The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-29

tie between escaped convicts and Off
GERS in the northern part of Sarpy
county, was given today. They were
DR. B. B. Armstrong, the coroner, ana
Chief of Police Briggs of South Oma-
ha. The coroner said he had been un-
able to tell from the wound the cali
ibre of the bullet which killed Blunt
Chief Briggs, who led the officers, said
the convicts were the first to open
fire He could not tell whether any
one of the dead men was a victim of
his bullets.
The testimony of both witnesses oc-
casloned frequent clashes between at
toIneys for various persons interested.
Coroner Armstrong had to call the
attorneys to order.
Chief of Police Donahue of Omaha,
with nineteen police officers of that
city. were among the witnesses sub
poenaed.
County Attorney Jameson consult
ed with attorneys and officials and de-
cided no attempt would be made to
disarm those present although it was
known that many came armed
Members of the families of the dead
man and his wife came in just before
the proceedings were begun and were
given seats near the jury. The young
widow. almost oblivious of what was
happening about her, sat with her
Almost by the break of day
farmers teams began to line
up at the hitch racks in front
of general stores of the village and the
crowd began gathering in front of the
little opera house where is being held
today The inquest Yer the body OF
Roy Blunt, innocent victim, ten days
ago of a battle against three escaped
convicts. Country roads hub-deep
every style of rig was pressed into
service to bring to town the country
folk. The morning trains also brought
in half a hundred witnesses and
spectators.
The little opera house was well fill
ed long before 10 o'clock, the hour set
for the inquest. County Attorney
Jameson of Sarpy county was present
to assist in conducting the examination
of witnesses. nearly fifty of whom
had been subpoenGed-
There was an array of legal talent,
quite unusual at a corOner'S inquest.
These attorneys represent the widow
and other relatives of the dead man.
Every effort to fix the blame for the
death of Blunt will be made and in
case it should be found impossible to
punish the officer who took Blunts
life the widow will demand heavy
damages from the state.
Mrs. Blunt recently called upon the
governor and was with him for some
time. Both refused to discuss the
visit. but it is known that the woman
sought information as to what the
her for the husband who was taken
from her by the bullet of the over
zeaSous officers.
Seeks Message From Husband.
One of the most pathetic features of
the present case is the effort of Mrs.
Blunt to find some message from her
husband. She visited the penitentiary
in search of some word from the man
to whom she was married Christmas |
day Morley, the only convict left
alive. is in close confin ement but was
allowed to see the woman in the hope /
that he might have some message t
from her husband for her He de- /
MED that Blunt spoke after he was
struck. Morley said the bullet which +
killed the young. farmer came from t
the buggy in which an Omaha police /
officer rode.
1t was Mrs. Blunt who, more than
anyone else, was responsible for the1
capture of the convicts. When they
demanded food she asked them if they
could wait while she killed a chicken. /
They replied they could. She left the
house and ran a mile to the nearest
neighbor where the news that the
convicts were at her home was tele-
phoned to the officers. The convicts
meanwhile. realizing they had been
tricked, took Blunt as a hostage He
was killed before one of the convicts
was struck. although relatives begged I
the excited officers to wait until the
con--icts tried to leave the sled The
horses were seen to be nearly ex-
hausted.
Step by step Morley went over ev-l