The Omaha guide., 1935-02-09
W LILLIAN
BLACK GOES
TRIAL
Makes Good Witness For Himself.

William Black, who was charged
with robbing the Twenty Grand Pool
Hall, 1918 N. oath Street, on Septem-
Der 2, 1884, went on trial in Judge
Yeager's Court February 9Th, 1885.
The following are the witnesses called
by the State: Thomas Coleman, 25O2
Lake, Clifford Sappho, 2428 Decatur.
John Lee, 1924 N. &c Street, Andrius
Logan, 2425 Erskine, Patrick Golden,
1922 N. 26 Street, and Jack Dillups,
1918 N. "a Street. Douglas County
Attorney Fitzgerald is prosecuting
the case, assisted by Oscar T. Doerr.
Attorney Jamieson's office is defend
ing Black, and S. A. Lewis is the
leading attorney in the case.
1t is alleged that William Black
walked into the Twenty Grand Pool
Hall and ordered a crap game started.
After the game had been in progress
about half an hour, it is alleged by
witnesses that Black pulled out a gun
and ordered all present to "stick 'em
up, and that he took all the money
on the table and backed out the door
with the gun still in his hand.
Black explained to the reporter Of
the Omaha Guide what happened in
the scene. He also gave a very
straightforward testimony. He said
that he went into the pool hall on
September 2, and that there was a
crap game in progress. He took part
n the game, and when Thomas Cole
mans turn came to shoot the craps.
Coleman used a crooked pair Of dice.
which Black did not detect at first.
Black lost about $4,000. After Cole
mar did not get faded by anyone in
the game, Coleman passed the dice
around. When they were returned.
Black faded Coleman, Blacks point
being four, total sum $1,000. At this
point Black paid close attention to
Coleman's dice and found that they
were loaded. Black picked them up
and examined them and found that
there was no way TO miss a point, as
there were no deuces, tours or SKIES
on the dice.
Black says he put the dice in his
pocket and took them out in front,
where he told a friend that he had
been robbed of $4,000 with crooked
dice. His friend said, "Take this gun
and go back and get your money.
Black took the gun, went back and
asked for his money. He was holding
the gun in his hand. He said that
everybody rushed from the table. He
walked over to the table and picked up
about $1,000 in silver, which was a
part Of his money, and he says that
all he witnesses who testified against
him, made a rush for the currency in
the bag on the table. He said he
SAONShS IAACy llASI nave ROL SOl16 O1
it. He said that there was d Bible
saving book, seemingly locked, on the
table. He doesn't know what became
of it.
At the close of the trial on We'd
nesday, Black was still on the witness
stand under Mr.. English's keenest and
wittiest deputy, Mr.. Fitzgerald. Up
to that time Mr.. Fitzgerald was I'M
able to shake or break down Blacks
testimony.
The Omaha Guide reporter learned
from Detective Sergeant Jenkins,
who was waiting to be called as State
witness, that Black had told jenkins
the same story as related, when Black
was in Jenkins custody enroute from
Minneapolis to Omaha.
Detective Sergeant Jenkins had not
been called as State witness when the
court adjourned at 5 p. m. The case
is to be argued Thursday and is K
pected to go to the jury shortly after
noon.