The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-18
ARREST LALLY.
Officers Think They Have
Solved Jordan Murder.
Flaws Found in Young Farmers
Alibi.
HIS HORSE IN TOWN.
Was Tied Back of Store on Day
of Murder.
Governor HOch Offers Reward
for Murderer.

Seneca, Kan, Feb. 1s.-James Lal-
ly. the Havensville farmer. was ar
rested today charged with the mur-
der of Herbert Jordan. Investigations
made by the sheriff and detectives de-
veloped some important evidence
which indicates that the officers have
the guilty man.
Lally and his two brothers, Michael
and Anthony, were brought to Seneca
for investigation the day after the
murder, and testified at the coroner's q
inquest. The failure OF anyone to
positively identify Lally led to his re-
lease after the inquest.
1t will be remembered that Lalfy
claimed that he went from Havens-
Vile to Corning, about half way to
Seneca, on horseback, to have his ear
doctored. He claimed that he then
went back toward Havensville by way
of Neuchatel, where he intended to
attend a dance, but on arrival at
Neuchatel, found that it was<a mask
ball, and as he had no mask. he
merely looked through the window Of
the dance hall and went away to his
home.
The Investigations of the officers
show that Lally was not seen around
Corning after 2Iao in the afternoon.
Witnesses were found who testified
that on the afternoon before the
murder they saw man on horseback
answering Lally's description riding
north from Corning. Other parties
testified to seeing a man Of this de-
scription riding into Seneca.
A horse of the same description as
that ridden by Lally was seen hitch
ed back of Williams hardware store
the afternoon before the murder, and
the parties who testify to TINS aiso
remember that there was pair or
shoes tied to the horn of the saddle.
Lally testified that he bought new
pair of shoes at Corning, and the box
in which those shoes were packed was
found on the road north OF corning,
showing that Lally had gone north
from that town instead of south to
Neuchatel as he claimed.
1t was also discovered that the dance
at Neuchatel, which Lally claimed was
a mask ball, was not mask Dali, ana
that parties whom Lally testified. to
seeing at Neuchatel were not In that
town at ALL
| witnesses were also found who testi-
fed that on Friday evening after dark
| they heard the sound Of horse being
| ridden at high speed along the road
south from Seneca. 1t is believed that
| this was Lally making his escape from
| Seneca.
Parties in Seneca who saw the "mys-
| terious stranger" who bought the re-
yolver at Williams hardware store now
testify that they remember that there
was something wrong with the mans
ear This corresponds with Lally's tes-
timony that he went to Corning and
| had DR.. McGill doctor his ear, which
was sore.
I.a1ly is now in the county Jail, and
| is being sweated by the sheriff and
county attorney.
| The only thing lacking in the chain
of evidence against La.lly is motive
for the crime. 1t hardly seems that
the real estate deal was sufficient mo-
| tive for the murder.
Governor Hoch this morning offered
a reward of 5000 for the arrest of the
murderer of Jordan.
The offer of the reward was made on
request of County Attorney Emery OF