The daily sentinel., 1912-02-06
HARTNETT'S CASE
OUGHT To Be
PRObEO
In Communication to The Sentinel
Well Known Local Resident Has
Raised Some Pertinent Cues
tions Regarding the Case.
To The Sentinel:

To The Sentlnel:
There is truly Something rotten
in the state of Denmark" This is
shown by the testimony at the in
quest held over the body of uufortun-
ate Edgar +. lIartGett. The grand
jury should do all in its power to
ferret out the truth.
Edgar Hartnett was a good boy,
and would ordinarily have left an ul,-
tarnished memory behind him. Ly-
ing so still in his coffin. in a room
full of fragrant flowers. he reminded
me of the white rose buds, sent by
loving friends. Like the rose buds,
opening into the maturity of full
blown roses, the figure lying SO still
was just leaving the threshold of
youth to enter into the vigor of man
hood. The buds may develop. but
the boy never shall.
But the nature of his death and
the testimony given at the inquest
seemed to cast shadow upon his
memory. This is what has caused
me to write as | do.
How could this boy with only 25c
which his mother had given him
purchase the liquor possessed by the
party? The boys claim that they do
not know where the liquor came
from. That is impossible. Do you
suppose that a crowd of boys, when
offered a bottle of liquor by some
members of the party, would not ask
where II came from? OF course not.
But, by feigning ignorance they wish
to exonerate themselves and throw
the blame upon a poor defenseless
boy. Can any sane person believe
that boy, like Edgar, unaccumstom-
ed to drink, would by himself and of
his own accord go and purchase
pint of liquor, with only quarter
in his possession? He most certain
ly would not. If Edgar bought the
liquor it was only after he was in
the car, and at the instigation of the
other boys and with their money. The
boys surely know where the liquor
was procured. But good fellows,
as they must be, would not squeal on
bootlegger. even to clear the name
of an innocent boy like Edgar Hart
nett All testified that they had no
liquor until Hartnett was with them
Did they openly declare that Edgar
got it? No, but they insinuated it.
Why did George Coltrin testify on
Monday that he did not see Edgar
touch a drop. and then on Tuesday
declare that he took two drinks? Sim
ply a put up job among the boys to
clear themselves. If Herman Kal-
isch does not drink, as he himself de-
clared, he should be able to tell the
truth if he wants to.
Why is it said that the boys met
next Monday morning in an alley in
the upper part of town? To frame
up a plausible story so they must
have thought.
The boys claim that they had only
a pint bottle of liquor. And they
also state that each with, the eXcep-
tion of Kalisch) took two drinks, one
down by the depot, the other out
by the fair grounds.
Another thing that does not sound
just right is that in the press reports
statement is made that the boys were
arrested at Paisade, EARLY in the
evening. l wonder what is consid-
cred late--if $3.50 p. m. or so is con-
sidered early? People reading the
report form an idea that the arrest
at Palisade took place around 6 or
p. m. Many suppose that Edgar
was around with George Coltrin and
Milo Brown in the afternoon. That
was not the case. After returning
home for his supper, Edgar did not
leave the house until 1880 p. m, or
so.
Marshal Donovan's role in the af-
fair is quite confusing. According to
the context of Monday evenings Sem
tinel, January 20. one understands
that the cause of the arrest was the
disturbance created in the tonneau
while Coltrin and Kalisch were re-
lighting the lamps of the car. Later
Kalisch paid s. and they were re-
leased Learning that this story had
become public it seems that Donovan
resigned.
On Wednesday, January 81. Dono-
van claims to have arrested the boys
at the complaint of Mr.. Hough, for
Continued on page A.