Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-11-14

Deahsn Peester an sAe IeAls fer A.
tempting - murder MISS
CaAlgan.

Last Saturdays Register contained
an account of . brutal attempt to
murder young girl in Warren
County while she was attempting to
defend her home against two masked
robbers. The girls name was Cadf-
gan, residing in Belmont township,
ten miles from Indianola. Tho rob-
bers evidently supposed that the price
of farm, which Mr.. Cadigan had
sold, was In the house. One Of them
attempted to enter. He wore mask
and was armed with q revolver. The
girl bravely withstood him and the
brutal fiend shot her, the ball passing
through the right breast, infiicting
wound that will probably prove fatal.
After she was shot the girl forced her
assailant to leave tho hOuse and bolt
ed the door after him. Then her
strength gave way and she fell to the
floor. Nothing was known Of the
wOuld-be murderers, but the next
morning three masks were found in
the dooryard and were retained for
the use of detectives. Then the dis
covery was made that the masks were
made from pillow cases, the work be-
ing done at . neighbOring school
house. The bits Of cloth cut out for
the eyes and mouth holes were found
and therc is little doubt that the
ownership Of the pillow cases has
been ascertained.
After manufacturing the masks the
Williams proceeded across some plow-
ed ground to the residence OF Mr..
Cadigan. After being rcpulsd they
threw away their masks and return
ed to the school house by the same
route they first travelled. The tell
ale footprints in the fresh-turned
earth and the abandoned masks will
yet reveal the mystery ofthe attempt
ed murder. And that brings us to,
the Des Moines part Of the transAc-
ton. Last Monday Reuben Proctor.
brother Of the man now on trial In
the Polk Co. District Court for per-
jury, and also Of the Proctor that was
sent 70 tho Penitentiary some months
since FOR cattle stealing, heard at In
dianola that he was suspected of
the foHl deed. He resided not far
from Cadigan's, and has long been
associated with Suspicious characters
there. Az s0on rs this Intelligence
reached HIS ears he disappeared from
Indianola, and was next aecn In Des
Moines. He was followed hero by
Sheriff Meek, Deputy Presley, and s
detective, and yeStefaay morning
was arrested at lhe pfllce or Sheriff
Lendrum, where he had gone In con-
nection with tho trial of his brother.
The seizure was made by Deputy
Pressley. Proctor was much agitat-
ed and requested Mr.. r. to protect
him from the mob which was suppos-
ed to exist in Belmont t0wnship.
He was taken to jail to await trans.
portation to Indianola, whore he was
taken by the evening train Yesterday.
To-day he viii be removed to Bel
mont township for preliminary ex-
animation. There is intense excite
ment there and fears are entertained
that Judge Lynch will preside at the
court.
Miss Cadigan is nineteen years OF
age, and an unusually large, power
full girl. The ball has net vet been
found. Saturday and Sunday she
was extremely iii, but rallied Mon
day, and at last accounts was thought
to be improving, although grave
doubts are felt asto the termination
of her injuriea. State Re0ister.