The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-25
ghe 9ailg Atg,,s.
ROCK ILLINOIS.
a LETTER FROM ALEX. vALEN-
TINE,
In Regard to the Westphal Burglary
Case, Etc.

CAMB IpeE. Oct. 10th, 1876.
henry Hayden, Esq. Rock Island, ILL.,.
Dedf NT.-l have spent about $65, and
all OF my tune last summer, to catch those
parties that were laying the plan to rot
ana murder Mr.. and Mrs. Adam Nest
phai. and Now they refuse to pay me for
what have done for them. NV brother
went and saw Adam Westphai, and told
him | would like to have what money he
intended to give me for what | have done
ior hln, and he refused to give ME one
cent tor saving the lives of himself and
WIFE, and the destruction of his property.
IL was me who saved the old folks, and
who caught the would be- murderers, and
now Mr. Hawes gets the praise, and money
TOO. Tor the work. and | have got to stand
back and get nothing. When | first
neaio What was going on in regard to this
intended murder and robbery. | worked
very hard aud careful. with those parties.
untii l Was positive that they were going
70 accomplish their work, and then | mott
neG Adam Westphal what was going on,
ana he told me to 60 ahead and catch
tee pan ties and he would reward me heavily
Tor my services. When | told Marshal
raves what was going on, he told me
that would always find him square man,
ana ne did not expect to get anything for
what he had done, Tor what he was going
10 90, rather,) only from the state or
county. And now [ see a piece in the
paper, stating that MIR. HAYES bad got
$500 FROM Adam Westphal for his SER
vices, that he has given Frank Ankrum
and August Herkert $25 each. for their
assistance during the night of the arrest
ana reads farther. and says that MIR.
HAYES was duly entitled to the amount
paid him, Tor saving the lives OF MIR. aud
Mrs. Adam Westphal, and nothing is
said about me. did not get one cent
tor my tune. | think the reason Mr.
Hestphal did not pay me for what | done
tor hlm, Is this; When HAYES was on the
witness stand at the beginning of West
phals trial, he testified that the first knowl
edge he got OF this case was last spring
that Ben. Stemple told him that tsok
him, lStemple) and showed him where
Adam W estphal lived, ana that Stempls
told him that | wanted him t, 90 and rob
the old man. Now | think that Is VIVA,
Il ade A.estphai go back on me, and not
pay m'' tor my time. | was not called on
the witness stand for the reason that the
Westphals and Currants plead guilty, and
| was not needed, and, you see,
had no chance to tell what
knew about it. Now, Ben. Stemple
came our house las, spring. about dark,
and asked my muther ii he could stay all
night, and she told him he could stag. He
lat BY the stove untll ted time. and moth
er went to ted, ana Stemlle and myselI
acre Sc ting by the fire Stemple pulled
note out OF bis pocket and handed il t.
NE. which read like this: Alex. Valen
Tine, the bearer OF this is friend of mine
anG is all right Don't be afraid to talk
To him, and it was signed Edward West
phai. | asked him what his name was.
He said it was Ben Stemple; that he was
acquainted with W estphal. and that he
would go and rob the old man. asked
hlm 1t he knew where the old man lived
de said that him ard WestphaI were
down there to day that Wcstphal drove
III past the house and he (Stemp'e) went
IN and called for a drink OF water: took a
view OF the place; Went back to the road
and got in the wagon with Ed Westphal:
rude back as far as the road that goes t.
my mothers house, and then Westpba
went home aad he came down to on,
house, where he stayed two nights and one
day, and he then went home, got scared
bout something, and went and told
HAYES that | had showed him the house
where Adam Westphal lives and that
wanted him to rob the old man Now
can prove Stemple's errand at our house
The day he lett our house | told two
substantial men and good citizens hi:
business with me, and told them Just wha,
| have written to you in this letter, anc
they were 10 Rock Island, at court, ready
TO swear to it, and testify to what [ had
told them in regard to Stemple. Now,
don't think, Mr.. Hayden, got a fail
shake. Halves testified to what Stemplt
told him, and Mr. Adam Westphal hearc
IT, and did not hear my testimony in re.
gard to Stemple. and that is the reason,
think, Westphal refused to pay me-
Please show this letter to Parmenter.
states attorney. think it is rough thai
| cant get anything tor my time, for [ was
IN Jail long time for Mr.. Wessphal. and
an now 10 Jail on account of it-for this is
put up job" "n me- understand they
say | was accused IF this charge las
spring. 1t L Was why was [ not ARE stec
Def re now. 1t is nothing but spite work
Tell Van Meter to put piece in thu
paper from this letter.
ALEX VALENTINE.