Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-24
SH[RCL|FFE ON
TIE STAND TO-DAY
Star Witness In the Prosecution
Of Tom Dennison Gives
His Testimony
HE STICKS TO HIS STORY
Evidence Of Both shsrcIiffe and rol-s
iock Was Damaging to ths Dsfsn-
uant - Effort to Prevent Admission
Of Letters Written by Dennison g
shercIiffe and Morris Fails.
snecial to rimse-Repuplican:

kAt
the star witness for the prosecutions
was nut on the stand in the trial OF
Tom Dennison for receiving stolen
property, here today. His testimony
agreed in all essential details with that
of the published description OF the
robbery. The days proceedings were
replete with lively tits between the
opposing counsel, Judge Smith claims
ing the prosecuting attorneys are be-
ing "insulted." There has been steady
stream Of objections by the defense.
w. G. Pollock was the first witness for
the state yesterday and he recited the
story Of the robbery much as has here
tofore been described. He was recall
ed this morning.
He said he saw Shercliffe and big
man peer In Sonlenbergs door the day
before the robbery. Dennison and Som,
LENDERS, had just lett the store. He
identified shercliffe today. Cross-ex-
animation failed to shake the testf-
mony damaging to the defendant COM
Meeting, him as spying Pollock.
Shercliffe was called at IL O'clock.
His testimony was directly accusative
of Dennison procuring the robbery.
Dennison pointed out Pollock, planned
the robbery and said "Take lead pipe
and get him quick" Shercliffe's story
comedies with the published descrip-
tion OF the robbery.
The story Of the hiding Of the dia-
monds after his escape, and meeting Of
Dennison at his home in Omaha, res
ceiving Of money for escape and the
telegram from Dennison received at
the Aborn house, acknowledging the
finding Of the diamonds was told. He
saw Dennison again in Omaha and got
$3.50 more. Dennison secured the re-
lease Of Shercliffe later from prison
at Seattle furnishing $1,000 Tho
testimony all connected Dennison with
the crime. The direct unfinished ex-
animation will take two days
The damaging letters written by
Dennison to Homer Norris and the
famous expense account were offered in
evidence against the strenuous objec-s
tions Of the defense admitted this af-
ternoon.
The jurymen accepted for the trial
Of DennisOn are:
C.. E.. Barnes, OF Elliott, farmer; s..
D. Soliday, carpenter; 8. s. Embree,
Elliott township, farmer; ]. l.. Ling
gren, Scott township. farmer; ]. II.
Moore, Elliott township, farmer; F. a..
Wolfe, Grant township, farmer; F. b.
Jump, Villisca, retired farmer; ]. Z.
Fox, Red Oak, collector; George z.
Cooper, farmer; George Andrews, la
borer; Charles Luphold, timer; Gus
Isold, blacksmith
The examination OF Jurors was not5
as exhaustive as had been anticipated.
as the members Of the panel claimed
to knowt little Of the case.
Former Senator Junkin. OF RED
Oak, conducted the examination Tor
the defense. and J. S. Beeson, of
Red Oak, questioned the Jurors for
the state. Every Juror was closely
questioned by Senator Junkin as to
he would be prejudiced In
the present case by the fact that
Dennison had been a gambler. Sew
eral admitted such prejudice, but
stated that the would not be con-
trolled by It in rendering verdict
on robbery charge.
A Strange Spectacle.
When the trial began this morning
the strange spectacle was presented
Of Shercliffe, confessed principal In
that robbery, sitting side by side In.
good fellowship with w. L. Pollock.
a New York diamond merchant.
whom he nearly murdered while taxi
ing $4,000 worth of gems from him
on a Northwestern train near Mis-
souri, Valley the night o1 November
4, 1897.
Though Pollock still suffers from
the wounds then inflicted by Sher-
cliffe, he seems to have forgiven the
desperate and has Joined with him
in the. prosecution Of Dennison, whom.
he now believes was the instigator 0S
the robbery. Pollock says he will
testify that Dennison saw his display
OF diamonds in an Omaha jewelry
store1the day Of the robbery. Sher-
cuffe' claims Dennison planned the
robbery Immediately after seeing tho
gems.
On the other hand, the coolest and
most unassuming man in the court
room, which was crowded with spec
tatorg and witnesses. from all parts Of
the state, was Tom Dennison. Dennt-
son is accompanied by his wife ana
7-year-old daughter, and both Wers
here with him in court.