good place to pick
a pocket. He and Attorney Thomas had
several passages at arms because the
witness claimed Thomas was trying to
"Buffalo" him and 1.-THE attorney because
Sly failed to answer questions in the man
ner desired.
other dispositions will be taken next
Saturday, which will finish the case OF
the defendant. Connell will insist upon a
trial Immediately, while the prosecution
will ask for continuance. The attor-
neys win go to Red Oak Tuesday to have
a time set for the trial
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