Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-11
Jury Instructed to Return Verdict
Of Not Guilty.
TALKS TO A COURIER REPORTER.
Suits Could Not Find c. J. Stevens
Whom the State Wanted as a Wit
ness-Ritchie Reported to Have
Received About $1,000.
From TUESDAYS Daily,

Dick Dodd has failed or refused to
Identify Samuel J. Richie the man
now being tried in district court on
the charge of burglarizing Bradley's
bank of Eldon, the night of January
i, 1897.
Dodds answer to Judge MitchelFs
question as to whether or not the
prisoner is Richie, came as thun-
derbolt out of a clear sky. Hints of
bribery, as have been stated in the
Courier, came to the ears of the
states attorneys, but Dodd had said
repeatedly that he would tell the
truth whether it hurt Richie, the
man who is accredited with saving
Dodd's life when Indian Joe Menard
and Buck Murray wanted to kill him
at the time they were hid in Dodd's
cellar in South Ottumwa or not
Dodd was sworn and testified that
he had resided in Ottumwa for nine
teen years. Was in the grocery bus
mess up to 1884 and since that time
has not been engaged in any legiti-
mate occupation; been engaged in
playing cards and gambling. Acquain-
ted with c. j. Stevens, of Eldon, since
1885; but here came the climax.
"Are you acquainted with Ritchie?"
asked Judge Mitchell.
q Dick put on his gold spectacles as
Ritchie stood up, which no one had
asked him to do, in his place about
twenty-five feet behind his attor-
neys. With furtive eyes Dodd
peered at the defendant and left
his place in the witness box and
walked up to Ritchie and looking him
squarely in the face, said:
81 never saw him before in my life
Never saw him in my life," this with
decision.
Il would know Ritchie If I saw
him."
From Wednesdays Daily,
Samuel J. Richie walked out Of the
district court room at 4:45 o'clock
yesterday afternoon free nan, after
having been confined in the Wapello
county Jail for five months and three
days on the charge of having, with
others, blown the safe of the Bradley
bank of Eldon and with getting away
with about $4,000 A court of record
and a jury has said that the state
failed to prove that Richie is the
man wanted, which brings it all back
to the original fact that Dick Dodd's
memory is getting poor. John R. Kane
cannot remember well and G. j. Ste
veps- forgot altogether-to be present
on the trial of the case. 1t is but
justice to state that Mr.. Stevens had
not been asked to come here, but he
would have been asked yesterday if
Sheriff Suits could have found him.
1t is great blow to the state. So
much so that it is probable that not
another one of the men alleged to be
the Eldon bank robbers will ever be
tried should they be caught, unless it
is Dodd, for whom the state has not
the kindest feeling. There was some
talk yesterday evening about seeing
Murray, who is now serving nine
y year sentence in the penitentiary,and
endeaVoring to get him to testify
against Dodd. Then it was said that
Stevens might be induced to go on
the stand as a states witness, if he
could be found, and all sorts of
schemes were talked of in order to
punish Dodd for an alleged conven-
lent lapse of memory. Dodd is at lib
erty under a bond Of $4,000 signed by
Sam Harter, of this city, on an indict-
ment charging him with larceny from
building. 1t is barely possible that
he may be tried, altho, according to
agreement, County Attorney A. w.
Enoch filed motion yesterday even
ing after, Richie had been freed, to dis
miss the remaining indictment against
Dodd. Judge Sloan refused and said
that he could not do it under the
showing made. At any rate the coun-
ty attorney has endeavored to carry
out promise made to Dodd that the
indictments should be dismissed, but
the court could not see it that way.
The Trial Yesterday Afternoon.
Monday the state had the wind TAX.
en- out of it by Dodd's inability (?) to
identify Richie. 1t had been said
that John r. Kane had stated that he
also was unable to identify the prison
er, but he was put on the stand imme-
diately after dinner yesterday. The
state was in sore straits and was
working for time. Their only hope
lay in finding G. ]. Stevens and in
duoing him to come to Ottumwa and
testify and, if possible. identify Ritch-
lie. Sheriff Suits had been sent post
vens' wife lives, with the hope of find
ing him there, but as it developed
later he was unsuccessful.
kane,s Testimony.
AS has been stated heretofore John
n. Kane of Eldon, was the first wit
ness called. He testified that he had
resided in Eldon for seven years, and
at present was loafing; had been loaf
ing for year; was formerly whole
sale and RETAIL liquor dealer from 1895
up to about year ago; was in that
business in 1897. right across from
the depot Tin Eldon.) Exhibit "B b.
(Durkin) is the photo of man resem-
bling one who was in my place of
business in January, 1897; saw this
man before the robbery; about a
month before; don't know his name;
Stevens was in my place and mention
ed Durkin; said he was a good fellow
and a X. of P.
Exhibit No. 20, photograph of
Ritchie was introduced.
did not see face resembling that;
my memory was fresher at the Muir.
ray trial, but l did not then testify
that this photo was of man in my
place. l testified on the trial of Ham
ilton and Stevens; there We're about
three men in the party in my place;
cannot now describe them; cannot