Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-01

proved motion that witnesses be ex-
cluded until they arc called to testify.
Sutton was the first witness called by
the prosecution.
Witness testified he was engaged
three months investigating and
watching the Omaha Detective asso-
citation.
Work of Mrs. Phelps.
Sutton said he told Elsie Phelps to
go through with 1t" when she told
him of her work for the Omaha De-
tective association. She kept him
posted on the alleged blackmail plot
Witness testified he had no commune
cation with Johnny Lynch.
Sutton related details Of May IA,
when he arrested Winkler.
II saw Critics at his Office the even
ing OF May IL. Wright, Donahue and
Garfield were there. We left Critics
and remained near the Office until 10
O'Clock, when commotion at Critics
Office aroused us. II was dark, but I
observed Winkler had large gun
and Mote, and Day had pistols and an
other man was unarmed. ! stumbled
downstairs"
Arrest of Winkler.
Judge Baker admonished Sutton
not to volunteer so much evidence.
Sutton continued:
Il ram to the corner and met Dona-
hue, who was facing Notes gun. Mote
admonished Donahue not 10 come
near him. I told Mote to drop the
gun. j went 10 Fishers Office, where
! met Critics, Garfield, Winkler, Day,
Mote and Fisher. ] arrested Winck-
Ter on order OF the sheriff and mayor"
Sutton said he came to Chadron at
the instance of Kugel and himself.
Elsie Phelps and Critics tod him OF
the meeting to be held by Critics, Mrs.
Hood and Elsie Phelps. He said he
was informed that in the next room
would be the sheriff, mayor and a
United States marshal. Hi had been
informed, Critics told me, they would
make him sign papers and would at
tempt to blackmail him and Mr.. and
Mrs. Hood, and wanted me to witness.
Critics said he was going ID his Of
fee expecting the blackmaii plot.
Just before the hearing was called
today all appeared confident OF the |
outcome. Detective Pipkin arrived in |
advance. Detective Sutton. Elsie
Phelps and Jimmie" Ford met Pipkin |
and Dolan on the street and ex-
changed sullen glances.
Sutton and Ford were in constant |
attendance upon Mrs. Phelps, who |
has denied herself to callers. Ford was |
Z waiter at the Lakeside hotel in |
Omaha and came here to help Sutton. |
Robert Hood, ting wealthy lumber
man, who has become one OF the cen-
trail figures in the case, left town
Monday evening. Friends will not re-
veal his whereabouts. Mrs. Hood is
attending to her husbands business
as usual.
"My husband has gone away on
business" said Mrs. Hood.
Efforts of the Omaha Detective as
ISOLATION to gather evidence for Hood
against his wife and Elsie Phelps
counter efforts with Sutton precipi-
tated situation which eventuated in
the greatest thrill Dawes county seat
ever experienced.
Many Lawyers in Case.
County Attorney Critics and Fisher,
complainant and one of the de-
PENDANTS, respectively, have been
residents here many years. Both
have host OF friends and the
whole county is agog to know lust
how true are the charges and counter
charges.
H. G. Bronze OF Omaha is assisting
County Attorney Critics in the prose.
eution. E. C. Mcdowell Of Craw-
ford is counsel for Mote and Day.
Ben S. Baker represents the Oma-
hans. NJ. F. Harrington is attorney
for Fisher. L. J. Flager, Billy the
Bear" is clerk OF the court.
Daughter Of Engineer.
Mrs. Hood is the daughter OF
Eugene Gordon, one OF the oldest en-
gineers in the service OF the North
western railroad, who now resides at
Hot Springs, S. D. The family for
merly lived here. She taught school
1t Plainview, Valentine, Crete and
later was playground director at .
Lincoln.
Mr.. Hood, who is highly respected, ,
has lived here many years. The state
ment that he is a banker is a mis-
take. He operated large Touring .