Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-22

&
/ Chicago crooks that everything was
in readiness for the deal, and they re-
piled by the same means that they
would be on hand. The next day
they came and Dodd procured rig
and took Durkin, Ritchie and Murray
to Eldon, while Indian Joe walked. On
the outskirts of the city the first
three met Stevens. Dodd innocently in
CURED the way to Selma in the hear
ing of Mrs. Flint. Stevens directed
them and took the cue. He met them
on the outskirts of the town at an
other place, other than the one he
first met them, and took them to the
calaboose, where a roaring fire was
built. Here Murray. Richie, Durkir
and Menard, alias Indian joe spent
the night until the early morning
hours, Dodd Immediately returning to
this city with the team. When the
proper time came the four men re-.
paired to the bank building, win
dow facing one of the main streets
was opened and Durkin, Richie and
Murray entered the building, while
Stevens stood guard on the outside.
They began operations on the mason
ry composing the vault, drilling hole
large enough to admit the body of a
man. After getting inside the vault
a hole was drilled in the safe, a charge
of nitro-glycerine inserted and the
doors blown from the safe. Six thou
san two hundred dollars was secured.
| The robbers went to the stable of
Ritz Bros, grocers, in Eidon, took
the team and spring wagon, drove
to Sugar creek, where they left It,
and walked into Ottumwa, crossing
the Wabash bridge over to South OF
tumwa, where they stayed all night
in Dick Dodd's cellar. Dick sat up
all night in the room overhead with
a big gun in his hand. watching for
any false move that the men in the
cellar underneath might make. The
next day the swag was divided, Dodd
Igetting $3.50. 1t was suggested that
Stevens share be left with Dodd, but
it was finally agreed to leave him out
lof the deal entirely, which was done.
The men stayed in Dodd's cellar all
that night, the next day and night,
and on the evening of the second day
left on Burlington No. A for Chicago,
with not breath of suspicion at
taching to any of them. In few
days Stevens came to Ottumwa and
saw Dodd. He inquired for his por-
4 ton of the haul and was Informed
! that none had been left, but that the
headquarters of the gang were at No.
96 Des PLANES street, Chicago. Stew
ems, nothing daunted, went to Chica-
! go, found the number, saw that the
place had been boarded up, and came
home, a criminal with nothing gained
by his part in the aair. 1t is said
that he even made a second trip to
Chicago at a later date without sue
cess. A
Then it was that Captain Forsee re.
ceived the tip from Matt Steadman,
which resulted in Stevens confession
and the whole snap was given away.
May 10, 1897, both Dodd and Stevens
were arrested and brought to Ottum-
wa. Stevens repeated the confession
to Chief Williams that he had made to
Forsee, and the Indictment of Bob
Durkin, Buck Murray, Sam Richie,
Joe Menard, Stevens, Dodd and Jesse
X. Hamilton followed. The latter per-
son has not been mentioned because
| his alleged connection with the af-
fair is seemingly slight, or at least ne
never figured very strongly in it. He
was captured in Chicago because he
was known to be intimate with the
gang that did the work, and is said
to have receipted for some of the telc-
grams sent from this city to the Chi
cago gang. On the trial of the case
here, Chicago Western Union messen-
ger boys testified that Hamilton did
receipt for the kilograms, but he
made the claim that he was intoNi-
Gated at the time and knew nothing
whatever of the affair. Notwithstand-
ing he was brought to this city by
Sheriff Thomas Stodghill, May IA,
1897. His trial began June g., follow
ing, B. w. Scott defending, and Coun-J.
| ty Attorney A. w. Enoch and Mitchell
& Hunter prosecuting. June 3 the
jury found Hamilton guilty, and
Judge Roberts sentenced him 10
eighteen months in the penitentiary
June s. June II petition, signed by
presented to Judge Roberts asking
| because they did not believe him
guilty. Arguments were made by
Hamilton's attorney, B. w. Scott, by
D. II. Emery. C. y. Leech, L. c. Hen
dershott, w. II. C. Jacques, W. D. lis
dale, j. E. Blake and c. G.. McIntire.
Friday evening. June 12, 1897, the OF
tumwa Trades and Labor Assembly
passed resolutions, petitioning Judge
Roberts for a rehearing. At this time
grave doubt was expressed as to
whether or not the court had the
power to rescind his action, but the
next day the court granted him new
trial. He was tried at the August
term of court and acquitted. This
ends the chapter for Hamilton, and
was a very narrow escape for him.
Judge Roberts at the time was cen
sured Tor his action by many persons,
but he acted with the belief that he
was doing his duty, which Judge Rob
erts would do in the face of any sort
of opposition or public clamor to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
Buck Murray Gets Nine Years.
Buck Murray was arrested in Bur-
lington, VT, May 81, 1897, as a pick
pocket. He was recognized as being
one of the Eldon bank robbers. Sher-
if Stodghill went after him and
brought him to Ottumwa, arriving
/ bora Tuoo 1907 az