Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-09-01
SURPRISE TO
Be SPRUNG IN
:. MURDER CASE
Inquest Fails to Develop Any
New Facts in Connection
With Death Of Mrs.
NethaWay.

No new light, other than the clear
ing up of few minor details, was
shed on the murder of Mrs, {. l..
Nethaway at the beginning OF the
coroner's inquest and investigation
yesterday afternoon. Testimony of
the first witnesses, including the .hus-
band, Charles L. Nethaway, a Flor
cnce real estate man, served only to
deepen the mystery surrounding the
commission of the crime. However,
it is said she officers expect to spring
a surprise and ineriminate persons
other than the prisoner, Charles
Smith, held as suspect,
Testimony, instead of putting More
links in the chain of circumstantial
evidence the police are trying to
weave around Charles Smith, negro
suspect, on the faceSof things tended
to weaken the present links.
Mrs. Nethaway was hacked to
death in a lonely spot, where she had
been carried, or forced to go by the
murderer, near South Cut on the
Northwestern railroad Sunday after
noon. She was beaten about the head
and her throat cut from ear to ear.
She was on her way to keep an ap-
pointmefit with her husband He,
later in the afternoon, discovered her
body. Neither criminal assault nor
robbery wefe motives.
The inquest, which was transferred
to Judge Days court room in the
court house will be resumed this
morning at 1880 o'clock. The coro-
ner's jury will again visit the scene Of
the murder this morning.
Husband Chief Witness.
The husband of the murdered
woman was the chief witness yester-
day afternoon. He appeared-nervous
when he went upon the stand to tes-
tify. When he gave his version of
his movements Sunday andy told Of
the happenings leading up to the
finding OF his wife's body, he talked
with bullet like rapidity. He answered
questions put to him by Deputy
County Attorney Patti, representing
County Attorney Magney, 4 in crisp
sentences, piling up his words so bad
'ly at times that it was necessary for
the members Of the jury to stop him
in order to understand him At times
he appeared on the verge OF a break
down.
Mr., Nethaway minutely told of his
whereabouts OH the day of the murder
from the time he left home at 80
o'clock until he, at the head of
searching party discovered his wife's
body in a secluded spot quite dis
tance from the railroad track.
He left home at 80 o'clock, he tes-
tilted, going to his office in Florence,
where he remained but few minutes,
He said he then drove his car to
Omaha to meet some friends. He
was to meet his wife at Briggs cross
ing, Florence. at 3 O'Clock, he testi-
fed. He said he also had an appoint
ment with an Omaha client at Briggs
crossing at the same hour he was to
meet his wife.
Mr.. Nethaway testified he believed
he was late in reaching the crossing,
and said, he believed he left there
about $40 O'Clock. for home, his wife
not having been seen by him. He said
he found the house locked, unlocked
the door, went in and telephoned to
fiis wife's sisters, Mrs. Beiden and
Mrs. BadgeroW.
Husband Becomes Worried.
Neither of the women had seen his
wife. He said he then returned to his
Office, cleaned up and telephoned
his wife's sisters again. By this time