Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-03-27
M'KENNA NAMES
EbERSTEIN And
RINGER IN TRIAL
Witness in KatIeman Case
Says He Was Released
After Judge Held Him
Under SIS, 900 Bond.

VIVuCI VO,VOO 0VIius
Police Commissioner Ringer and
Chief of Police Eberstein released
William ]. McKenna and allowed
him to go free in spite of the fact
that the police Judge had bound him
over to the district court under
$1,000 bond, the latter testified at
the trial of Maurice Katleman in
district court yesterday.
katleman is charged with aiding
and abettng McKenna and L. c.
Jones in the stealing of automobiles
When Ringer and Eberstein re-
leased McKenna he had been ar
rested several times on the charge
OF stealing automobiles.
Assistant County Attorney Sla-
baugh stated that he knows of no
law or ordinance allowing the po-
lice commissioner or chief of police
to release a prisoner after he has
been placed under bond for trial in
the higher court
Ure Made Investigation.
City Commissioner Ure made an
investigation several weeks ago into
the disappearance of number of
prisoners after they were held by
the police judge. McKenna was one
of them. Commissioner Ringer at
that time declined to state how Nc
kenna gained his liberty.
Mckenna was grilled in search
ing examination and cross-examina-
ton on the witness stand. His life
for the last 10 wears was reviewed
by Attorney Ben Baker for Katie
man.
The theft of one Buick and two
Oakland cars in September, 1918, he
has confessed to. / Under examina-
ton by Attorney Baker he admitted
that he was arretsed for stealing a
Ford some time in October. He was
released under $3.50 bond then.
While out on this bond he was ar
rested for stealing a Maxwell. 1t
was then that he was bound over
under a $4,000 bond.
How long were you in Jail under
that bond?" asked Mr.. Baker.
About two weeks" replied Nc
Kenna.
DO you know who released you?
81 do"
who was it,"
Names Chief Eberstein.
"Chief Eberstein."
Did Mr.. EbNstein require any
bond from your"
mot that l know Of"
you made an affidavit, didn't
your"
Yes, sir"
"Where was that made?"
I'm Mr.. Eberstein's Office"
"Who took you up there"
Chief of Detectives Briggs"
"Who told you you were free after
you had signed the affdayit!"
mo one. | just judged from the
conversation that | could co.
AT whose request did you sign
the affidavit"
"Mr. Ringers and Mr.. Eber-
STEMS" / -,
Were You arrested after that?"
yes"
what for?"
Stealing car belonging to Mr..
Judson."
"What became of that carr"
Il never saw the car.
No Promises Made.
when you made the affidavit DID
Ringer or Eberstein promise you
vcur freedom"
No, sill"
They just let you go'"
\ yes"
You didn't agree to testify
against Katleman?" :.
Il knew Id be witness. | don't
care whether KatIeman's convicted
or not. I'm here to testify to the
truth"
Lowell c. Jones, partner of Nc
Kcnna in stealing automobiles, was
put on the witness stand by the state
after Mckenna had testified for six
hours. He told of alleged dealings
with the men higher up" who. he
said, were katleman and Red"
Neal of Peru. He said he went into
Maurice Katleman's store, the
Washington Shirt company, Six
teenth and Farnam streets, the mid
die of September, 1918, to try to
dispose of Buick roadster that he
ard McKenna had taken from
Shashay's roadhouse in East Omaha
Katleman told me to come back
in day or two he testified. He
said Red Neal would be in and he
might be able to dispose of it."
He then detailed the alleged move
ments of the two thieves and Katie
man and Neal which ended, accord.
ing to his testimony, when Katie.
man and Neal brought two men by
the name of Clark, purporting tc
come from Missouri, out to the
cache in East Omaha. There the
car was sold for SIS, he said, or
condition that McKenna and Jones
would deliver it at the end of the
scas< line at Albright