Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-23
SLAYER OF OFFICER
CONFESSES TO DEED
Mexican Makes Signed State.
ment Admitting Murder of
Cornelius Cross.
SAYS HE FIRED FOUR SHOTS

Evidence against Naearis Percs
Romero, Mexican who shot and
killed Cornelius Cross, Northwestern
special agent, early Sunday in the
Northwestern yards, was clinched
yesterday when the murderer made
signed statement in the presence
of detectives and newspaper men in
which he admitted that he killed the
officer.
Romero said that he and Julian
Lopez and Mignet Aqurre, went to
the yards Saturday night at midnight
to rob a merchandise car. He said
that they were surprised by Cross,
who caught him in the box car He
fred one shot at Cross from the car,
he said, and then jumped close to
the ground and ran. Cross shot him
in 'the hip, Romero stated, and he
then turned and fired three more bull
lets. All of them took effect.
Lopez and Aquirre corroborated
Romero's statement.
In raid on a Capitol avenue board
ing house score of prisoners were
taken, and box car loot estimated to
be worth $500 was recovered.
Paul O'Leary, l6-year-old call boy
employed by the railroad, was with
Cross at the time of the tragedy.
D. Identifies Aguirro.
The youth had obtained a good
look at the man Cross struck with
the gun, however, and when he saw
Aguirro, he positively identified him.
The killing took place at about 2
o'clock in the morning, and within
few minutes, nearly fifty police and
railroad detectives were searching the
river bottom sections for Mexicans
answering the description given by
O'Leary.
Young O'Leary accompanied w. T.
Dineen, chief special agent for the
Northwestern in the hunt, and was
the first to see Aguirro.
The house was Immediately sur
rounded, and when officers broke in,
all three men were found together
talking with other Mexicans. No re-
sistence was offered, principally be-
cause the police entered with drawn
pistols, prepared for battle.
Find An Arsenal.
When the men taken in the raid
were searched at Headquarters, a COL
lection of knives, daggers and guns
large enough to fit punitive expedi-
ton, were taken from them.
In the house were found bundles OF
merchandise. all identified as stolen
from cars. This included expensive
rugs, dry goods, silks, clothing, shoes
and medicines. The gun taken from
the dead officer was not found
Il want to compliment Chief of
Detectives Maloney for the manner in
which this case was handled" de-
clared w. T. Dineen, chief special
agent for the Northwestern.
The officers who made the raid
were led by Mr.. Dinecn and consisted
of Detectives Brinkman, Unger, Barta,
Walker, Gaughn, Murphy, Rooney,
Lahey, Pipkin Sutton and, Cunning.
ham, Policemen Woods and Krebs
and Chief Special Agent Lowell OF
the Union Pacific, Special Agent Cash.
man Of the Union Pacific, Special
Agent Palmtag OF the Missouri Pa
cihc and Special Agent Lahey of the
Illinois Central.
Cross Young Man.
Cross was % years old, and unmar.
ried. He lived with his father and
grandparents at 2S66 Binney, and had
been employed by the Northwestern
only three months. Previous to that
he had been employed by the Missouri
Pacific. On the first day of his en-
ployment with the Missouri Pacific
he encountered two highwaymcn and
engaged them in a pistol duel, result.
ing in the woundng and capture OF
both.
He had a splendid record as an Of.
hccr and was highly regarded for his
bravery and efficiency by his superiors
/ No funeral arrangements have been
made vet