Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-11-16
{. ROONEY HAS
PRELIMINARY
TODAY
.re ADDUCED BY EVIDENCE
A!vnIS0rspoNDS AvI0 TO WHAT DEVE-
TOPPED AT INQUEST.
INFANT MURDER A MYSTERY
Ludence Tends to Show Mrs. Amos
uovard as Guiltless of Accusation
Rooney Apparently Innocent.

G Rooney was brought up from
.;tes by the officers asst Saturday and
oaoed in the county Jail on a charge
murder of his one-dayold daughter
Sites several weeks ago. Since the
flair was first brought to the atten-
sou of the officers Deputy Sheriff VIM.
Ellor has been detailed on the case and
as been in Sites conducting the in
designations and he is the complaining
fitness against the accused.
Rooney protested all knowledge OF
hA murder of his child stated that he
Isnted the matter cleared up as much
"a the officers of the county. The
itizens o. Sites were very much stir
ed up a week ago Wednesday when the
lew born child of the Rooneys was
ound strangled to death in closet of
he Rooney home, and the findings were
epOrted to the county officers and
bheriff Yates, County Prosecutor Hat
tsbaugh and Coroner Blake went down
u Sites the evening of the same day
b conduct investigation and to noId
be cOroner's inquest.
| The baby was born about s o'clock
tuesday evening, October 81, Mr..
Rooney being present at the time.
Later he secured the services of Mrs,
AmOS Howard, e neighbor, who, remain
d until about ten O'Clock that night
Baking care of the baby and caring for
the mother. Other women of the
teighbOrhood came in during the next
Ray and looked after the household
kiuties of the home, and the same day
about y O'Clock Mrs. Howard again
Fsted the Rooney home, washed anc
pressed the baby and looked after the
fhOther Mrs. Howard stated that she
placed the baby in bed with its mother
Between her and the wall of the room,
gathered up the soiled clothes and took
Fhem down stairs, departing for home a
fhOrt time after twelve O'Clock.
Mrs. Rooney, the mother, told a story
Flat did not correspond in every parti,
kuar with that of Mrs. Howard, claim.
Fng that Mrs. Howard gathered up the
Enld and the clothing and placed th1
Pundle OF clothing in the bed and then
Fsrned the child down stairs.
About five o'clock of the same day
kaH. Howard while on her way to tn-
|noohey home met the 4ather who stated
faat The child had disappeared and that
fne was suspected of having something
n 10 with it. Mrs. Howard denied all
|snowiedge of anything as alleged and
rieeiy offered to go to the house and to
|rssS. 4 Rooney in making a search, and
sae did this but at the suggestion OF
Eso0ney, N his wife becoming hysterical al
|.ne SIGHT of Mrs. Howard, she left be-
Pore The child was discovered.
NelghGors began to gather by this
,,me, the news having spread, and they
assisted IN the search. Mr.. Rooney dis
rIselea s, the body of the child in 9
C.Oses In the hall about sixteen fee.
G,Om H. The place where it was born
...Uohey, who has searched alone up
sss a,is brought down a bundle of clothes
AN a piaclng the same on the floor in the
ra;aagg 4a,ag room in the presence Of the
',snd sneors, stated that he had found the
fau ne IN the closet and then left to in
0,m ~. Mr. Butler Of his discovery.
|tha aI.er , -'ooney returned with Butler
,s0. 'oeal doctor and other Sites citi
buna.o 70 the Rooney residence, and the
t.;n !. was nnrolled and found to con
s,.;a a .le body of the child. A muslin
batr, mas been drawn tight around the
,s": No. neck and it was gagged with
animal number of witnesses were ex
ys,a;sl eu al the coroner's inquest and 9
tba t. ase was brought in by the Jury tc
n sact saiect that the child had come e
M, uealn by suffocation or stranoula
sons ~ ,ne hand of some person or per
Aomie;aaH, ;Hnown to the jury and with
then a, an1 intent. No arrests were made
coursa 'nu the matter has been in the
Roons. VI investigation since unit
Granos was arrested and brought up to
lim;nssssv and lodged in Jail. the pre-
before Probate batng gn6en being fixed for today
ouuge 1Srr1S.
m work of the Preliminary.
o'cloet preliminary re ! hearing set for ter
brought ana m lasting Throughout the day
As al -, :, Out substantially the same fact,
told aho' ne coroner's m inquest and as are
towards - The evidence tends to point
Rooney 'ne implication of the wife OF
toney m, Rooney has engaged no at
HIMSELF A1 M : handling his own case fol
be nervora Inc accused does not seem t.
prOeeedinass OF to be affected by thu
N his ma,t 3 ana is particularly franl
Mrs. NIseeal "a anything. a'0'
sed' pss.: seems to have been s h;ntea ~ .,
tiaonv c,pltant p and a part of the tes :
Mrs. Ho VI Amos Howard. husband o,
which ward Sod gives some of the fact,
'eioped the evening of Wed