The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-27
Tense Scene
as Cunn1en
FaceInquest
Detectives Carefully Guard
Prisoners in View Of
Cdngsters Threats TO
Get Revenge.
Relatives Are Present

Underworld characters. aligned in
the cause of Henry McArdle. whose
murder Friday they are reported
sworn to revenge. ominously pressed
officers as they led Hanks alleged
slayers. handcuffed, to the waiting
police patrol at the John A. Gentle
man mortuary. causing disquietude
among both the detectives and theii
prisoners. 10 is known that many
Of the gangsters were armed, and fre.
quently during the inquest, nervous
hands caressed pistol butts.
A coroner's jury yesterday after
noon found that Hank McArdle came
To his death as a result of gunshot
wound inflicted by Jimmy Griffin. al
legged gang leader. They recommend
ed the holding of Griffin and his com.
panions. William Welter and Jesse
Banker of Nebraska City, on charges
OF first degree murder.
Room Was Crowded.
The chamber in which the inquest
was held was crowded. Beside figures
known to the Omaha underworld.
relatives OF the slain man and nearly
a score Of police officers and detec-
tives. heavily armed. attended.
II is said that not one of Griffin's
henehmen was in attendance, proof
of the effect upon them Of the oaths
OF McArdle's avengers.
Sobs Of Mrs. D. McArdle. mother
Of Henry McArdle. and the sharp
- -.
James Griffin, wife of the suspected
slayer. punetuated the inquest.
Relatives Attend.
In addition 10 the slain mans
mother. his sister. Mrs. Paul Hunt
ington of Chicago. and his brother.
Z. S. McArdle, Kansas City. were
present. Mrs. Griffin was given a
seat In the front row almost out OF
sight Of Mrs McArdle. Two attor-
neys. whom she retained 20 defend
her husband. sheehan and Lower.
were at her side until the inquest
began.
shortly after ,. the three murder
suspects. Clarence Hanfeldt. a state
witness. and Leo Brunson, who was
kidnapped after the shooting. were led
in. manacled 10 police officers.
Beal i'm Charge.
County Coroner Paul Steinwender
opened the inquest after which the
proceedings were turned over 10
County Attorney Henry Beal.
DIR. S. Mccleneghan. coroner's ply
sician. was the first witness called.
He testified 10 examining the body
Sunday morning. He found it badly
burned. he said. and also found traces
Of several wounds in the abdomen.
although the condition Of the body
made 1t impossible 10 state their na-
ture and whether they were bullet
wounds.
An x-ray examination. he testified.
revealed a bullet back of the right
eye. He found a lump Of burned
blood behind the left ear. Removal
OF this revealed the bullet hole. The
course Of the bullet was traced 10 its
resting place and il was discovered
that it had severed the internal jug
ular vein. McArdle. he declared. might
have lived half an hour after he was
shot. The missile. when extracted.
he pronounced a s5-caliber soft-nosed.
steel. l.iaeketed bullet.
DR.. MeCleneghan found a fracture
OF the skull over the right ear. I'm
pact Of the bullet. he said, In the opin-
ion accounted for Il.
Brunson on Stand.
Leo Brunson. the man who was alb
Quoted in his own car. but who later
made his escape by plunSing through
the side curtains. while the machine
was in motion. testified that on the
afternoon Of the shooting he was in
cigar store at 1890 Cass street
With him were Detective Bob pona-
hue and Henry McArdle. He received
a telephone call from William welter
at the Taylor Battery station. i1s1
North Eighteenth street. requesting
an interview at that place. He LEFT
for the station in his car. accompanied
by MoArile. whom he had promised
TO take wherever he wanted 10 go
later on.
lie stopped his car in front Of the
battery station. <he testified. entering
into conversation with Welter. who
came out and stood on the right hand
side OF the car.
Hanfeldt on Scene.
Clarence Hanfeldt came up a mo-
ment later and stood beside welter.
explaining he wanted TO speak to
Rrunson after a while. Later. Banker
and Griffin. Brunson said, came ur
TO the other side ~ the car. Griffin
ordered Brunson 10 drive along. Hran-
son started II set out of the car.
Get back in that car and drive or
IN KIN YOU Griffin Is alleged 70
have shouted. thrusting a gun against
Brunsen's body. A fisht ensued dur
ing which Hrunson heard shot flred
and saw McArdle cruR'ple up on the
front seat. For 10 minutes. he said.
he hattled With Griffin and Banker,
Who he said tried repeatedly 10 club
him over the head with his revolver
Finally. unconscious. he was dragEea
into the car which sped OF
The jury brought in It's Neniie; IN
10 minutes
Feeling Is high I'm the underworld
N Griffin happens 20 lie released