Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1915-06-04
WANTED TO FIX"
MORRIS POLICEMAN
Men Accused of Robbery at N
P. Depot Held to Grand
Jury-Have Bad Record


ago on the charge Of having Iobbed A.
Mcleod, Tintah realestate man, as
he was getting off an N. P. train
in this city. Their hearing was held
before Judge Beise Tuesday afternoon
and they were bound over to await the
action of the grand jury at the fall
term of the district court. Bail was
fixed in the sum of $500 each in de-
fault of which the men were commit
ted to Jail and are still guests of
Sheriff Zahl. Sheriff B. E. Schooner,
of St. Cloud, was at the hearing in
hopes of securing the men to answer
to other charges in Stearns county.
At the hearing some interesting
and startling facts were brought out.
Mr.. Mcleod said he was coming over
from Glenwood on the same train with
defendants and as he was about to
leave the car in this city the men
blocked the passage. Finley appeared
to be intoxicated and as he scuff1ed
with Mcleod threw his arm into the
air while others about him crowded
him. About half an hour later he dis
covered the loss of his wallet contain
ing $40.
Chief of Police Stanley Ryan told
how he found the men sitting on a
sidewalk bench in front Of restau-
rant about half-past eleven o'clock at
night on information from Glenwood.
Officer Ryan said he did not mention
the Mcleod robbery at the time but
discussed other matters on the way to
Jail. In the conversation, which
he said was friendly, the men gave
him to understand they were "dips''
and wanted to work in Morris under
protection. "Dips" the officer said,
was the slang vernacular for pick
pockets. At the Jail next day Ryan
was accompanied by Detectives Dasey
of the 500 Line, and W. B. Ryan of
the N. P. when they went to the Jail
and resumed the conversation with the
men. The charges of Mcleod were
recited and Finley declared Mcleod
wanted to make nine dollars. "Only
one came off,. he said. The men want
ed to "fx" with "kickback" which
in plain language means they wished
to square matters by giving Mcleod
$40. They also were willing to set
tie the matter of other charges with
the detectives and railroad officials.
This feature of the testimony was
the most damaging and the court
held the men to the grand jury.
There was no direct evidence showing
they had robbed Mcleod.
The defendants were ably represent
ed by Attorney Ormond who secured
McLeod's admission that he would not
swear that the men accused had robbed
him. The three men faced the detec.
tives and the curious crowd which
filled the little court room without any
indications of nervousness. They haC
come from the Jail neatly groomed
with clean linen and a display o1
jewelry. Diamonds cleaned from theil
neckties and Finley wore an expensive
"hoop" (r;ng). AS the testimony wa:
presented they frequently leaned for
ward with whispered information o.
advise to their counsel, and occasion
ally smile from Foley gleeted th'
gaze of Chief of Police Ryan. Only
once did the men show indications O.
excitement or resentment and tina
was as Chief Ryan gave tine stor!
of the conservation following thei
apprehension. 1t was from Fole!
whose lips moved as if he was utter
ing a curse. The men were unaffect
ed as the court gave his findings ant
fixed the amount of bail.
The men have a criminal record
Finley, the smoothest appearing in tn
bunch, began operating in Chicag
in 1899, according to the detectives
and is reputed to be very clever il
feigning insanity. Under the nam
of Finley he was first arrested fo
burglary. Later as Joe Lether h
was given a reformatory sentenc
with parole. Next he was arreste'
as Tom Murphy on burglary charge
and was sent to the insane hospita
but was later transferred to the Chi
cago reformatory. AS Edward Maso
he was fined $75 for misconduct
After that he assumed the name O
Joe Letcher, committed burglary an
was given six months. He drew
one year sentence for larceny unde
the name of Joe Lehman on tn
charges of larceny. At Kansas Cit
he stole diamond stud valued at $50
was arrested and gave the name 3