Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-24
YOUNG OUTLAWS AT LINCOLN
Qusrtstts Held for Lsa,tsn's Murder
Lodged at the Penitsntisry.
MAY CONE BACK TO OMAHA THIS WEEK

couNu Umana FoIICe Arrest
Kerr, who Confesses to Help
Ing Angus In Re-
cent HoIdup.
Jay oHearn, Ray Nelson. Leo Angus and
Joe Warren, the four young outlaws. held
for the murder of Nels Lausten, are now
safely behind bars at the state penitentiary.
They were taken there from Blair at $50
Tuesday morning by Detectives Drummy.
Mitchell and Donohoe, who spirited the
prisoners to Blair at go Monday evening
in two hacks. The prisoners spent the
night in the Washington county Jail and
were in charge of Sheriff Mencke and the
Omaha detectives who took turns in keep
ing close vigil on their charges.
The demonstrations Monday noon at the
IAusten saloon, where the bandits were
taken by Captain Dunn and at the morgue
after the inquest, together with various
telephone calls and information from other
sources. prompted the police to take the
precaution Of getting the prisoners out of
the city, so that I'M case any organized
demonstration should be made the police
officials would be safe in the matter.
May Come Here Wednesday.
1t is probable the prisoners will be re-
turned to Omaha for arraignment in police
court Wednesday. although it may be
Thursday morning or even later before the
men are brought back from Lincoln. That
matter has not yet been fully decided on
Chief Donahue had personal charge of the
police station Monday evening until some
time after the PRISONS had been taken
out OF the city. The telephone wires were
kept busy by people telling the police of the
general talk about town in regard TO sum
mary justice for the young holdups and
asking for information in regard to the
subject. Until the time the prisoners were
taken away an extra detail OF police was
held at the police station and patrolmen
advised to report any manifestations Of
mob violence. AS 1t happened no crowds
assembled around the city jail, although
there was some indiscriminate talk of vio-
lence.
Culprits Badly Scared.
The young prisoners were visibly fright
ened before they felt themselves moving
away from the scenes OF their recent dep
| relations. The spirit of bravado mani
tested earlier in the day completely left
| them and they looked more like hunted
| animals Monday evening than human be-
ings
! Tuesday morning Detective Maloney
went to Council Bluffs and located the man
who sold Angus the revolver Saturday
morning when Nelson and Angus went to
| the Bluffs. Sam Friedman of Council
Bluffs identified the revolver well as a
picture Of Angus. although he said he did
not think he could swear to these state
ments.
| The revolver in question is the one with
which O'Hearn is said to have shot Iaus-
ten. It is a a2-caliber Harrington and Rich
: ards revolver. The weapon was found
| Sunday afternoon at O'Hearns house in
South Omaha.
L. 8. Lemley and r. Carmichael, the
street car conductor and motorman who
| were held I'M at Sixth and Pierce streets
two weeks ago, called AT the city jail Mon
day afternoon and identified O'Hearn as
one of the two men who held them up at
the point OF guns. They could not say
which of O'Hearn's companions was impli-
Gated in that robbery. - 'st''' e
New Accomplish Caught. .
An interesting sidelight OF the crimes of
the four bandits was thrown on the affair
at 1880 a. m. Tuesday when the South
| Omaha police arrested William Kerr, alias
Red Kerr, at his home, Twenty-third and
X street. Kerr confessed to having been
connected with Angus in a holdup at South
dDOul b.oV u. H. ldSt SATURDAY, n
few hours before the Eckerman drug store
was robbed The holdup to which Kerr
confessed was that of butcher boy named
Herman Tombrink. who was stopped al
Sixteenth and NJ streets and robbed of So
Angus held a revolver on Tombrink while
Kerr went through the victims pockets, sc
Kerr stated. Kerr said Angus urged him
on TO the deed saying that IL he (Kerr)
wanted to stay in the gang he would have
TO do business, or else get out. Kerr said
he did get out at that point and did not
accompany the gang to Omaha on theiI
crusade of crime.
Kerr is about the same age as the other
members Of the gang. He is charged with
highway robbery and was arrested by
Patrolman Coulter,
The South Omaha police department
received much credit from the Omaha
authorities for their hard work in helping
to break up the gang of outlaws and bring
ing the criminals into custody. Omaha
police officials are outspolSen in their prais,
of the Magic City police from chief dowr
to the last man on the list.
Attract Attention at Blair.
BLAIR, Neb., Jan. 2.-(special Tele
gram.)-Chicf Donahue's arrival in Blai
at late hour last night with his prison
ers. O'Hearn, Warren. Angus and Nelson
charged with the murder of Nels Lausten
, created quite a commotion when IT becam
known on the streets this morning tina
i the prisoners were here and would b.
! taken to the Lincoln train. The depo
. waiting room was soon crowded to tn
doors and many strangers were amonI
the crowd who pressed so close on the ON
GERS and their men that Chief Donahu
had them removed to the baggage room L
evade possible attempt at a rescue. Tn
I Omaha morning papers were passed aroun
, TO the prisoners, who commented on tn
general writeup of themselves. The IAncol
train was nearly three hours late and tn
: prisoners were taken back to the Jail unit
the arrival of the train.
OHearn looked haggard and worn on
I and had nothing to say, while his thre
companions chatted with the officers an
: did not seem to take much notice OF tn
4 attention they were attracting. The driv
was made TO Blair in a little over thre
: hours and the officers seemed greatly rt
L lieved when their men were safely place
behind the bars. and the prisoners sal
I they were glad, to be out of Omaha.