Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-25
An Old Game Is Successfully Work
ed in This City.
LOCAL MEN TURNED THE TRICK
Al Fowler and VIM. O'Neil Are Captur-
ed While Dennis Scott. Makes His
Escape-Jack Murphy Up for lntox.
ication on Sunday.
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
Alleged short change men worked
Ottumwa strong Friday and Saturday.
AS result two of them have been ar
rested and while a specific charge of
crookedness was not placed against
them, they were booked for vagrancy
and were each given ten days on the
stone pile by Judge Moon. The first
of the men to be captured was William
O'Neill, stranger in the city He was
picked up Friday night after he had
worked two Market street chop houses
and Saturday morning he was given a
stone pile sentence. Yesterday AL.
Fowler who is well known in this city
for his connection with the famous
raid at Grips Bros barn April II last,
was picked up on the same charge.
The third man of the gang, Dennis
Scott, was given tip that the police
wanted him and he has left town.
Fowler was given ten days on the
stone pile by Judge Moon this morning
and when this time is up Chief Gray
says he will have to leave town or go
to work. A close watch is being kept
for Scott but it is believed that he is
beyond reach.
An Old Game.
The plan of the men was a very an
cient one although it was very success
full as long as the police did not 'get
next to it. They would go into a
place of business, buy cigar and ten
der in payment 50 bill. When they
had been given $1.95 in change they
would suddenly remember that they
had nickel in their pocket and would
then say to the CLERK of whom they
had made the purchase that they
would like to have the bill back, and
then add the five cent piece to the
change. AS rule the storekeepeI
would hand back the bill and when the
smooth" man picked it up he would
always gather up the dollar and leave
nothing but the small change for the
victim. This plan was worked in five
or six South Side stores besides sew
eral restaurants on this side of the
river. They tried the scheme on {
hot tomato" man Friday night and he
tipped off their deal 3to Chief Gray
The police went to work on the mat
ter at once with the above results.
Will Break Stone.
Jack Murphy faced the court this
morning to answer to a charge of in
toxication. He said he was guilty ant
that he obtained the liquor yesterday
although according to the Anti-saloo1
league there are places open on Sun
day. AS he was an old offender HI
was given ten days on the stone pile.
Fairfield Man in Trouble.
c. A. Fulton, of Fairfield, was anoth
er man who found it easy to get liquo
in Ottumwal on Sunday. He LANDED
here at $3.50 O'Clock yesterday after
noon, and within three hours he wa
bowling drunk Officer Black pickle,
him UP and placed him in Jail and thi
morning he made fearful plea to tn
court for liberty. He said he was OF
his way to Eldon to complete a bowl
ing alley ana that he did not intend t.
stop off yesterday and drink any. Il
view of the fact that it was his frs
visit Judge Moon gave him his libel
ty and told him to go to Eldon on tn
first train.
The Others.
, James Pin, colored man, with
penchant for staying in Jail, was III
again this morning, the third tim
: within week. He was given a job b.
Judge Moon and he will break ston
| for ten days.