El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-18

petition which set out that Ross had
gathered evidence against certain
prominent persons
Geo B. Oliver Testifies.
George B. oliver, United States com
considerable talk about the hOldup.
Ross, he said. worked in an office op-
posite his in the federal building for
two or three years After Ross left the
government service, the witness said
that he worked for the Mexican gov
eminent and then for the Western De-
tectiVe agency. Indictments were pend
ing in the federal court against promi-
nent FL Pasoans, the witness said. Ross,
he said, was working for the enforce
ment Of the neutrality laws when the
indictments were returned
Judging from the men I have talked
to II would be very difficult to get a
jury that had not formed an opinion, ="
the witness said. Several persons ap-
peared jubilant when Ross got into
trouble" the witness said. These he
always considered influential, and they
4 were some of those charged with Of
/ fences in the federal court" He said
I they knew that Ross as he was stu
ated, could not give any evidence in
! their cases.
Might Secure Impartial Jury.
The witness stated that If a great
deal Of time was given, an impartial
/ jury might be secured, but under the
ordinary methods of getting a jury he
thought it would be very difficult
On cross examination the witness said
that he was a member Of the execU-
tive committee Of the Citizens league
He did not think that any of the mem
bers Of the league We're prejudiced
against Ross.
There were only Is members Of the
executive committee, and only these
knew OF the gambling Investigations
made by Ross.
Arrest Caused Satisfaction.
Three Krabauers were among those
Indicted for a violation of the neutrali-
ty laws, the witness said. Win Burgess,
he said, was one Of those who eZ-
pressed qualification al Ross accusa-
ton of the offence with which he
As result Of Ross's activity, the
witness said, he did not know of any
one who had been indicted for gam
bling.
The witness expressed the opinion
that Ross had been censUred for his
connection With the Mexican govern
ment in the way Of enforcing the neu-
trality laws. Judge ColoWelL Mr..
Sweeney, Mr.. Shelton. Howe and Bur
ges, he said, he had heard condemn this
system
The overwhelming sentiment OF the
city was against gambling, the wit
ness said, but yet it was in progress
every day. The majority of the per-
sons he knew, he said, were in favor
Of the enforcement OF the gaming laws
Officers Know of Gambling.
From what I know Of the situation,
there are officers in FL Paso who know
that gambling is going on, and let It
go on and when it is brought to their
attention, it raises a prejudice" the
witness declared.
"a certain police officer was watch
ing a gambling game at the Hotel Nc
Coy before the hoIdup. These things
make me think that the gambling
edge Of the police The gambling game
I spoke Of was not reported" Mr. Oil
yer said.
The witness said that in his opinion.
on account Of Ross being connected
with transactions sometimes termed
"frameups," the prejudice against him
would make it difficult to get an i'm
partial jury.
E. NJ BlanfOrd, special agent Of the
United states government, stated that
he had discussed the case with a num-
Der Of persons. The majority Of those
he said. expressed the opinion that Ross
was guilty.
Rhein Heard Ross Discussed.
J. E. Rhein, who was one Of the
signers Of the affidavit attached to the
application for a continuance, testified
that he had heard numerous persons
discuss the robbery. In his opinion, he
stated that there was no question about
the defendant having been prejudiced
The consensus of opinion is, the witness
said, that Ross was guilty and it would
be very difficult for Ross to get an
impartial trial he knew that Ross's
work for the government consisted in
making Investigations against snug
glers Of ammunition. People in gen
eral do not think much Of a man who
is engaged in ferreting out crimes.
the witness said
The witness said that he heard from
a reliable source about gambling in FL
Paso- The police, he said, would not
use their influence for Ross. The Wit
ness said, the next morning after the
holdup, he discussed the affair with
Bryan, Of Bryan brothers. He said that
Mr.. Bryan said that Ross was guilty
He said that he had talked with Mr.
Oliver and postmaster Smith. also Mr.
Brldgers. The witness said he was in
the Justice court during the prelimin-
airy hearing and asked Mr.. Bridgers
what he thought about the case. Mr.. (
Brldgers- he said, told him he thought
Ross was guilty and ne knew enough
evidence against him to hang him. The
witness said he asked Mr.. Bridgers I
what he thought about circumstantial
evidence The witness stated that he
merely recOunted the incident TO show
the opinions that he had heard ex-
pressed On cross examination, the wit
ness said ne had probably heard about I
UO persons nWnr6eG the OTlfufnr haH h.