Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-01-16
Legal Robbery.


Eight years ago Keokuk County
was invaded by patent mop.peddlers,
who for . time were quartered In the
neighborhood of Mrs Wright, an
aged widow lady, who owns little
farm of 80 acres near Webster. Their
actions were outwardly those of men
endeavoring to dispose of territory,
or rights for the sale of the mop.
Finally Mrs Wright was asked to sign
a paper to the effect that they had been
al work in her neighborhood endeav-
oring to sell rights. This paper they
wanted to send to their employer, %
evidence that they were acting in
in good faith with him and not idling
away their time. Mrs. Wright.sign-
ed the "paper," and similar papers,
with the same plea, we're presented
to numerous other persons, who also
gave their signatuers, as they suppos-
ed to witness the fact that the men
were working for the sale Of mop
rights in their locality. Soon after
forwards these "papers" turned UP in
Sanders Bank as plain notes Of hand
for different amounts, and suits were
brought for collection. Mrs. Wright's
case was first tried, and Judgment
amounting in all to $113 went against
her. She informs us that Mr.. Sanders
then approached her In the court
room assuring her that she need not
give herself any uneasiness, that she
would never be disturbed in her
limited possessions, the inference be-
ing, that having established the notes
as collectable, the profit on the others
in his possession was good enough
thing, and the widow might be spar
ed the robbery. The givers Of the 9th.
err notes did not prove to be widow
women unskilled in legal warfare
and their notes were beaten In court
as fraudulent. Mrs. Wright has liv.
ed on during these long years, sup.
posing the case was we'll with her
not thinking of that merciless iudg.
ment left on the records, and not an.
ticipating it's troublesome finale. Be.
ing old, with no one to care for hel
little farm, she determined few
weeks since to seek q home with hel
son in.Illinois,' and accordingly adver
tised her small amount Of farm i'm.
plements, stock and household goods
at public sale. This opened the gate
tor Shylock with that old judgement
and on the morning Of the sale thu
sheriff made his appearance to levy on
her effects. To prevent tn,
stopping of the sale, she had I,
execute Q delivery bond, and THU
week she goes to her son in Illinois
but leaves almost entirely stripped o
the funds arising from the sale Of he
property, it costing her $2l6 dollars {,
get rid of her Sanders memento.
The business man duped, as ever
shrcwd ones were in carelessly plac
ing their signatures to . paper which
proved to be a fraudulent note, nigh
not deserve much sympathy, but they
escaped by the ability to fight in court
Mrs. Wright, unused to this part 0
life's warfare, is compelled to surren
der the last pound OF flesh in her oil
age. If there is such a thing as
court higher than that of man, wher
the books will again be opened, GU
opinion is the man who pleads tn
statute of Iowa as his jurisdiction il
this case will be lifted on the toe 0
st. Peters boot with as much force q
the patent right man who furnished
the "fat take" for the note splitter
Sigourney Ne,cs.