The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-07-21
Arrested for Horsc-Stealing.

On Sunday morning the 18th inst, about
o'clock in the morning, just as Constable
Lewis of this city was getting up, two stran-
gers, mounted on dusty, evidently worn
down horses, rode up to his door, and asked
for drink of water, which was given them
They then enquired the way to Iowa City,
and also for some person who had buggy
to trade for horse, stating that one of them
had white swelling on his leg, and render
ing riding OH horseback painful. Mr.. Lewis
answered their enquiries, referring them to
Mr.. c. G. Packard as a trading man, who
had buggies which he would be likely to
trade for horse, and pointing out the way
to reach Mr.. p. residence on horseback
After these enquiries had all been answered,
the strangers rode away, but instead Of pro-
ceeding in the direction of Packards, they
followed the Dahlonega road to the top of
the hill, but turned off at that point into the
bushes. A few moments after Mr.. Lewis
saw the same men coming from the thicket
and proceeding towards town down Court
ST., past the Jail.
Everything considered, the appearance OF
the men and the horses, the unreasonable
hour, the questions, all together excited a
suspicion in Mr.. Lewis mind that the stran-
gers were housewives, and the horses stolen
property Impressed with this idea he pro-
ceedcd to the residence of Sheriff Lewis at
the Jail, and made him acquainted with tn
facts, enqulring if he had received bills OF
notices of stolen horses, the Sheriff had not,
but it was concluded to watch by the horses,
the Sheriff suggesting that they could prob
ably astertain by the conduct of the fellows
when they came after them whether they
were stolen or not. They accordingly pro-
ceeded in that direction, noticing as they
were going up the bluff the movements OF
the men who went down Town and thence
started in the direction of Packard's resi-
dence H.. .-...-.. s.....-.- ... ...a
The Sheriff's party easily found the horses
hitched in athcket just back of. D. Devins
residence, and took seat near them in a
position to be seen from every direction, and
had been there only few minutes, when
large man with heavy whiskers (not one
Of the above mentioned) approached, and
on discovering the party went rapidly away
in the direction of Dahlonesa, making signs
in the direction from which he came. Short.
ly after one of the men made his appearance,
coming directly towards the horses, but
seeing the party watching, passed by walk,
ing rapidly to the house of Mr.. Cambell neal
by, and enquired the way to Iowa City
Abba, &C., and then went off in an opposite
direction.
After waiting while Sheriff Lewis went
to Packa DIS House and found one of the
chaps there Packard had professe,' read.
mess to trade, and desired to see the horses
and the fellow went after them ostensibly
After he was gone Mr.. p went with Sheriff
Lewis to the horses, and renamed there
a while, and starting back, met the last men
toned man coming up, and tried to get him
to 60 with them and point out the horses he
wanted to trade, but he made sundry excuses,
wanted to see his partner, wanted his break
fast, and edged himself off, and was seen
running for dear life in north-westerly d.
rection and has not been seen since.
On consultation it was thought best to
secure the horses, and they were taken to
D. B. Abrahams Livery Stable. Every one
acquainted with the facts now being satisfied
that the circumstances were sufficiently sus-
picious to justify the arrest of the parties,
a warrant was procured, but only one of the
men could then be found. Previous to his
arrest he was taken to the Stable and aues-
toned about the horses. He pretended at
first and for sometime that he had never
seen them before, and knew nothing about
them, but on being confronted with Packard,
Lewis and others who had recognized him,
he admitted that one of the horses was his,
and that his partner was horse thief All
his statements We're however, contradictory,
dDSuIi. I1c was dITcSbcu anu Oh Moi
day brought before Esq. Lotspeich, who,
after hearing all the testimony, recognised
him in the sum Of $1,000 to appear at the
next term of the District Court, to answer
charge of Larceny. His name is John Bower
Halsey, and he is from Galesburgh ILL.,,
several of our citizens testified to having
known him there under that name
Hendershott & Burton appeared for the
prosecution and Stiles g. Williams, for the
defense. He gave the name of his comran-
ion, who is at large, as Wilson. The latter is
about feet 8 inches in hight, blue eyes,
rather light complexion, sandy beard and 80
to 40 years Of age.
Celebration ut Ash In md.