Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-18

years of age. He claimed that he did
had been nothing out of the way be.
tween them.
Find His underclothes.
A suit of Davison's underclothes
which it is alleged he wore at the time
of the assaAlt were found, where he
had just taken them off, and they were
covered with blood. He had, it is said
attempted to wash the blood off of
them, but Marshall Beemer reached
him too soon for that. When Sheriff
Cremer took charge of him at Eddy.
vile this morning, he took possession
of these bloody garments and they will
be used as evidence against Dawson
at his trial, il he is allowed to live to
face jury.
Officers Watch Angry Citizens.
After he had been placed in the. Ed.
dyville jail last night. it was with fear.
full misgivings that the officers watch
ed the angry citizens quickly form in
the little town. 1t seemed as if every
man In the place had vowed venge.
ance upon the prisoner. and for some
time 1t was feared they would attack
the Jail. Cooler counsel prevailed
however, Attorney Nelson making a
determined speech to the people ask.
ing them to wait until after the man
had been identified.
More Demonstrations This Morning.
AS the time wore on the people
slowly dispersed, and the officials were
able to relax their vigilance. They
kept close watch on their prisoner all
night and it was with sigh of relief
when they were able to turn him over
to Sheriff Cremer this morning. When
the news began to spread that Dawson
was to be taken away from there, the
people began to gather again, and
more demonstrations of lynching were
made. AS they gathered about the lit
tie Jail this morning they were ad-
dressed by well known citizens and
We're kept quiet until nearly time for
the train from this city to arrive
About five minutes before train time
Sheriff Cremer, assisted by Marshal
Beemer, Deputy Crpssman and Attor-
ney Nelson, spirited Dawson out of
the back way of the Jail and slipped
him into Carriage which made a run
for the depot. The officers and their
prisoner reached the depot before the
people know what was up, and before
the crowd had grown very large the
train pulled into the station. Placing
the prisoner between a row of citizen
officers, Sheriff Cremer marched him
into coach and placed guards at each
end of the car.
Prey Slips Away.
AS the train pulled out of the station
there was howl of rage from the
now big crowd as it saw its prey slip
ping away from them. They were not
close enough to make an attack at
this time, however, and Dawson was
brought safely to Ottumwa.
No Excitement Here.
When Sheriff Cremer stepped from
the train here with his heavily shack
led prisoned, there was no excitement
at all. People here had not heard of
the terrible affair of the night before
and they did not know who the man
was who walked silently between
Sheriff Cremer and Attorney Nelson to
the county Jail
Girl Very Ill.
This morning when an attempt was
made to have Katie Gallagher identify
Dawson as her assailant, she was un.
able to be removed from the house and
it is Sheriff Cremer's idea to have her
brought to this city early next week,
when he will be taken before her for
the purpose of Identification. The Off
| Gals feel sure, however, they have
made no mistake, and feel that the
| right man is in custody.
In Trouble Before.
According to Davison's own state.
ment this Is not the first time he has
been in trouble on rape charge. He
admits that he was arrested about five
years ago on the same charge. but
when given a trial he was cleared He
is man Of about 80 years of age. and
has been married twice. both
wives having been given divorces from
him. He lives with his aged parents
Mr.. and Mrs. James Davidson, of Pc.
kay. 1t is said that he was formerly
coal miner but in recent years has
not worked at anything in particular.
Seen by Reporter
| Shortly after Dawson had been
incarcerated in the county jail here
he was interviewed by Courier rep
resentative. He denied absolutely
that he had raped the Gallagher girl
claiming that he did not even see her
He said that he had been in Eddyville
nearly all day yesterday, leaving there
about o'clock. He said he had been
drinking somewhat, but he claims he
was not intoxicated He said he was
driving along the road north from Ed.
| dyville but short distance when he
overlook a young woman, who was
walking along the same distance that
he was going. He said that she kept
looking toward his buggy until finally
he asked her if she would ride with
him. He says that she gladly con.
sented and that he stopped and assist.
ed her to get in the buggy. He says
she was all of eighteen to twenty
years of age, and that she was a per
feet stranger to him. He said she
rode with him as far as she wanted to
go, when she asked MIN to let her
alight which he did and that she turn.
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