Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-22
MARsHALL's DISAPPEARANCE.
Police Believe Missing Chicken Buyer
Is in Temporary Hiding.

Police Believe missing chicken Buyer
Is in Temporary Hiding.
From Wednesdays Daily.
Chief Williams has been attempting
today to locate R. M. Marshall, the
chicken buyer, who went to Eldon on
Friday, purchased some chickens ship.
ped them to this city, but failed to
make his appearance at his home here
as expected that evening. Chief VIII.
liams does not attach much Import
ance, at present, to the theory that
Mar shall has been foully dealt with
for the purpose of robbing him of the
$78 which he is supposed to have had
| left on his person after having pur.
chased eleven coops of chickens. Mar.
shall is said to have taken in the
1neighborhood of $3.50 with him to FL
don.
The marshal at Eldon has given the
disappearance of Marshall considera.
BILE attention, and he reports that Mar.
shall purchased a ticket from that city
to Ottumwa Friday night and got upon
the train. The Courier learned today
that Marshall was seen at the Union
depot in this city Friday night after
No. 2 departed at midnight. He is
said to have been intoxicated at that
time, and the report comes from Eldon
that he had bottle of whisky in his
pocket when he bought his ticket for
Ottumwa.
Circumstances so far do not bear
out the theory of robbery or murder,
but rather point to the conclusion that
Marshall INDUCED too heavily in
drink, and that he will put in an ap-
pearance at home in few days. This
/ is the theory of the police. The re-
port that Marshall had missed his
train and had gotten into refrigerat-
or car with two other travellers and
that he was robbed or killed, or both,
has been traced until it has disappear
ed in thin air. 1t was on Saturday
night that two Ottumwa young men
were discovered in refrigerator car
and put off between here and Eldon
Their discovery was due to the fact
that they had left the car door open,
and that the trainmen feared that the
door would strike bridge
The fact that this latter occurrence
was on Saturday night instead of FRI
day night, and the quite reliable
statement that drunken chicken
buyer was at the union depot answer
ing, in all essential particulars, the
description of Marshall, are facts
which have led the police to believe
he is all right. He is said to have
relatives in Burlington, and may have
i gone there. He is also said to have
relatives at Washington.
1t Is believed he is at one of these
points. The two young men who were
put off the train between here and
Eldon had some bruises on their per
sons. One had a black eye and the
other a bruised hand. These circum
stances were associated with the dis
appearance of Marshall, but in pur
suing the case it was found that the
boys had had fight in the depot al
Eldon with other parties who were
Longing there.
Mrs. Marshall went to Eldon this
morning. Notwithstanding the facts
, that have been brought to light of this
case, nothing is being overlooked, ant
} the hills and surroundings near Eldor
have been searched, but no further
clues have been discovered. There 1.
J a general belief that Marshall has ir
some way lost the money he had LET
after purchasing the eleven coops o
chickens, and being man of flight.
and excitable disposition he has sim
l ply gone into temporary hiding.
3 From Thursdays Daily.
: Nothing further was learned toda.
concerning the whereabouts Of r. M
I Marshall, the Ottumwa chicken
buyer, who disappeared 81
:. mysteriously at Eldon Fri
day evening. The fact that Mar
:. shall has not returned to his hom'
Z here at this time is giving added mys
7 7 terry to his disappearance, and the pc
lice confess that the case has NOR
: Importance than they at first suppos
: ed.
/ Was Anxious to Get Home.
1 Mrs. Marshall, who was in Eldol
r yesterday, returned home last night
i She made some important investiga
h tions there, none of which, however
{ tend to locate Mr.. Marshall. TIL
9 last trace found of him at Eldon wa
at the restaurant near the depot
where he had supper and where b
3 also took dinner. He entered the res