The Coconino sun., 1926-02-19
LIPP R0BBER ADMIT TED
GUILT; VAlNLY TRIED TO
IMPLICATE THREE IIORE

Jack Coleman, alleged cowboy, and
confessed ro5ber-thug, who was
brought back here last week from
Santa Fe to stand trial for beating
up and robbing Emil Lipp and rob-
bing Jack ellis. for several days gave
County AttoTneg Frank Harrison and
Sheriff John Parsons and his depu-
ties no end Of trouble
Coleman, first protesting his limo
cence, finally announced that ne
would "come through" and tell ali.
So, setting his huge Stetson on the
back Of his head, he told a circumstan-
tial story about how he and Jim Nc
Gam, well-knoWn Flagstaff man, and
third man, an unknown Mexican,
concocted the scheme to rob Lipp He
said Iipp had twice that night sent
him to McGann to buy booze, each
time giving him $5. Each time he
bought a pint, he said, and got 81 in
change.
McGann was arrested. On Monday
the men we're brought together in the
sheriff's office and Mr.. Harrison
questioned them. McGann said he
had nothing whatever TO do with Cole
man or the robbery, that he had sold
Coleman no booze and doesn't sell
booze anyway; that, in short, Coleman
was a damn liar.
Lipp said he had meyer sent Cole
man to McGann for booze; that he
bought no booze that night, that he
didn't need to buy any as al the men
who happened into the shack that
night brought some with them.
So McGann was reieased.>
In the meantime a Mexican had
been arrested and Coleman emphati-
cally identified him as one Of those
who had helped pull the job OH Lipp.
But the only effect Coleman's insist
ence that he knew him had on the
Mexican was to convince him that
Coleman was either drunk or crazy.
Eventually, when County Attorney
Harrison told Coleman he was lying
and that he never had seen the Mexi-
can before, Coleman nonchalantly adj
mitted it,
But Coleman still claims there was
Mexican. Also several days after
trying to implicate the others he tried
to put part Of the blame off an to an
other well-knoWn Flagstaff man. The
latter, as soon as he heard of it, called
on Mr.. Harrison with proof that he
was at home the night the robbery
took place.
Coleman, whom Lipp says is the
only intruder he saw in his room be-
fore he was dubbed unconscious with
stick Of stovewood, waived prelim-
mary hearing before Justice Of Peace
Tom Pulliam on Tuesday and was
held for trial in superior court.
Coleman was brought here. several
weeks ago by Prof. Francis Osborne
Of Teachers college, as an act Of
kindness. He met Coleman practical
ily stranded, in Albuquerque, recogniz-
ing him as a former acquaintance.
He introduced him to some Of the col
4 8lege boys, including Jake Bracker;
i then went on to the state university
lat Tucson for q few months special
study. Coleman convinced Jake that
Il he was a four-rope artist, probably
about the best in the world, and that
he had been With the big rodeo
4 shows. Then, without waiting for
j Jake to arrange benefit wild-West
show for him, he pulled his stunt on
Lipp and disappeared, only to be ar
rested three days later lie is for-
4 tunate that he does not have to am
swer to o charge Of murder, for Lipp
was "out" for several hours. County
Attorney Harrison says he doubts if
Coleman, VINO says he's from Billings,
1 Mont, eyer sat horse in his life.
4 He denied ever telling BrackeI that he
was a rope artist.
4