Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-24
BATTLE WITH RoBBER.
Fred sitter Caught in the Act Of Rob-
bling Drug Store Mt NIingo.

Mingo, Oct. 16.-Considerable ex-
citement was caused here Thursday
night, when young man by the name
of Fred Sitter, disreputable character
living here, was caught in an attempt
to rob ,El!iott's drug store.
Mr.. Elliott had closed his store for
He, had barely gone to bed when boy
aroused him by knocking at his door
and informing him that some one was
in the store.s Mr.. Elliott dressed hast
lily, took from the house arevolver and
went up, town Immediately, where he
found, guarding the store in front,
Night Operator Marshall, of the Chi
cago Great Western. Mr.. Elliott at
once unlocked the store door and en-
tered. He could recognize Stier in the
dim light and knew he had desperate
man 10 deal with. He spoke to the
thief, but got no reply, Stier steadily
advancing toward the door. Elliott
stepped behind the end of a counter,
and, Stier passed him, making a break
for liberty. Once outside the store he
ran sround the corner with Elliott af-
ter him. Elliott cried to him to halt,
threatening to shoot, and just at that
moment Stier fired shot at short
range. The ball struck Mr.. Elliott. in
The left cheek, knocking out one tooth
and lodging in the angle of the cheek
bone. Mr.. Elliott tried to shoot. but
for some reason or other his revolver
failed TO act. IA
, by this time considerable of 4 crowd
had gathered, and few We're armed.
The men, followed Stier down the
street, firing at him. He also returned
the fire as long as the ammunition last
ed but he escaped in the darkness. 1t
is thought he made Immediately for
his home, secured Z horse and took for
the country districts. He was followed
some distance, but in some manner
circied back to town, turned his horse
loose and Went TO his home, where he
hid in a cyclone cave.
In the meantime Constable Byron
Beard was aroused and joined in the
chase, going. withra posse to the Sitter
I home, to surround the man. When the
( constable stepped in to arrest him
Stier fired, the ball passing through
the officers arm, infiicting painful
wound. In the excitement the thie1
escaped and is still at large. The sher.
if and posse are in search and re,
ward has been offered for his capture
He is young man, well known in this
community. He is about feet II
inches tall. weighs between 16O and III
pounds, and had on at the time of his
escape common suit of light clothes
! Nothing was taken from the store, a.
4 the thief was discovered before he hat
succeeded in his plans. Sitter is con
| sidered hard case here and has beer
in Jail for petty offenses. He will BIZ
remembered us having been in Jail a
Newton for some time year or so age
for barn burning. Everyone at tn,
time was satisfied that he was guilty
but his guilt could not be proved.
Elliott was taken to Marshalltown
| where, it is learned, the ball was re
moved from his jaw. The ball was o
7, % calibre.
Neither of the injured men is seri
ously hurt, owing principally to tn,
small calibre of STEERS revolver. If h,
had had weapon of a larger size h,
would have undoubtedly killed Mr.
Elliott. AS it is, it is thought that th,
main cause for saving him was thu
striking of the tooth, which swervet
the ball to another course.