Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-28

that was deposited in the postoffice yes
terday afternoon at $50 O'Clock Bernard
returned home Tuesday night at II O'Clock
lie was not out OF my house until 2 o'clocE
Yesterday afternoon. At 2 O'Clock he got
into an automobile with two young lady
friends and came directly to my office, ar
irving little after O'Clock. He re-
manned there until 3 o'clock when he and
went TO the chiefs office, and he remained
in the chiefs office until nearly O'Clock
At 40 o'clock, according to the stamp on
the envelope, there was deposited in the
postoffice another one Of the threatening
letters. Surely he did not do this.
"On Sunday we were told by the police
that the culprits had been apprehended
On Monday two of the most respectable
young men in the neighborhood. friends
Of Bernard from his childhood, boys whose
character was above reproach--were in
vited to the police station and questioned
After the investigation. was assured that
they were the culprits and that 1 would
receive no more letters. few days be-
fore that, the handwriting of a prisoner
was compared with the handwriting in the
threatening letters. There was a certain
resemblance between some of the letters.
and was told that undoubtedly he was the
with equal certainty 1t is given out that
all those theories were false and the GRIM
inal is my son.
"'It would seem that even IL the police
had sufficient evidence on which to base
| such theory, they would not give it out
until they had demonstrated that their
theory was ooTrect-that they would have
saved my home the tortures which their
unjustifiable accusation has brought to It,
Defends Boys Character.
aside from the foregoing, the
character of Bernard is such that he il
utterly incapable of doing what the police
charge him with. He was never known to
| tell a lie to his father or mother. He is
open, frank, utterly devoid or ddiss mula-
ton. His companions will testify to this.
He is gentle in his disposition and would
| not knowingly hurt the feather on a bird
or crush the leaf of flower. For days
| he has been a constant witness of the tor
ture of his mother, increased by each addi-
| tional letter To believe that he could
stand there and see her suffer. knowing
that he was the author of the torture,
would be to attribute to him the heart Of
a fiend. The whole charge against him
is utterly unthinkable and so every one
who knows him will testify.
II have appealed to the police for pro-
lection and have received in response an
| Infamous accusation. They have given
forth their theory that my boy is guilty.
OF course IL will be their constant endeavor
to sustain that theory and dsprove all
others. 1t is my boy today; it may be
somebody elses tomorrow. From the
standpoint of a law-abiding citizen and
entitled to the protection OF the police. the
whole matter Is deplorable. In justice to
the chief. however, must say that he has
said he would do everything in his power
to reach the truth.
Letters In the Case.
The following letter was received by mail
at the Hochstetler residence on Saturday
afternoon, April 10, 1911 at 2:3O p. m, ad-
dressed as follows:
Hochsteller Girl. I6 South Thirty-eighth,
Omaha, U. g. A.-Hochsteller Girl: I'm
going to happen to your friend B. or w.
Smyth. You know maybe that his father
Is worth lots of money and somebody is
Going to get IL on b. or w. We have sent
him word to give him a fair show. but
"a few illegible Words) he won't be hurt
and you won't either He is good fellow
want We saw you on the street with
him him 81, some time ago and saw you both "a
few niegibIe words). but we mean business
little more money we might take you
with him, but don't worry, kid, you're
Csign Of handJ BLACK HAND.
(Dagger.) BLOOD OF sMYTH
The following letter was received by mail
Saturday afternoon. April IA. at p. IN,
addressed;
Bernard or Willard smyth, 40 North
Thirty-eighth street, Omaha, u. g. A.
Money or death to you. Blackhapd. Damn
the police. Bernard or Willard Smyth
were after your bacon and get it. We
than the people think Take It from me
kid, we're going to get II on you Well
make YOU, dad pony up over in the near
dungeon life. Believe me. your on the
market We're just letting you know this
so that your father can get o X and you.
We're giving you a fair chance as long as
you 60 with that Hochsteller girl; you're
s@fs and won't be h he with her in your
where to put the money in about a week
(Sign OF HANDY BLACK HAND
The following note was found under the
front door of the smyth residence at 1OSO
Saturday night April 15thi
''Tell the Hocksteller girl she Is In on
the deal and so are you old Kid worse
than ever. Your old man will have to-
decide by next Sunday. This is business
(sign Of hand.) BLACK HAND
tDagger) REMEMBER.
The following note was found Sunday
morning April 10th, 1911 on the window
sill next to the front door OF the Smyth
residences:
Tell Hocksteller girl she is in on It and
you are worse than ever. We mean bus
mess.
(sign OF handy BLACK HAND
(Dagger) REMEMBER.
The following note was received at Mr..
Smyths home by mail on Tuesday morn
ing. April 18th. at 1880 a. m, addressed
as follows;
Bernard or W. Smith, 10 North ssth
Street Omaha, u, s. A. I repeat that you
and Hocksteller are safe when with each
other but only then 1--WE have our reasons).
Your old man Will have 70 by the LIST Of
May leave over in cigar box on N w.
corner OF Creighton pasture near Benson
and Deaf cars separate $500 cash or your
life. We mean business
(Sign OF hand) BLACK HAND
After last car leave Benson old Smyths
and old Hook only bring no cop or
your kids death.
drawing OF dsgger) REMEMBER,
The following letter was received