Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-23
INQUEST DETERMINES COURSE
Verdict Places Responsibility for Shooting
Agains. 0'Hearn.
NELSON RtlTERATts HIS CONFESSION
Tells for Third Time Of Robbery and
Aurder 20 Jury.
soNNtY IS UNCERTAIN OF IDENTITY
Man who Was In saloon when
Lausten Was Killed Unable to
Say which Robber Fired
the Fatal shot.

The coroners inquest over the body OF
Nels Lausten, victim Of a robbers bullet
on Saturday might, held yesterday after.
noon was largely attended. The jury re-
turned the following verdict:
We. the Jurors. on our oath do say that
Nels Lausten came 20 his death at 211
Cunning street. city of Omaha, county OF
Douglas, state OF Nebraska, between the
h0uTs frn,n OF IL and and IL P M January 20, 1895.
o Hearn. one OF the holdup party. We.
the jury. recommend that J. OHearn and
his companions be held
The jury was out but short time
The jurors were: s. L. Morris. ieo4
North Twenty-fourth street: r. G. Hin
man. Ss74 Hamilton street: w T. johnson.
6Oe North Nineteenth street. w. A Melio.
1914 Clark street; J. D. Ramsey. sic North
Twenty-sixth street; J. S. Wood, s40 North
Twenty fourth street
County Attorney Conducts Inquiry.
County Attorney Slabaugh, who person
ally conducted the examination yesterday
for the state. will file charges against Jay
Hesrn, Raymond Nelson. Leo Angus and
Joe Warren in police court this morning.
Under the Nebraska laws each OF the
youthful outlaws is considered a principal
In the robbery and murder Of Lausten.
There will be three counts IN each COM
plant: first count. murder in the first de-
gree; second count murder in the fret
degree while committing a robbery: third
count robbery, The penalty for the first
two counts is hanging or life imprisonment
at the discretion OF the jury.
OHearn will be represented by Attorney
English Warren by Attorney F1ehnrty Of
South Omaha and Angus by Attorney
Cooper.
Crowd at the Inquest.
From any viewpoint the inquest held yes
terday afternoon was fraught with more
interest than any held in this city for many
years The presence of the four youthful
outlaws served 10 draw large gathering
at the morgue. The place was packed to
sufrocation and many clamored on the out
side for adnittance, but had 10 be re-
strained by a Gordon of police. Nelson
was returned 10 the city jail by Detective
Drummy after he made his lengthy snte-
raent, while o'Hearn.. Angus and Warren
were held until an the witnesses had given
their testimony The arrival of the patrol
wagon for the three prisoners who were
held until the close of the inquest was the
signal for something OF a demonstration
from the crowd scattered along Twentieth
street and down Cunning street. Jeers.
Kisses and other remarks that reflected
10 a certain degree public sentiment that
has been kindled against the prisoners
Extra Police on Hand.
As the afternoon shift of patrolmen re-
ported for duty at the police station some
were detailed to the n.orgue to he in resdi-
ness in case any untoward incident should
be committed. The patrol wagon was
hacked un to the rear entrance OF the
morgue and O'Hearn, Angus and Warren
were hustled in with six detectives sur
rounding them. The prisoners crouched In
the bottom OF the wagon as II was hurri-
edlv driven rom the scene. Coroner
Bradley said he felt much relieved when
the afrair was over While the pohce OF
acials said they did not really anticipate
any overt acts, yet they were not SLOW 70
realize which wav the wind was blowing
and "a take every precaution against mob
violence
Nelson Again Spokesman.
RAYMOND Nelson was the only one OF the
prisoners 10 take the stand, the others say
! ing thev did not care TO say anything
/ Are YOU willing to make a statement
questioned County Attorney Slabaugh.
or Is very hard thing for me 60 DO. but
I have been drawn into this thing one way
or the other. and suppose ! had better
make statement responded Nelson. his
head bowed during the whole time he wa'
I on the stand.
| Nelso- began his story by telling OF form
! ing the acquaintance Of Angus while bott
! were serving sentences at the Douglas
! county iail Nelson was released weef
! AGO Sunday and Angus \ week before that
Nelson's testimony was repetition OF MI
/ confession to Chief Donahue Sunday after
/ noon.
| Details of the Crime.
| Nelson gave in detail the planning OF th'
| Omaha and South Omaha holdups com
rnitted Friday and Saturday evening by
himself Angus and o'Hearn, all Of which
I led I'd 10 tho Iaustcn affair. IN which h
: inplicsted Warren most of which has al
/ read,- been published Getting down 10 th'
/ Iausten robbery and murder. Nelson said
! i ami AuE us vent 70 Council S!Gsi
! Saturday morning. when Angus bought I
I revolver. as before that time j was th'
! only one Of the three who had a revolver
/ We all met at p. m. that' evening a
Tyenty-fourth and + streets. South Omaha
| by appointment and then held up a drug
/ gfst there CEckerman). o'Hearn firing TIVE
! shots AZ the man. We took a revolver from
that place and then went 90 Charlie Lewis
| saloon in Omaha We then went To an
other saloon, and thought We nes1cd SONS
money. We had originally planned TO holS
| up the saloon al Nineteenth and Cumini
! streets. but seeing twelve men in these ~
lected the TAusten place. ] and OHearI
| went inside. Angus took the front door
while Warren was At the side door. w
| both lexplaining he meant himself and
O'Hearn) had revolvers. O'Hesrn gave tn
/ command for the proprietor 10 throw al
his hards. The salooninan at first took 4
for joke and smiled. saying sfterEard h'
! would not throw up his hands. Thei
O'Hearn said. TN have 10 shoot you.
O'Hearn fired the shot, and I went behint
the mar. heard a noise and saw the saloon
man fall 10 the ioor."
J The rest % Nelson's testimony Was o
| what transpred after the shooting. tn
eFoape and other incidents already men
] tioneG.
BonRey's InceriaiR Testimony.
James Bonney. buggy washer at tn
Collins barn on Cunning street, was places
on the stand. He was the man who drsnl
- glass Of beer at lths LAuslAn bar ia