Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-09-29

cHAUTAUQUA VS. BUTLER.- SUCCESSFUL DETECTIVE
WORK BY cHAUTAUoUA oFFIrIALs.-A "sMART
ALEoK" FROM RUTI.ER COUNTY PLAYS LOSING
HAND.-A HORSE THIEF IN CUSTODY.
Early in August We published in the JOURNAL
bries note referring to the theft Of lumber
wagon from Ebenezer Bowen of Rockville, on
the night of Suly 3Otll, and the stealing of a
hsfDess the same night from a man named
Powers. one of Bowens neighbors These
thefts have been the Cause of some extremely
successful detective work on the part of Chau-
tauqua officials, and gave rise last week to some
rather exciting scenes In Pittsburgh tho story
Of the case being of unusual interest The
facts follows After the discovery of the
thefts, Brown and Powers made complaint to
District Attorney HaZeltine, and the case was
placed in the hands of DeputySherif Charles A.
Merrill to work up. 1t was but short time be-
fore Mr. Merrill secured clue to the location
of the property, and before many days he had
made up his mind that the theft WAS done by a
man named Julius Roberts. who formerly lived
III Harmony, and that he had taken tho wagon
and harness. together with horse which had a
short time previously been stolen from man
named Harvey Osborn, of Butler county. Pa. to
Rev City. near Bradford, Bowen and Powers
went to Kew City with Deputy Merrill and
found ther property.
Tho horse which had been stolen from Os-
born was also found near there. having been
sold by Roberts, but Roberts him
self had disappeared. Mr.. Merrill informed Os-
born OF the whereabouts Of bis horse and the
latter gentleman came on to Rev City and
cured the amin al. Osborn on his trip was ac-
companied by Butler county constable named
Kramer, who afterwards appeared quite promi-
pontly in the case.
The disappearance OF Roberts. did not battle
Mr. Merrill who continued quietly to work up
the case and he soon discovered that his man
to be found at No. Is Webster Avenue
Pittsburgh. A warrent was then secured from
Justice c.. s. Palmer. OF Harmony, and made
the basis of a requistion by Gov Cornell on
Gov. Hoyt OF Pennsylvania While this
being secured, and on the 10Th inst Mr. Merrill
left for Pittsburgh found his man and arrested
him fugitive from justioa. ON warrent is
sued by Mayor Robert Liddell. Roberts was
placed in the Allegheny county Jail and Merrill
came he me to await the granting Of the requsi-
tirn On Wednesday the papers received
and District Attorney Hazeltine left for Harris
burg with them to procure warrant from Gov.
Hoyt for Roberts arrest. This was done and
he then went to Pittsburgh. where he met Nor
rll by appointment Securing their prisoner
they were just leaving the city with linn when
Kramer, the officious Butler county constable,
appeared on the scene with a writ OF "habeas
corpus" which he had secnred from Mr.. Justice
Baiy, OF the Court Of Common Pleas. just
what hramers object was in opposing the
| course OF justice does net appear. He pre-
tended to want Roberts, primarily because he
was guilty Of horse theft, previous to the Os-
born case ; and secondly because OF the Osborn
theft. AT the time, however. of the first horse
| theft, Roberts was serving a term OF imprlsoB-
ment IN the Chautsuqua county jail for larceny;
while in regard to the Osborn matter there was
no proof of Roberts guilt and further both
Osborn and Justice Walker of Butler county.
had written and telegrarhed that Roberts
should be given up to Merrill. Under these cir
cumstances, Kramers acts seemed to indicate
that he desirous OF defeating the ends OF
| justice and preventing the extradition of Rob
| erts to this state
The habeas eorpusn was heard Saturday in
| tile Court Of Quarter Sessions before Mr. JUS
tice Baly. and full hearing was had. Kramer
being represented by Mr.. Marshall and othey
| leading Pittsburgh lawyers. piplriot Attorney
A, Haseltipe oppused the writ and after full
hearing it was discharged and the prisoner re-
mainjed to the custody Of Merrill, Kramer he
| ing ordered to pay the costs.
| Deputy Merrill and District Attorney Hazel
tine, with Roberts in charge, arrived in town