The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-06-10


less to protect them in life or proper.
ty, and that it was now useless tc
prosecute Brown or any of his gang
for their crimes, as they could by
perjury prove an alibi in every case,
and thus escape punishment.
! am indebted to Christ. Farley
Esq, for many of the details in thi.
case. He says that about a week
before the robbery occurred, One
Thumbed Thompson called at the
house of Mr.. Collins, got his dinner
and presented a sovereign in pay.
ment. Mrs. Collins in making change
opened her strong box, and thus ex
posed the money to the covetous eye
Of Thompson, who it is supposed in
formed the robbers where it was
kept.
The Fox referred to in this mar.
rative is the man who afterwards
participated in the cold-blooded and
brutal murder Of Col. Davenport a,
Rock Island. Mr.. Collins died re-
Gently at Lyons, where his widow
now resides
In the fall Of the year 1882, w
w. Brown, in company with Jane.
L. Burtis, opened . butcher shop
from which the citizens of Bellevue
were supplied with beef and other
fresh meats. This firm also ran 9
wagon to Galena and sold beef BY
the quarter, besides supplying during
the winter some twenty wood. chop
pers whom Brown had employed tc
cut wood on the island. A remarka.
BILE circumstance connected with this
enterprising firm Of butchers was
that they were never known to pur-
chase any beef cattle, nor we're any
iattened bovines ever seen moving
about the premises. Burtis attended
the slaughter house which was located
nearly opposite where kilborn 4 Co.'S
upper mills now stands, while Brown
disposed Of the meat Notwithstand-
ing these facts, the butcher shop
prospered and never appeared to be
short of stock. In explanation oi
this anomaly in the butchering bust
ness, it may be stated that many
farmers throughout the reighboring
country complained Of the sudden
and mysterious disappearance of their
fattened cattle, which they were new
er able to recover. However sus-
picion was entertained that Brown &
Burtis could, if they would, explain
the mystery connected with the lest
cattle.
During this time circumstance
occurred which was destined in the
end to ventilate the mystery Of the
butcher shop. One Thomas T.
Davis, who lived in the forks Of the
Maquoketa, was fattening a large
yoke Of oxen, which he had contract
ed to George Strasser, of Dubuque.
for one hundred and twenty 1--WE dol
lars. The night before he was to
start to deliver the cattle they were
stolen. Knowing the character OF
Brown 4 Burtis, and the cloud OF
suspicion that rested upon them, Mr..
Davis, after searching for the tracks
of tho cattle, and finding they point
ed in the direction Of Bellevue, start.
ed for this place. 1t had rained
heavily about one o'clock and the
roads were muddy. When he had
arrived this side of kiester's he dis
covered the tracks Of The oxen in
which he was confident he could no,
be mistaken as one of them had shoes
on its forward feet. He followed the
trail to the top of Bakers hill where
he lost all trace Of them. He how.
ever came to town and made known
his loss. Brown Immediately volun.
teered his service to help recover
the lost steck, and accompanied
Davis and Handy to Burtis' slaughte,
house. The latter said upon being
interrogated, that he had killed -four
head Of cattle the previous evening,
but none OF them answered to the
description of those of which the par
ty were in search, which upon further
investigation they we're satisfied was
the fact.
Returning to Bellevue, We ] was
of the party) sought an interview
with Wells. He informed us that
the missing oxen we're stolen by
Trass, and Samuel Croft, one Of Mr.
Davis neighbors, and that they were
seereted in a ravne on South Mill
Creek. Wells explained that Croft
when he went after the cattle, had
ridden horse that was stolen from
the other side of the river the nigh,
before and left at Browns, and that
he returned home late at night. Fol-
lowing this clue Mr.. Davis and jim
Handy went up Mill Creek, where
they found the stolen bullocks and
drove them into town Brown 4
Burtis, to all appearance, were a.
much pleased as was their owner
Davis, at the recovery of the stolen
cattle, and Immediately purchased
them for one hundred and twenty.
FIVE dollars.
After closing up his business Mr.
Davis left for home, boiling over with
Indignation, to think that neighbor
in whom he had heretofore the ut.
most confidence, and one who was
more or less indebted to him for
many little favors in the past, should
be guilty of such an attempt to rob
him. Upon mature reflection, and
after taking into consideration Grof's
standing in society, he being lead
ing member of the Methodiss church
he came to the conclusion that Well.
was one Of the guilty parties. Earl,
in the morning after his arrival home
Davis went to Groff's and found ths,
gentleman engaged in Christian wor.
ship. The morning salutation passed
the visitor related to his host the
story of his trip to Bellevue and it.
result. The mere mention of the
stolen cattle caused Mr.. Croft Il
change color, and his whole form
seemed to tremble with fear. Hi.
appearance dispelled whatever doubt.
Davis might have entertained as /,
his guilt, and he was boldly charged
with the crime, and informed tha
there was positive proof Of the fact
Croft Indignantly and PERSISTENT,
denied any knowledge Of or connec