Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-16

Hugh Jackson. says Chief Donahue, is
the real name of the murderer of Patrol
man L. A. Smith and the assailant of De-
tective Devereese.
He has been positively identified by the
police as Jackson. alias Jack Curtain. and
admits that his alias for Nebraska and
this part Of the country is Jack Curtain
He has a long and desperate police record
1T don't know of worse criminal" said
the chief.
Captain Dunn Of the police department Is
the man who first identified the robber-
murderer as Curtain. Thursday night at
the hospital Captain Dunn sat and watched
jackson, alias Curtain. alias Albert Clark,
as the latter lay on his bed W. the most
nonchaiant air. The officer an old
picture of the wounded prisoner. taken In
November, 1900. when he was arrested In
South Omaha and finally sent to the
county jail for vagrancy after being ac-
Quilted for lack of evidence on the charge
of robblng saloon.
''I know YOU" calmly announced Cap
tain Dunn, after a careful study OF
"Clarke's" massive jaw. broken nose, muir
derous eye, wavey hair and the tattoo
mark on his right arm.
"You are Jack Curtain"
speak. Setting his jaw and slightly show
ing his teeth, he kept silent, and Captain
Dunn left the room. Although convinced
that Clark was really Curtain, or Jackson
Captain Dunn did not have his opinion
about the mans identity adopted by the
other officers until Friday morning, when
another picture OF Curtain was resurrected
from the rogues gallery at the police sta
tion.
Admits He IL Curtain.
The second photograph shows the man
without moustache and is more easily
recognized as being picture Of the man
Clark at the hospital.
With both pictures, Captain Dunn and
Savage the latter chief of detectives. who
was not on duty Thursday night when
Captain Dunn made his Identification. went
to the hospital and confronted the prisoner.
Eyes, I'm Jack Curtain" he said, but
didn't shoot the policeman. You don't
think that would stoop to snatchins
lockets from women. do your"
why, you would do nything." said the
officers.
The murder of Policeman Meyers of St.
Paul. Mimi, In February 1904, stage hold
ups in Nebraska and Wyoming. safe blow
ing in all parts of the country and many
minor crimes and offenses are believed TO
have been committed by the man now in
custody for the mui der OF Policeman Smith,
Penitentiary and Jail terms without number
have been served by him, and It Is thought
there are many cities and towns whore he
II wanted for crimes or has at least oper-
Atsd without being identified
In addition to this II is thought he may
be the desperate. who killed Patrolman
Wilson of Council Bluffs and injured Of
ficer Ricaeson In revolver battle that
resulted when the policeman attempted to
remove a beggar from the streets. Men
from Council Bluffs the prisoner and
tried to determine whether or not he was
the man wanted at Council Bluffs, but did
not succeed.
Only other Time Here.
The only time Curtain ever was arrested
In Omaha before the present occasion was
in 1900. when he and a young man named
Baird were picked up In South Omaha by
officer india on suspicion OF being saloon
robbers. At the same time three or four
other men were arrested In the Shelley
district OF Omaha The whole gang was
tried for the robbery OF Charley Dukes
saloon. Eighteenth and Leavenworth
streets. but escaped conviction for lack OF
evidence. They were then put in the
county jail for short terms on vagrancy
complaints. 1t was on this occasion that
the local police secured a picture OF Cur
tain.
Curtain served five years in the Nebraska
penitenuary for holding up stage near
North Platte. terms In prison at Jefferson
city, Mo-. and Sioux Falls. 8. D., and also
IA Wyoming for stage robbery. In various
paf4s OF the country he has been known as
Hugh jackson. John Havlin. Thomas Whit
more and Jack Curtain. Whitmore Is the
alias he gave when arrested here in 1900
some OF his partners whle operating In
ana around Omaha eight or ten years ago
are said 70 have been named Wright, Haas.
Parker ana Leo. They were arrested by
Omaha officers at the time Curtain and
Baird were taken in South Omaha
For the killing OF officer Meyers IN 81
Paul the latter two men were arrested In