The coroner's jury had found Chief of
Police John Briggs, of South Omaha, responsible for the murder of
Roy Blunt. Sheriff Hyers and Captain Trouton were held as ascessories
(sic), and they were held to the district court. A controversy arose
among these officers and one blamed the other. In an interview with
a "World Herald" reporter,
Mr. Briggs makes a frank statement. He said: "You may state
that there is no one more sorry over the killing of Roy Blunt than
I am. Certainly it is a sad affair, and for my part if any of the
reward is offered to me, I will at once turn it over to the widow.
The sight of the dead young man that night in the wagon was about
as sad a sight as I ever saw. While I do not think that I shot the
man, I do not wish to state that it was impossible. I am willing
to take my part of the blame for the sad affair. I did my duty as
I saw it, being careful not to shoot the man who drove the team.
We came upon the bandits suddenly. We were
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fired upon by them, and we thought only of our duty
as officers. Of course, after it is all over with, people who were
in Omaha at the time had plenty of leisure to tell how the capture
might have been effected in other ways. I did not have three or four
days to think it over, but had only a few minutes, and I did the
best I could under the rush of circumstances. If I cared to at this
time, I might make a detailed statement that might place me in a
different light. There seems to be plenty of others willing to talk;
in particular, the sheriff of Lancaster county. For unadulterated
untruth and the coining of the same, I will have to admit that I
must take off my hat to Mr. Hyers. He is the limit."
And Captain Trouton, who was driving during the shooting, says that
he saw Morley shoot Blunt through the back. At the trial of these
gentlemen held at Wahoo, they all came clear. Morley appeared as
a witness. On another page is a picture of him, Warden
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