Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-31
lBLUNT shot BY BRIGGS GUN
Coroner's Jury Holds Him Respon.
sible for the Death.
MAY HOLD MEETING TO PROTEST


MAY HOLD MEETING TO PROTEST
Attorneys Clash in Arguments Dur
Ing Hesring-Dioody Clothing
Exhibited before BE-
rcavea wife.
: y Responsibility for the death OF Roy
gBlunt was placed upon Chief OF Police
Pohn briggs Of South Omaha. his deputy.
eJohE C. Tfouton OF South Omaha, and
sker,cf Gas Hycrs OF Lancaster county
" Coroner Armstrong; jury, which sat
ct tho Blunt inquest at Springfield Fri,
Gay. The verdict was reached at mid.
night.
shcrif. Grant Chase OF Sarpy county is
oensnred by the jury fo- falling TO pre-
vent the shooting which resulted in
Dlant's death. .-
Recommendation that Briggs. Flyers
and Trolton be held to, the district cour,
is made.
TIE verdict win be taken to Papllliou
and delivered TO Coroner Armstrong BY
one OF the jurors some time today.
Verdict of the Jury.
The text OF the verdict follows:
AT the inquest held at Springfield,
Eeb., Sarpy county, on the 18th day Of
March A. d. 1s1e. before me, r. d. Arm
strong. coroner of said sarpy county, on
the body Of Roy Blunt, lying dead, by
the jurors whose names are hereto sub
scribed, the said jurors. on their oath. do
say that said Roy Blunt came to his
death on the 18th day of March. 1912. from
the effects Of 4 gun shot wound inflicted
by a "a or IS calber rifle ball fired
from a rifle held In the hands OF Chief
Of Police John Briggs Of South Omaha.
'We also find that Sheriff Flyers of
Lancaster county and John C. Trouton Of
South Omaha were accessories, and
recommend that they be held to the dis
trict court.
I'VE further find, according to the EVIL
dence introduced at the inquest. that
Sheriff Grant Chase failed to exercise
due authority in restraining the members
OF the posse from firing into the wagon
occupied by tho convlcts and Roy Blunt.
Nad that he is deserving OF great eensure
IN not exercising such authority.
.. ~. A. PETERS.
&c. P. MILLER,
ROY WHITNEY,
III. .. HAMILTON,
&C. d. MARTIN.
IT,. "E. d. oUINLEY."
Move Against chase.
When news Of the verdict was given to
Bartus Wilson Of Springfield. who has
taken leading part In arousing public
sentiment. he declared that In all prob
ability q mass meeting OF sarpy county
citizens to call for Sheriff Chase's reslg-
nation and to take action regarding Gov
ernor Aidrich's letter will be called In
the near future. He said the verdict sup
ported the position taken by vast ma
jority Of sarpy county citizens.
Uproarious demonstrations Of III feeling
were made against Coroner Armstrong.
County Attorney Jamiesen and Sheriff
Grant Chase Of sarpy county and against
County Attorney Clinton Chase OF stan
ton county. brother OF Sheriff Chase. W,
r. Patrick of counsel for the Blunt fam
lily was spplsaded when he engaged in a
personal quarrel with these Officials.
The readins OF letter from Governor
Aldrlch. which one prominent Springfield
man characterized as an insult to the
citizenship Of sarpy county, was another
sensational feature Of the close OF the
inquest.
The case was submitted to the Jury At
40 O'Clock. Before Its submission the
jurors spent fifteen minutes debating the
advisability OF smaking an effort TO get
Sheriff Hyers Of Lancaster county and
John {. Trouton. deputy state fire warden
and deputy to Chief OF Police Briggs OF
Sonth Omaha on the day OF the convict
hunt, TO come TO Springfield and testify
ut the inquest.
Had 1t been decided to make this effort
the continuance Of the inquest until to.
day would have been necessary. but the
jurors decided the additional testimony
would make the reaching Of verdict no
easier and agreed to take no further
evidence.
George Plug and Amos Kelde swore
they cautioned Briggs and Chase. keice
quoted Chase as saying, TO he'll with