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

thtt therefore II tnev cOuiu NOT make
out their case without his testimony.
they had better abandon il. In this
view OF the case Moss fully concurred.
Croft hearing that Davis had come
to Bellevue followed him to town, and
when they met harsh words passed
between them, the former threatening
the latter with dire vengence, if he
should persist in the prosecution. At
this point Brown interfered with his
usussl bland and Isgo-like address,
saying that he was friend to both
parties; that they were friends and
ought not to quarrel; that if he be-
lieved Croft to be guilty he would go
as far as any one TO bring him TO JUS
tice, but he knew he was innocent,
and when the proper time came, he
would point out the thieves to Davis;
that to tell him now would amount to
nothing, and might prevent the arrest
Of the real culprits. Mr.. Moss, the
attorney for Davis, was present, and
consented to the withdrawal of the
prosecution, Brown agreeing to pay
the costs. This was the origin of Mr..
Davis troubles, which finally resulted
in his death at the hands of Croft.
Although the prosecution against
Croft was thus diminished nearly
every one believed him guilty Brown
and Burtis were strongly suspected
Of cattle stealing, and for time their
butchering business was confined to
supplying Bellevue and Browns en-
ployes with meat, the stock slaughter
ed being purchased from neighboring
farmers. But scarcely had these sus-
picions been allayed, and the theft of
Davis oxen ceased to be the topic Of
conversation, when a new sensation
WAS developed.
A Mr.. Donner, who lived on Sand
Prairie, nearly opposite the mouth of
the Maqnoketa river, tthe farm upon
which Mr.. Cooper now resides), had
fine yoke of oxen stolen from him,
which were traced to Bellevue. Mr..
James Bate came to town with Don
ner in search of the stolen property.
They met Burtis here who immediate
ly requested them to search his prem
ises, declaring that he would have no
suspicion Of dishonesty resting upon
him. We went out accordingly but
could find no beef at his slaughter
pen, or in Browns shop in town that
in our Judgment was heavy enough to
have been cut from Donner's oSen.--
1t was the prevailing opinion that
they were hidden in some the ada
dent ravines, and large party started
out to hunt for them, one squad GO
ing up to the left of Bakers hill. Here
they discovered the track of a sled
and following it a short distance
found where the two beeves had been
slaughtered. The cntrails, head and
feet Of the animals were visible, and
as the horns of one of these heads
were crumpled, and those of the other
tipped with brass balls, Donner had
no difficulty in identifying them. The
track Of the sled was traced to Bur
tis' house, and thence to town, but
although the cabins Of the woodchop-
pers were searched, no further clue as
to the disposition of the carcasses
was obtained. His loss fell heavily
upon Donner, rs he was a very poor
man, and had expended his last sea-
sons crop in fattenirg tnesa cattle for
market, in order II lake him to Ore
gon Territory.
Burtis was finally tried tor he thief,
Of Donner's cattle, bnt acquitted, aud
what disposition was made OF the
beef and hides was never ascertained
until the bellevue War;" in Islo.--
At that time Trass, one Of the gang
who was arrested in that fight, stated
that "Nigger Brown" one of w. w.
Browns men, stole the oxen, and the
beef and hides were secreted in Dull
et,'s hollow until the excitement had
passed away, and then taken to Ga
lena. This transaction closed Brown
& Burtis' career in the butchering
business, as they were thereafter so
closely watched :hat they could not
steal cattle for their slaughter pen
with profit or safety to themselves.
TO be Continued)