Roy Blunt

Officers Censured For Death of Blunt

Springfield, Neb., March 30 - The coroner’s jury in the inquest over the body of Roy Blunt shortly after midnight returned a verdict recommending that Chief of Police Briggs of South Omaha; his special deputy, John C. Trouton, and Sheriff Hyers of Lincoln be held to the district court for the killing of Roy Blunt, and Sheriff Grant Chase of Sarpy county be censured for not preventing the shooting which resulted in Blunt’s death.

The verdict says:

Roy Blunt came to his death on the 18th day of March, 1912, from the effects of a gunshot wound inflicted by a rifle ball, fired from a rifle held in the hands of Chief of Police John Briggs of South Omaha.

We also find that Sheriff Hyers of Lancaster county and John C. Trouton of South Omaha were accessories and recommend that they be held to the district court.

We further find, according to the evidence adduced at the inquest, that Sheriff Grant Chase failed to exercise due authority in restraining the members of the posse from firing into the wagon occupied by the convicts and Roy Blunt, and therefore is deserving of great censure.

The jury remained out six hours and for most of that time appeared to be in a hopeless deadlock.

Governor’s Letter
Coroner Armstrong caused to be read to the crowd at the inquest a letter from Governor Aldrich, in which the latter cautioned the officers of the inquest that the proceedings should be conducted in an impartial spirit and to remember that the posse of officers in pursuit of desperate men; that these officers took their lives in their hands, and that what may have seemed to be unnecessary taking of an innocent life should be considered an unfortunate accident.

Chief of Police Briggs and Sheriff Grant Chase of Sarpy county were the most important witnesses. Briggs had been threatened with violence for his part in the battle. Briggs admitted that once the battle was on, he gave no more consideration to the life of young Blunt than to his own.

"I just decided that we had to fight it out," said the chief, "and I made up my mind to fight until they killed me or the convicts were dead or captured. Revolver bullets and shot from ‘pump’ shotguns were dropping around us like hail and there was nothing to do but defend ourselves."

From the Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), dated March 30, 1912


Convict’s Shot Killed Farmer

South Omaha Police Chief at Inquest Testifies Escaped Prisoners Were First to Open Fire

Springfield, Neb., March 29 - Grant Chase, Sheriff of Sarpy County, testified at a Coroner’s inquest today that a convict fired the shot which killed Roy Blunt, the young farmer who died in the fight between escaped convicts and officers last week.

Chief of Police John. E. Briggs of South Omaha, who led the officers, said the convicts were the first to open fire. "And then I made up my mind I would fight until I died," he declared.

He could not tell whether any one of the three victims of the posse was hit by his bullets.

Country folk drove to town today in considerable numbers, as the feeling of the farmers over Blunt’s death has been intense.

A Coroner’s jury investigating the death of Roy Blunt returned a verdict early this morning recommending that Chief of Police Briggs of South Omaha, his special deputy, John C. Trouton, and Sheriff Hyers of Lincoln be held to the District Court for the killing of Roy Blunt. Blunt was killed in a battle officers had with escaped convicts.

The verdict charges that Blunt was shot with a rifle in the hands of Chief of Police Briggs of South Omaha and that Hyers and Trouton were accomplices.

From the Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas), dated March 30, 1912