The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-05-15
A MOTLEY COALITION
Raid in Chinese Laundry stirs
Up Hornets Nest.

The police department and Con-
stable Geo. Andrews of Justice Rice's
court had a merry night Of it In the
pursuit of police business. About
three weeks ago Perry Asher's apart
ments we're entered and robbed. A
ring belonging to Mrs. Asher and one
from Mr.. Asher we're taken, also a
revolver, some money and some 9TH
er property. The police were notified
but could get no clew to the thief.
Mrs. Asher was of the opinion that
the thief had left the rooms just as
they had started up the stairway for
there was much valuable property ex-
posed about the rooms that had not
been taken. II the thief had more
time at his disposal he would have
tax en- a greater amount of property.
Thursday evening, Mrs. Smith, an
employee about the Asher place, was
in her room when some n tried to
enter. She ran to the door and OPEN
ed it in the face of a colored fellow
who made a quick exit down the
stairs of the building. He fell down
the stairs in his hurry to get away.
Mrs. Smith followed and the fugitive
ran up the stairway leading to the
Banner apartments. Mrs. Smith hur-
ried to the restaurant to inform MI.
Asher. He was out and she told the
cook, Henry Dunlap, of the oc-
currence and where the fellow had
gone. Henry thought to catch the
fellow perhaps and a put the rear
door and started through the alley.
He was confronted in his hurry by a
colored fellow named Claud Bailey
who volunteered the information 81
understand that woman says that l
was trying to break into her rooms.
It's not So" Mrs. Smith had said
nothing of the attempt to any one but
Henry. He thought that Bailey had
given himself away and did not pur-
sue the search further. The incidents
we're related to Mr.. and Mrs. Asher
and as Bailey was known to be stay
ing at the Chinese laundry a little
building owned by Dennis Robinson
and situated just north of the scene
of the robbery,it was decided to have
the place searched for the stolen
property. The first search made fail
ed to reveal any of the stolen goods.
The officers, however, were suspicious
and desired to get a white woman who
stays at the place and claims to be
Bailey's wife. The officers returned
to the place a second time. The
Chinaman who runs the place came
to the door and denied emphatically
several times that there wasn't any
woman about the place. The officers
pushed him aside, however, and en-
tering the rear DOE of the place
found the woman they wanted. She
was placed under arrest and taken to
the Jail and searched. Mr.. and Mrs.
Asher's rings were found on her per-
son. She had wrapped them care
fully in a handkerchief and stuck them
into her stocking. No other property
was found. Bailey and the Chinaman
were also arrested and placed in jail.
The woman arrested gives her name
as Mrs. Bailey and claimed to be the
wife of the negro. She says her
maiden was Grace Kimble and that
she came here from Des Moines.
Bailey also came to the city from Des
Moines and has been in the city some
little time. He Is a clever worker and
above all things is non-communica-
tive. Even those with whom he has
been most intimately associated state
that he has told nothing about him
self or his doings. The woman ad-
mits that he gave her the ring that
belonged to Mr.. Asher. This ring
has been cut so as to permit it to slip
over a larger finger than that of the
original owner. The woman stated
that she and Bailey occupied a room
in the south part of the city but she
would not take the officers to the
place. The arraignment of Bailey has
been deferred until Monday. Mrs.
Smith lost q watch at the time of the
Asher robbery but this has not been
found.