Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-06-26

burned down. The fire had gained
such Roadway before it was discov-
cred that no efforts were made to save
ii.
The G. b. Il q. railroad company,
finding their immense freight depot
in this city too small for their bust
ness, have ordered an additional for
ty feet in length to be added to the
west end Of that structure the full
width of the old building, to be built
of the same material and in the same
style. They also propose TO build
side track from the end Of the one at
the foot of Market street to Daggett
& Harpers Oil Mill, between their
main line and the water power tail
race, running spurs across to such |
mills and factories as may need such
railroad facilities in the future The
engineers are now at work stalking
off the ground and work will proba-
bly, be commenced in q very few
days.
The case of the State vs. Harris, Of
Mahaska county, on trial before his
Honor, Mayor Porter, commencing
Monday morning was concluded last
night, resulting in the discharge Of
the defendant.
Harris was arrested at the instance
of a couple Of young men from Col
orado, who accused him of playing a
confidence game on them, in that he
borrowed money on the pretense of
taking them in his employ.
The boys tell the story that they
were met at the North Missouri depot
by Harris, who spoke to them kindly
and after finding out the place they
wanted to 60 to, said he wanted a
couple of young men to 60 with him
to Chicago, that he was cattle deal
or, had some stock in the yards and
wanted them to 60 along to punch up
cattle, hiring them at $1.0O per day
and expenses.
| Their story, sworn to, is that he
took them off down to the stock yards
and pointed out the cattle to them.
While they were at the yards, the
man said to be Harris, remarked that
he had forgotten . valise at the North
Missouri depot aud besides had to 60
back to the city to get something he
had forgotten. "And by the way"
said he, 81 have nothing less than q
) hundred dollar bill and if you have
any money 1 will take it and pay you
back when get tho change"
The boys gave up two 81 bills and
q 50 bill which their new found friend
placed in memorandum book. One
of the boys went after the valise and
the other watched the cattle until
about two o'clock in the morning
, when they suspicioned something
, was not right, laid their complaints
before the police and had Harris ar
rested, who in the meantime had
gone to bed at the Planters House.
t The boys, we are informed, gave a
description of the money, the memo
, randum and the man, which tailed
exactly with the money and memo
randum found on Harris. The case
was very singular one and it seemed
that the evidence was very pointed
against him, but we are informed that
Harris accounted for his presence at
the time he was said to have been at
the stock yards, and in fact, accounted
J for his presence at the time he is said
: to have borrowed the money-prov-
ing an abb to the satisfaction of the
Mayor.
i Harris is said to be an extensive
farmer of Mahaska county, has con-
siderable stock in one of the banks of
that city, and was endorsed as q very
reputable citizen by several business
men of Oskaloosa at the trial.
1t is q singular case of mistaken
identity. The defense was ably man
aged by Cal. Manning.