Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-27

Pollock into insensibility on . daylight
train and dropping OF got away with q
100000 swag after having accomplished
the most daring robbery in Iowa GRIM
inal history. The Pinkertons trailed
him down and he was brought back to
Harrison county, Iowa, tried. convicted
and sentenced TO seventeen years in the
penitentiary At this trial Tom Dem
nison, gambler and policy king Of
Omaha, was active in Shercliffe's be-
half.
Morris went to the penitentiary an
seemed to be forgotten. But he was
not. Dennison was raising heaven and
earth to secure his pardon or parole
and the jewelers. Protective Associa-
ton was using its great influence to
prevent it. The contest dragged thru
several Iowa state administrations.
Shercliffe grew impatient in his cell
and made demands on Dennison. One
day Tom Dennison dropped off at
Logan. the county seat of Harrison
county. and informed the clerk that
Shercliffe would be paroled and asked
that no publ: tly be given when the
parole was received by the clerk TIE
parole came as scheduled by Denr!son.
II had been granted by Governor Shaw.
II paroled the diamond robber in the
care of Tom Dennison. despite the fact
that Shercliffe had two brothers, Will
liam and Homer Morris, reputable
farmers, living in Marshall county.
Iowa
Sherclihe stayed awhile with Tom
DenniGon in Omaha. Then he and his
sponsor had a row. Sherciife says
that Dennison insisted that he hold up
rival gambling institution. Dennison
says Shercliffe stole jewelry and re-
volvers from his benefactor and
skipped. At any rate Shercliffe was
lost sight of for a time. Months later.
when Cummins had become governor
crook broke a show window In a
Kansas City store and snatched dia-
r2cnds y lucky shot by a policeman
brought down the tleeing rooher with
a bullet in his heel. He turned out 10
DC Sherman Morris, paroled convict
wanted in Iowa Cunlmins renanded
him 10 the Iowa penitentiary-
But there was breach OF the peculiar
connection between Dennison and
Shercliffe Sherclifte lay in prison and
was sore About this time the CIVIC
Federation OF Omaha was making IT'S
great fight against vice IN that CITY
and Tom Dennison. by reason OF MS
position and function as boss OF the
Omaha underworld. was head o.
its opposition. Whispers OF con-
necrion OF Tom Dennison and Sher-
cliife and the robbery OF Pollock came
20 the ears OF the attorney Tor the ted
Grafton, who was also the attorney to-
the jewelers. Protective Associa ton,
He began investigation. one OF the
Fay brothers, proprietors OF the C4iAton
Advertiser. had lost some very Tine
diamonds by thieves and had located
the gang al Council Bluffs and Omaha
He went into these cities 10 recover
them, and in MS Investigations not
only bluffed the diamonds back but I'M
earthed among other important reVe-
Iatioas a letter written by Tom DENIM
son 10 Homer Morris, giving itenized
expenditures alleged 10 have been
made in efforts TO secure ShercliIfe's
release Among these items was one
paid 10 H. G Mcmillan, al the time re-
ferred to federal attorney for the
northern district OF Iowa and one Of
the editors and propr!etors Of the
Cedar Rapids Republican. Another was
Of 5000 allegedly for running voters
-
Gear in order TO secure political influ-
ence locking 10 Sherciiffe's parole.
Others were for presents made 10
members OF Morris family. These dis
coveries were acted upon by the fed
Grafton Its representatives saw Sher-
cliffe in prison He told them the story
he afte-ward swore 10 on the witness
stand to the effect that Dennison had
I,s.
man TO be robbed and had profited by
the en-irep roceeds.
Shercliffe had broken into politics.
McMillan's high political connections,
the fact that Shaw had paroled a des-
perate criminal without repentance OF
restitution and had put hin. in charge
Of Dennison, joined 10 the items in
Dennison's iteraized account Of C1oneT
expended and for the purposes specified
set the state on fire. Months later and
when Governor Shaw had been called
| into cabinet position letters ware I'm
earrhed in the state house which eX-
planned much. Judge Hubbard had in
sisted that SHAW parole She-c!!-fe 70
| Tom Denn5son in order thar votes
might be thus made for Dave Mercer.
| a Nebraska congressman. who had
voted for q SUBSIDY grao 1oT Ca!Eoac
| in which Hubbard was interested.
Dennison vas indicted in Harrison
county and tried III Ped Oak IN Mont
gomery. He was acquitted. II was
taken for granted that shercliffe would
be pursued bv the vengeance Of the
gamblers and that Dennison would not
forget Attempts we're made and
blocked to requisition him into Colo
RADIO to answer an old charge Of muir
der. Morris or She-ciitfe married and
| lived decently for time He then fell
into his old ways, was arrested for
train and highway robbery in Mime
sofa and from Minnesota was secured
by the Colorado authorities. made
sensational escape by lsaping hand
cuffed off a fast train. got away and
was later arrested thru letter written
TO his wife Now he Is bone Of poll
teal contention IL Colorado. The par
don board Of that state seems con
vinced that he was "jobbed" into pris-
on on the murder charge. The COVER
nor refuses pardon. thus reversing
Governor Shaw's complaisance.
Sherman Morris belongs in peni-