Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-20

gether Miller" Gray and Picker went
into the rear of the stable, where the
horses are kept, ostensibly to look at
horse which had been injured. The
victim helped matters along by offer
ing to show the injury and stepping
ahead of his companions he raised the
blanket from the animal. Then a lit
tie conversation which ended rather dis
astrously for Miller" ensued.
Just as the man raised his arm and
the blanket, Chief Gray stepped up
and catching hold of the mans sleeve
said:
isn't your name Frank Smith,"
NO" was the answer.
What is it, then?"
"Ed Miller"
well, We are asked to hold man
whose description you answer and,
you'll have to go to the station with
me until see who you are" said the
chief, and continued, Have you a
gum"
Eyes, l have one, but the spring is
broken. just brought it with me to-
day to have it repaired" said the cap
tive. And as the officers hand reached
for the revolver, which was in the
scabbard in the mans rear trousers
pocket, MILLER" tried to secure it also,
but the chiefs hold upon his arm was
still good and the officer got the wea-
pom first
1.-THE spring is broken, let me show
you," persisted the man, but by this
time the revolver. which Is wicked
looking 40 calibre Colts. was safe. in
the chiefs pocket and he assured his
man that it would be safe to let the
question as to its soundness rest until
the party reached the police station.
Franklin marched along between
the mayor and the chief to the sta
ton. where he was thoroughly
searched. The gun, which is the big
gest ever taken from a prisoner in
Ottumwa. was found to be sound in
every particular and 1t is plain thu
the mans simple request was a
yelled offer to kill his captors in cold
blood. In his pocket were twelve
loaded cartridges, two rounds for the
mammoth revolver, in addition to the
six which We're already in the weapon.
Unusually Cool.
Franklin was remarkable for his
GOODNESS when arrested. Although he
denied that he had done anything out
of the way he did not become nervous
about it and as Chief Gray removed
marked cartridge from vest pocket
he looked at it scornfully and re-
marked that it was the first one he
had ever found which would not ex-
plode. He had kept it as relic.
Not until he had his man at the sta
ton did Chief Gray tell him why he
was arrested. He said, Nov I'll tell
you, Fletch, don't believe your name
is Miller at all. have you under the
name of Fletch Franklin and | intend
to hold you until the sheriff arrives
from Linneus, Mo-" Even then the
man did not turn a hair, but simply
denied that he was the man wanted.
In Peculiar Business.
The man is undoubtedly in a pecu-
liar business, for several letters were
found in his pockets, among them be-
ing few from a Chillicotne Qowa)
woman. She writes much of her cor
respopdence in verse, but reading be-
tween The lines reveals the fact that
SIC is afraid he will meet with danger
and wishes him to stop his present
work and settle down to less hazard
GUS and more prosaic life. In one let
ter she reminds him of promise to
let her know if he ever gets into
trouble and the general tone of the
missives shows that the writer is
afraid that "Miller's" business may
not be legitimate. These letters were
received at Cora, Mo.
Wanted at Edna, Mo.
1t was today learned by the police
that Franklin is wanted at Edna, Mo.
for killing liveryman. Little or
nothing is known of the circumstances
regarding this affair, but Chief Gray is
in communication with the sheriff at
Edna today.
Are Anxious at Linneus.
Last evening, as soon as the man
was safe in Jail, Chief Gray tele-
graphed to the sheriff at Linneus, tell
ing him of the capture. The answer
came quickly, Hold Franklin sure I'M,
TIL ! get there" This message was
from the sheriff and half an hour later
another was received from the prose
cutting attorney as follows: "Hold
Fletch Franklin by all means until
sheriff arrives with requisition." 1t is
apparently something new for the Mis-
souri, officials to realize that their man
Is behind bars and from the tenor of
Sheriff Dails letter 1t would seem that
1t has been hard to get man to go
after Franklin. The letter received
by Chief Gray warned him that Frank.
lin would shoot on the slightest provo
cation, but the Missouri officer did not
then figure on his Iowa contemporary
having something to say about the use
of firearms.
Franklin Is Silent.
Last evening after the man had
spent few hours at the city iail,
Chief Gray took him to the county
jail, where he was locked in a steel
cage. On the way the prisoner asked
the chief what reward he expected to
get for Fetch Franklin. mentioning
the name for the first time since he
had been arrested, This is a pretty
good indication that he had been do
ing some heavy" figuring and that
the name had been a weight on his
mind since his arrest. He admitted
TO the chief that he had been living at
Alex Franklin's residence in South
ottumwa, but said that Franklin is his
brother-in-law. However, the officers
believe he and Franklin ara bro+bare