Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-29
ON SERIOUS CHARGE
John Franklin Bound Over to the
Grand Jury Today.
SAID TO HAVE STOLEN GOLD WATCH
Ira Belknap Accuses Franklin OF Get
ting His Coat and Vest, sos Watch
and 500 in Money-"Joe Busch" in
TroubIe-The Regulars.
[From Mondays DaIly.l

{ From Mondays DaIly.]
John Franklin, an old man who
says he has been working at railroad
grading for some time, got himself in
to peck of trouble Saturday by be-
coming intoxicated and taking a coat
and vest in the pockets of which were
three twenty dollar bills and $65 gold
watch, the property of Ira Belknap,
who resides on East Mill street Judge
Moon bound Franklin over to the
grand jury on the charge of grand lar
ceny. Belknap recovered his coat,
vest and watch, but is still mourning
the loss of $50 in money.
Franklin, according to Belknap's
story. was employed by the latter,
who is railroad contractor. to help
unload some tools from cars standing
near the foot of Birch street in this
city. BelknaD'h coat and vest were
hanging near where the work was go
ing or, and while he was busy the
owner failed to watch them. When he
did look for them, however, they were
gone, as was also Franklin.
The owner of the clothes lmmedi-
ately set off in search of the man and
the clothes, watch and money. He
went east along the track TO the cross
ing of the Burlington and Rock Island
tracks and then came back, going to
the police station, where he found that
officer Pasnau, who had been notified
of the loss of the property, had ar
rested Franklin near the place from
which the coat and vest had disap-
peared. Pasnau, with Will Belknap,
the brother of the owner of the prop
erty, found Franklin crouching in
some weeds north of the Burlington
tracks while the other man was
searching up town for him. The pris.
oner had the missing coat and vest.
together with the watch, but when
searched he could not be made to pro-
duce the money.
This morning Franklin told Judge
Moon in police court that he had been
intoxicated and thought he had picked
up his own coat when he got Belknap's
clothing. He said he did not know he
had been stealing, and hid in the
weeds where he was found by Officer
Pasnau simply because he knew he
was intoxicated and did not want to
be arrested on that charge. He ex'
planned his act of carrying away two
coats by saying that he has been, I'M
til few days ago, carrying an over
coat and wearing lighter one. The
store didn't go well with the judge
however, and the man was bound over
to the grand jury. He went to Jail in
default of BAIL
"Joe Busch in Tolls.
A young man giving his name as
Joe Busch was caught by l. E. Fish.
er, according to the latter's story, try.
ing to steal from his tailor shop on
West Main street, bolt of cloth, last
Saturday evening Busch" was caught
by Mr.. Fisher and held until the pa
troll wagon arrived Chief Gray made
the arrest and took the man to the
police station, where he seemed to be
under the influence of some drug
probably cocaine. He abused the Of
ficers and the onlookeds and seemed
highly indignant at being put into Jail
This morning he was more modest
and showed that he knew something
about such experiences by asking fol-
a continuance Of his case, an oppor
tunity to communicate with friends
and to consult an attorney. Mean
while he pleaded not guilty to the
charge of larceny from building after
ascertaining that the punishment, II
he pleaded guilty, would be in the
hands of the district court. His hear
ing was set for o'clock Thursday
evening, and he was remanded to jai
until that time.
Seven Up.
| Seven DRINKS We're sent up by
Judge Moon this morning, two of then
for fifteen days each and the Other
five for three apiece. The two to whom
the heavy doses were dealt We're Et
Konantz, who was but recently in Jail
and man giving his name as PHILIP
Gates, who was arrested for being in
toxicated and for carrying concealed
weapons. The short time men are
James Kelly, John Kelly, Pat Carroll
John Smith and q. c. Bledso. The las
named came to the police station tt
file charge against an imaginary of
fender last night, and as he was 'un
der the influence" Desk Sergean
/ Grammar locked him up.
|