Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-09-01
SINGULAR CASE.
Robbery and Attempt to Murder.

SISSSOlsAh OASE.
Robbery and Attempt to Murder.
Mr.. &. w. Fair, Of Pleasant town
ship. informs ms that on Monday morn
ing. Z. +. Widger, of that township.
while hunting his horses on Cedar
creek. came across man lying in the
creek, with all his clothes off except
his boots and socks. The place where
the man was found was an out of the
way place where scarcely any person
would ever go, unless on the kind of
GRAND in which Mr.. Widgcr was en-
gagged. When found tho man was in
sensible. and had two wounds on the
back of his head and one on his hand,
and had several scratches on his face,
as though he had been hit with some
blunt instrument. Mr.. Widger got
him out Of the creek, and got Joseph
Burnaugh and Sam'l Gillis, who lived
not far OIL, to assist him, and they took
the man to a house aud did all they
could for him. Next day thcy took
him 10 Batavia and tried to ascertain
something about him, but with no re-
suit. This morning the man was
brought TO this city, and has partially
recovered his senses. From what can
be Cleaned from his disconnected
story, he got of at some station on the
railroad and was walking around near
the depot. when some one struck him
on the head from behind, and he can
remember nothing more, except that
there were two other men came up
after the frat one had struck him. lie
had about forty dollars in his watch
fob pocket when he was attacked, but
now has only dollar or two in his
coat pocket. When found, his clothes
wore scattered around on the bank.
with the exception Of his shirt and
pants. which were found in tho creek.
The superstition is that he was robbed
at Batavia and carried and thrown
into Cedar, some six or seven miles
from Batavia, under the supposition
that he was dead. Hc has some tick.
cts in his pocket that indicate that his
name is Joseph McrkleD, of New York,
l5O Attorney street, and is restaurant
keeper by occupation. There was also
found in his pocket part of ticket
from Union j Junction to San Francisco,
California. A letter has been written
to his wife, directed to tho address in.
dictated, and it lie hoped it will develop
the history of the man, though it il
feared the foul Williams who robbed
and sought TO murder him, may never
be detected. The man will be duly
cared for by our county authorities
until his friends can be heard from.
George Murphy, a lad Is or II year
of age. was arrested yesterday fol
breaking into freight car in the yart
of the G B. g. Q. railroad. lie wa
taken before Esq. Lotspeich and en-
tered plea of guilty, but in default Q
bail was sent to the county Jail unit
, the meeting of the District Court. III
is said to be a very bad boy, and ha
at different times been arrested TO
} crimes of q similar nature, but on &C
count of his youth, friondlcss situation
and promises of reformation he ha
been allowed to escape punishment.
Billy Armstrong says he is deter
mined that such conduct shall be stop
ped, and that he will prosecute to tn
bitter end any person found prowlin,
around the company's premises in tn
night, or found carrying Off any o
\their property.