Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-15
neutrality-suspicious.
Iowa Central to a Put Stop to
Petty Thieving at Stations
on Its Line.
Arrests Made for Stealing Car
Brasses-.C. and w. |. Denton
the Prisoners.
One Hundred and Forty Pounds
of Brass Recovered--Generai
Solicitor Prosecuting.

The Iowa Central railroad began to-
| day systematic efforts to stop the
wholesale larceny of car brasses and
other material from the railroad yards
and supply houses, where they are
located. For years the company has
been bothered with petty thieving on
the part of lawless element, but the
stolen stuff has usually been small in
amount so small, in fact that 1t hard
ly paid to prosecute. Another tack is
now to be taken, and the company will
start the breaking UP of this business,
no matter what it costs.
Last night City Marshal Nicholson
and officer Clark placed under arrest
Charles W. Denton, of 22S Player street
and brother, w. 1. Denton, charged
with grand larceny. Specifically the
men are alleged to have stolen from
the Iowa Central Railway Company lao
pounds of brass, all car brasses, marked
with the initial letter of the company,
and valued at about $50. The brass was
all recovered in pile of manure on the
Denton premises. -,
The men had but little to say about
the theft when they were arrested and
lodged in Jail, but when placed In the
sweat box this morning each told
different story Charles Denton Writ
rally admitted that he was aware that
the brasses had been stolen. and claim
ed to have been told by Charles Critch-
field, former we'll known fish peddler
of the cityand prominent in police court
Giro es where the brasscs We're hidden.
Denton says Critchfield had them hid
den in the ground, where the grass and
weeds had grown high enough to cover
up the signs made by the burial. He
dug them up and planted them again
under the manure.
General Solicitor George w. Sewers,
of the Central, came to the city this
morning to look after the case person
ally. Usually a railway solicitor does
not trifle with matters so small, but
the railway company is in earnest in
its prosecution Of this sort OF thieving
and is bound to put stop to 1t. 1.-The
police have been gathering evidenc:
for some time and have been ready al
any convenient time to make the ar
rests. Purchasing Agent Fred Wing
Storekeeper w. G.. Manchester, and
General Foreman w. o. Johnson, of the
machine shops, have all been inter-
esting themselves in the matter o.
this case County Attorney Stone il
assisting in the prosecution. @
Mr.. Sewers, in speaking of the action
of the company against the Dentons
said that the time had come wher
railroads We're compelled to act. Little
things are stolen here and there, ever.
day. at some place or another, and ii
up to money in the course OF
q year. Car brasses seem to be the
favorite prey of the pilferers. for they
are easily disposed of to junk dealers
who, In receiving them, are as guilty
as the thieves themselves. Mr.. Seev-
ers thinks the company has a good
case.
Charles Denton, who is supposed to
be the ring leader in the case at hand
has never been directly concerned in
q police court case before, butf has
always been a star witness in eases
Of a similar nature. A few years ago
when Skellinger and Hanson Were
tried for stealing hogs, Denton was
their main witness. When Charley
Critcht1eld was in trouble so much fo,
stealing one thing and another, Den.
ton, was usually on hand to prove
an alabi. m
The case is set for this afternoon in
Mayor Jones court.
Other Police Court Cases.
Mayor Jones had two cases for in |
loxication this morning. Harry Full.
1rton, arrested by officer Hanson. was
sentenced to six days work, as wa;
also Theodore Johnson, arrested h,
Officer Clark
-. ou5tice clark sentenced this morn
ns 'aliies Blake, stranger to three
iays IN jan Tor intoxication The ar.
,ers. - OH