Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24
Habeas Corpus Case Set for To-
day.
M'KERy GETS EIGHTEEN MONTHS
Was Indicted on Charge of Embedding
$3.50 From Tisdale Rros.-Caught
In Callfornia-Court Ad.
iourns Sine Die.

lU was learned To-Day on GOOD au-
thority that Sam Richie, the captur-
ed Eldon bank robber, is fighting ex-
tradition and that the habeas corpus
case instituted by him was set for to-
day. That being the case, the witness
es sent from here should be on hand
to give their testimony by the time
the case was set for trial and which
should set at rest any doubt as to the
identity of Richie, who, it is under
stood, still maintains that his name is
Ross. If the case was tried today the
sheriff should be in Ottumwa with his
prisoner tomorrow night or Saturday
morning. That habeas corpus proceed
ings have been instituted is undenia-
BILE. 1t is also unlikely that Richie
has been turned loose before the ar
rival of the Ottumwa witnesses, be-
cause the home omces Of the Fidelity
and Casualty company, that insured
the Eldon bank and who are paying
Pinkerton detectives to keep track of
the gang, is in Baltimore, and will use
every influence to prevent his regain
ing his liberty. Ottumwa police and
other officials will divulge nothing in
regard to the status of the case nor
will they say whether or not word has
been received from the sheriff regard
ing his return or the probabilities of
the success of his mission. Ottumwa
people would very much like to know,
the outcome of the habeas corpus case,
which, in the light of recent events,
should be decided for the state. Sheriff
Suits return is looked for by Satur-
day at the latest, but it is more proba-
BILE that he will return about Friday
morning on No. 3.
Eighteen Months for McKern.
C. "A. McKern, formerly travelling
man in the employ of Tisdale Bros,
wholesale grocers of this city, and
who was indicted for embezzling $3.50
from that firm, plead guilty this morn
ing and was sentenced to eighteen
months imprisonment in the peniten-
tiary at Fort Madison. Soon after his
speculations became known McKerp
fled to the Pacific coast, where he was
located after search Of several
months. Sheriff SHUTS brought him
tol Qttumwa in the late winter, and
he has been in Jail ever since. At one
time he told Courier reporter that
he fully expected to have his trouble
fixed up and that he would be allowed
to go free. 1t was decided few days
ago, however, to plead guilty to the
charge and throw himself on the
mercy of the court. His attorney, w.
A. Work, made trip to Ridgeway, Mo-,
a few days ago, and secured petition
signed by several hundred persons ask
ing that clemency be shown him. This
morning after his attorney had made
a plea for clemency, Judge Roberts
sentenced him to eighteen months in
the penitentiary. This leaves but the
case against George B. Mcclellan, or
Diamond Dick" on the docket to, be
disposed Of, with the exception of a
few old indictments.
So Court Adjourns Sine DIE.
After attending to some probate
business, signing DEGREES in partition
cases and setting the cases Of James
C. Devin VS.. Sanford kirkpatrick, F. s..
Warder, j. r.. Burgess, c. A. Walsh
land Eli Fair, before him in vacation,
Ito, be tried with the same force and
effect as in term time, Judge Roberts
ladjourned court sine die this morn
ling.
| The permit of L. G. Horner to sell
Intoxicating liquors as registered
i
lRoberts this morning SO as to give him
permission to dispense liquors in a
medicinal way for period of three
years. Courts formerly fixed no time
in. the order, but it seems that time
limit must now be fixed.
Squire Billiards. Court.
/ John Stevenson, Louie Handelman
and Dick Gallagher will be tried to-
morrow morning on the charge of as
sault with intent to do great bodily
injury. Alexander johnson is the pro,
scouting witness and alleges that the
defendants did assault him with a
knife, about four miles north of town
last week. It is said that a quantity
of whisky is responsible for the trou-
bic and that had it not been for John
sons sprinting ability the affair might
have ended more seriously than it did.
Antl-Saloon League.
Chicago, ILL.,, May 24.-The fifth ma.
tionalt convention Of the American
Anti-Saloon League is being held here
i IL A n Ii