Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-03-04
CAPTURED HIM.
His Name 10 Ezra Day-Identihed by
Farmer kelly-A Former Ionia
County BOY.

1
County Boy.
The would-be murderer of Farmer
Kelly OF Paris township has been cap
tured and turns out To be a well-known
and notorious Ionia county man, who
for years gave the officers of this sec
tion lively time. He is Ezra Day, a
native OF Boston township and son of
Samuel Day, farmer near Saranac.
In 1887, while still mere boy, he
commenced his course as criminal
and horse thief, by relieving neigh
boring farmer, Nathan T. Gould, of a
valuable colt During the same year
he was engaged in several other horse
stealing scrapes and was finally arrest
ed. Before his case came on for trial
he managed to break Jail and regain
his liberty.
Later he was captured, tried and con-
yicted and sentenced TO FIVE years in
the State House of Correction. In 1890
he went over the prison walls and since
tlat time has carried on his career Of
NV lir-p.. v, !. - ~, utis OiHcars, avas
WITH Eevidently little fear offGi-i5a1-S,s =
He has often been guest of the Bridge
Street house, Grand Rapids, and as
illustrating the nerve of the man Clerk
Beckwith of that hostlery, was "a keeper
at the 5. ii. of g. at the time of Days
escape and knew him well, yet he took
his chances and escaped detection.
Days capture was finally accom-
plished through the agency of his
brother-in-aw, Clarence Weber, Of
Saranac. Hearing of the capture Of
Davis he went TO the Kent county Jail
and made inquiries for Day. Learning
that they had the wrong man he sent
warning TO Day addressed to Frank
Smith, Battle Greek.
There happened To be u Frank Smith
in that city, and he got the letter. 1t
stated that the sheriff force was hot
on the trial and suspected Day, and
advised him TO get as far away as pos
sible. This letter was put back into
the office. the sheriff notified and when
it was called for the officers nabbed
their man.
Day admits stealing the team OF
horses in South Bend, but strenuously
denies shooting Mr.. Kelley. He says
that he drove with the team through
Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, and
stopped there Wednesday night, and
stopped at his brothers, 90 miles from
there, Thursday night. Day, however,
was positively identified by Mr.. Kelley
as the man who tired the shot, and a
neighbor, Mr.. Carmody, makes as pos
tive Identification.
Day WAS taken out TO Kelley's Fri
day afternoon. There was adispositior
in the Paris neigh borhood TO lynch
him, but this feeling was not strongly
demonstrated. Day tells the story oi
his escape from the Edmore officers IL
the following language:
"If il hadn't been for Joe Taylor
over at Edmore, | wouldn't be here
knowed Joe down home near SaranaC
aud he was in that crowd that followed
me out of Edmore, and / was afrait
he'd know me, and that's the way
come TO give mp my team. Them fel
lers were afraid to say u word To me
sat there watchin' my horses feeC
when they drove past; then they drove
} past again, but never said "A word.
} guess they had good sense, too, for I'C
J shot 'em il they'd come for me, ant
shot To kill, too. They knowed i
J want best TO say nothin' to me. but
was afraid Joe would know me, and
just made up my mind | knowed tn,
country and could get out best withou
the teams. After leaving Stanton
went across the country to Battl
! Creek, riding or walking as opportun
ity offered" +"
An officer from South Bend went T.
|, Edmore, Saturday, and got the team
paying the reward, $40, to Sherii
, Jones, Joe Taylor and Henry Colgrove