Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-27


Payne and Sewers for the defendant.
The trial was held in the court room
in order to accommodate the large
crowd of interested citizens who
were curious to learn of the real state
of affairs. Ghidester, however, de-
manded a private hearing and as soon
as the attorneys were ready to begin
the proceedings, Justice Higbee an
nounced that the room must be clear
ed, consequently all citizens, news re-
porters and witnesses were excluded.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Higbee of Ottum-
wa are visiting relatives in this city
for few days.
Bloomfield.
Bloomfield, May 24.-Mrs. ]. A..
Rominger entertained twenty lady
friends Thursday afternoon in honor
of Mrs. W. G. Sheppard, Jr. of Oska-
loosa Each guest having been in
structed to bring needle, button
hole contest was held in which Mrs.
VIM. Hotchkins having worked the
most perfect button hole was awarded
a prize which consisted of a pair of
sterling silver button hole scissors. A
beautiful vocal solo was rendered by
Miss Keehan, music instructor at the
Southern Iowa Normal, after which
dainty refreshments were served, in
Guiding individual decorated ice
cream, two kinds Of cake and coffee,
all of which were served in the beauti-
full DINING room of the new dewelling
occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Rominger.
Additional to the guests of honor
there were present Mesdames W. j.
Sickle, D. H. Payne, E. Rominger,
Jos. Cook, w. M. Hotchkiss, Ed. Math-
ews, Sam Wallace, Herbert King, VIM.
Hill, H. c. Taylor, G.. w. Phillips, O..
d. Wray, F. c. Traverse of Kirksville,
Mo-, H. q. Young. ]. W. Potter, Chas
Teed and the Misses Mabel Palmer,
Addie Hotchkiss, Ollie Rominger, Al
ma Rominger and Miss Mexican.
The case of B.. G. Chichester, the
young life insurance agent who has
been confined to the county Jail during
the past week on. the charge of lar
ceny, having, it is alleged, stolen fur
coat valued at $3.50 from the home OF
Mrs. George l.. Crafts, on Monday,
May 10, was given preliminary hear
ing in the court room Thursday after
noon before Justice Higbee The de-
IViihdiiI hoNihS d private
trial, not wishing the testimony made
public, witnesses and all persons not
legally interested in the case were ex-
Guided. Strong testimony was intro
duceI on the side of the state, num-
Der of valuable witnesses having been
called from Des Moines and Moulton,
together with many who produced
valuable evidence from this city. On
Thursday, the entire afternoon was
consumed in taking testimony and Fri
| day morning saw the completion of
the case. While the testimony produc-
led by the state revealed little that had
| not been already surmised it seems to
| be convincing. The evidence shows
that Mrs. George l.. Crafts, milliner,
had in her employ trimmer. Mrs. Orc
Hills, who roomed in the west part of
| Mr.. Crafts home, and to whom the de-
PENDANT was very attentive, visiting
| her frequently, nearly every evening,
and had last called on Monday even
| ing, when he had remained until after
| midnight. The coat hung in a closet
| the door of which opened out of Mrs
| Hills apartments. 1t had been placed
on, the back of a chair with a pink
| skirt thrown partly over it. Mrs. Crafts
saw the coat in it's accustomed place
on Sunday and believes that she also
saw it there on Monday morning
When She missed the coat, a little old
jacket had been placed on the chair
| and the pink skirt had been replaced
about the same as before. A citizen
| of this place also testified to having
made trip to Des Moines via Moulton
on Tuesday evening, when the defend
ant was on the train and conversation
/ ensued; that the defendant carried a
bundle wrapped in newspaper; that
! he left the train at Des Moines and
defendant went towards the Kirkwood
Hotel, where further evidence shows
that he registered from Burlington
witnesses also testified to having
| seen the defendant carrying bundle
with which he boarded the train The
coat was found at a pawn shop in Des
Moines by detective detailed on the
case. When dealing with the pawn
broken. the defendant stated that he
| lived in Abba. He had some difficulty
| in disposing of it. He stated that il
| belonged to his wife, her father hav-
1 ing made her a present of it; that il
! cost SIPS, but he wanted $35; said that
| he lived in Abba and that his name
was Edward Shower. Further evi
dence shows that he was seen at sMoul
ton on Tuesday when he stated thai
/ he was selling meat and wanted tt
know the name Of the next small
town. He had a bundle under his arm
a soft bundle that was not heavy
/ Stated there that he had just came
from West Grove where he had beer
writing insurance; was summoned to
Des Moines to issue a policy, was {
iittsa short and wanted to borrow $40
He succeeded in getting the money a
the bank. Chidester was bound Over
to the grand jury which sits in Au
gust and was returned to the count!
Jail pending adjustment of bond.
/ M. F. Kennaga of Kankakee, Ill
Joined his family Thursday evening al
the home of his sister, Mrs. s. S. Car
ruthers, with whom Mrs. Kennaga ant
daughter have been visiting for weel
or more.
/ Byron Brouhard and family of Soutl
lOttumwa spent Friday with relatives
in this city, attending the funeral ser
). vices of j. M. Brouhard of Little Riv
/, er, Kas., which occurred Friday after
noon.