Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-03-14
Horse Thieves.

count of the operations Of horse
thieves in that vicinity and elsewhere
in Iowa: |
Horse thieves have evidently start
ed on their spring tour. About
week ago Dan Flynn, of Dallas coun-
ty, the well.known cattle breeder,
had fine horse stolen. A young
fellow who had been at work in the
vicinity was suspected, chase was
given, and he was captured, with the
horse, in Madison county, taken back,
and lodged in Jail. Two nights after
he broke Jail. The Sunday night fol-
lowing fine horse was stolen from
the barn of Mr.. Armstrong, in War
rem county. A neighbor of Mr..
Armstrong, who was On the road
very early in the morning, met the
thief and horse, and, on reaching
Armstrong; house, inquired who
was riding his horse, which was the
first knowledge Mr.. A. had that the
horse was not in the stable. Pursuit
was made, and the fellow capturedin
Wayne county, making tracks for
Missouri. He was brought back and
lodged in Jail, and subsequently
proved to be the thief who stole
Flynn's horse.
During the past few weeks several
horses have been missing in this
county, and no trace of them can be
found,- showing that they were la
ken by experts. j. III. Nelson, q
young fellow who sports fine clothes,
stunning iewelry, glossy locks, and o
huge mustache, has been about the
city for some time. His principal as
sociates were fast women. A few
nights ago he got into a fight, was
severely punished about the face, and
eludcd the "peelers" by getting out
of town. The following night two
. horses were stolen, in different town
ships in the county. Suspicion fast
ened upon one Henry Dunklc,-
young fellow who was frequently In
that vicinity, purporting to be trav-
cling salesman-from the fact that a
saddle was taken which he happened
to see hid away that day. A des-
cription of him was lodged with the
police in the city, and also bloody
neck-tie which was picked up in the
farm yard. The police were satisfied
that Harry Dunkle and Nelson were
,, the same person; and a few days ago
about 3 O'Clock in the morning, he
, was "pulled" at a bagnio. The
l bloody neck-tie is identified as one
worn by him in the ARRAY, and tht
l evidence against him is strong. 1
turns out since his arrest that hi
! real name is Joseph Tooteler, ant
that he is regular Missouri hors'
: thief, who has followed the bushes
ever since the war. lie is also want
u ed at various places for forgery. III
y is perfectly nonchalant, but expresse
a terrible fear that he will fall int
y the hands of the Vigilantes, which
8 not diminished much by the full vie1
l. he has from his cell window of tn
7 lamp post where Howard dangled
IS 1t is fortunate that he fell into tn
8, hands of the officers, for the town
y ship Vigilantes were close on hi
heels, and their victims have dangle
:, from several trees.
"a In Howard county,. recently, tw
D. young men, named Frank Mills an
l Andrew Hulver, came into the vi
Is lage of Chester, where they hun
IL about saloon until late, when the
went to farm house near by, stole
a set of harness, came back, hitche
y. their horses to the wagon of a How
Is sewing-machine agent, and drove o.
: l A citizen saw them start, and, su
n. pecting something wrong, notifit
ct the agent, who at once, with five OF
IL er men, started in pursuit. III
thieves made good time. At Fores
IN Vile they stole another set of harne'
IN They then steered to Etna, and, (
the way stole two more sets of ha
ea ness. When about four miles sout
nc west of Chester, the pursuers came
IL sight of them on the prairie. ~
en- thieves also discovered the pursuel
ne and quickly turned up to a stra
IN stack and hid their plumber, detach'
eo their horses, mounted them, al
broke for the brush. The pursue
en- halted at Chester, organized i'll
us squads, and set out to corral 4
thieves. On going to the house of
farmer, one of them was found quie
ly eating supper. He was arreste
and placed in charge of an officer
IN Etna. The next morning the vigilant
took him from the officers and we
to grove, where they asked him
divulge his name and that of h
p comrade. He refused and thu
On swung him up by the neck. Thr'
Oh times he went up, until he was bla
OF in the face and insensible; but as Il
no rope began to pull the fourth tin
OF he put up his hand, when he was
u up. He made full confession, al
he was delivered over to the Officer
Hulvar has not haen found