Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-27
FAMOUS SHOE STORE BURGLARlzED
[From Fridays Daily.]s

LG1OAd IA1oay A~J y
George Davis, blind man about 60
years of age, has disappeared from his
usual haunts in Keoluk township, and
the neighbors in that locality think he
has been murdered and name another
resident of that part of the country
who is said to have owed Davis sum
of money, as being responsible for his
disappearance. v. A. Marchand, OF
Keokuk township, was in town today
in consultation with Sheriff Suits
about the matter but that gentleman
was disinclined to take it up after the
statement had been made that Davis
was said by the man who is supposed
to be guilty of the crime, to now be
in Nebraska.
At any rate the residents of Keokuk
township say that prior to November
A last, Davis resided in Keol1uk town
ship. He lived in caves, deserted hous-
es, and in fact anywhere that afforded
a shelter for him. The neighbors gave
him eatables which he took to his
abode and prepared. 1t is said that
Davis at one time owned a parcel OF
land which he sold some time ago, a
portion of the proceeds OF which he
loaned to a Keokuk township farmer
1t is said that the farmer did not pay
the money when demand was made by
Davis, but on the contrary 1T is said
was heard TO remark that if suit were
commenced against him he would cut
Davis in two with an ak. Shortly al
forwards Davis disappeared and the
Keokuk township farmer who saw
Sheriff SHUTS today said that 1T was
common talk in the neighborhood that
Davis had been made away with. He
further said that the man who is sup
posed TO be responsible for Davis dis.
appearance, has said that Davis is now
| in Nebraska but it seems queer how
a blind man without funds could gel
so far away from home without some
of the neighbors finding it out. Al
any rate this is the story told to Sher.
if SHUTS today in the hearing of 9
Courier reporter. Investigation may
reveal the fact that Davis is alive and
well, but until that facts proven resi-
dents of Keokuk township will believe
that something is wrong.
| Famous Burglarized.
Burglars entered the Famous shoe
store some time last night and secured
1925 from the cash drawer and one
pair of shoes. The police are on the
| lookout for a pair of youths whom
they suspect of being implicated in
the robbery, one of them a colored boy
and the other young white fellow
both of whom are conversant with the
exits at the Phillips establishment.
This morning when the store was
opened everything apparently was in
normal condition, but when the cash
| Ter went to the none drawer she
| found it empty. An examination OF
the premises revealed the fact that the
wooden covering to the coal chute un
derneath short flight of steps in the
rear of the establishment had been re
moved, thus effecting an entrance tt
the basement. The thieves lowered
the elevator and assembled to the store
room above, where they worked Thu
finger combination to the money
drawer and distracted the contents
amounting to 1925. When The clerk
went TO work this morning the drawer
was closed and no evidence of thu
place having been entered was visible
A search was, instituted for othel
goods that might have been taken ant
but one pair of shoes was missing.
| Held to the Grand Jury.
Con Stafford, William Roy and Grui
Sherrod, the three men charged witt
robbing a Hillsboro man by the nam,
of Abbott, of certificate of deposi
for $500, watch and some small
change, were held to await the actor
OF the grand jury by Squire Ballard
To-day and were renanded to Jail in de
fault of $1,000 bonds. Scott & rAyre