Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-07-06

The murder at the ar1stocrat1c AS
trirla, therefore, was hailed by the
editors as an nnmixed journalistic
blessing and they proceeded to play
1t up for all it was worth All the
features of first-class sensatio were
present. The victim, Robert Under
wood was we'll known in society and
a prominent art connoisseur. The
place where the crime was committed
was one of the most fashionable of
New York's hostelries. The presumed
assassin was college man and the
son OF one OF the most wealthy and
influential of New York's citizens.
True, this Howard Jeffries, the son
was black sheep. He had been
mixed up in all kinds of scandals be.
fore. His own father had turned him
woman whose father died in prison
Could a better combination of cir.
cumstances for a newspaper be con.
ceived? The crime was discovered
too late for the morning papers To
make mention of it, but the afternoon
papers fired a broadside that shook
the town. All the evening papers had
big scare heads stretching across the
entire front page, with pictures of the
principals involved and long inter
views with the coroner and Capt
Clinton. There seemed to be 10 doubt
that the police had arrested the right
man, and in all quarters of the city
there was universal sympathy for Mr..
howard Ieffries. Sr. 1t was terrible
20 'hlnR that this splendid, upright
man, whose whole career was without
single stain, who had served his
country gallant!s through ii,e civil
war. should have such disgrace
brought upon him in his old age
Everything pointed to a speedy trial
and quick conviction. Public indigna-
tlon was aroused almost to a frenzy,
ana loud clamor weat up against
the laws delay Too many crimes
OF this nature. screamed the yellow
press, Had been allowed to sully the
good name of the city A fearful ex-
ample must be made, no matter what
the standing and influence of the pris-
oner's family. Thus goaded on, the
courts acted with promptness Taken
before a magistrate, Howard was at
once committed to the Tombs to await
trial, and the district attorney set to
work impaneling a jury Justice, he
promised, would be swiftly done One
newspaper stated positively that the
family would not interfere, but would
ABANDON the scapegrace son to his
rlchly deserved fate. Judge Brewster,
the famous lawyer, 1T was said. had al
ready been approached by the prison
er's wife. but had declined to take
the case. Banker Jefflies also was
quoted as saying that the man under
arrest was no longer son of his.
AS one paper pointed out, It seemed
a farce and waste of money to have
any trial at all. The assassin had not
only been caught red-handed, hut had
actually confessed. Why waste time
over trial? True, one paper timidly
that it might have been a
case of suicide Robert Underwood's
financial affairs, 1t went on 10 say,
were in a critical condition, and the
theory of suicide was borne ont TO
some extent by an interview with Dr.
Bernstein, professor of psychology at
one OF the universities, who stated
that he was by no means convinced of
the prisoners guilt, and limited that
the alleged confession might have
been forced from him by the police,
while in hypnotic state. This the
Dry, belittling as 1t did their pet SEN
sation. did not suit the policy of the
yellow press, so the learned profes-
sor at once became the target for edi.
.orfal attack.
The sensation grew in Importance
as the day for the trial approached
All New York was agog with excite
nent. The handsome Jeff1es man
sion on Riverside drive was besieged
~ callers The guides on the sight
seeing coaches shouted through their
That's the house where the MUIR
lerer OF Robert Underwood lived"
The immediate vicinity of the house
he day that the crime was made pub.
lie was thronged with curious peo-
Die. The blinds of the house were
lrawn down as if to shield the in
mates from observation, but there
were several cabs in front of the main
entrance and passers by stopped on
The sidewalk. pointing at the house. A
number of newspaper men stood in a
group. gathering fresh material for
the next edition. A reporter an.
preached rapidly from Broadway and
Joined his colleagues.
We'll. boys" he said cheerily. ANY
thing doing? Say. my paper is going
to have bully story tomorrow. Com
plete account by Underwood's valet.
He tells how he caught the murderer
Just as he was escaping from the
apartment. Well have pictures and
everything. It's fine. Anything do
ing here?" he demanded
Nav" grunted the others in dis.
tones.