Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-10
Owen B. Ball. an l8.Year.0ld Boy.
Taken in Charge For Mum.
erous Robberies
RECOVER $3.50 WORTH OF GOODS
Mysteries Surrounding Robbery of Bee
Hive Store, Lashelle & Cooks and
c. J. Lander's Cleared Up at Last
City Marshal Nicholson Makes
Clever Capture of Thief.

One of the most clever captures that
has ever been ferreted out by the polcs
of Marshslltown was made Thursday
evening snortly after O'clock, when
| City Marshal Nicholson placed under
arrest Owen O. Ball, son OF Jacob I'll.
Ball, carpenter, residing at 5l2 Je-
rome street. Young Ball, who is only
Is years Of age. stands already practi-
cally self-convicted, with the peniten-
tiary staring him in the face, and with
evidence 10 show that he has been iln-
plicated in three bold robberies that
have occurred in the city within the
past few months.
On July 26 there was stolen from the
G. j. Lander drug store $40 in money.
As there We're only three people who
could have entered the store by Il key 1t
was question what to do, and as a
result Mr.. Lander, not wanting to ac-
cuse any one without positive evidence,
refused t,D act, feeling that he would
rather stand the loss than to ruin the
reputation of any one in his employ.
AS the first robbery was so successful
the thief tried it again. and on Aug. s.,
when the store was opened for business,
1t was found that the night before S34
in cash had been stolen. Mr.. Lander
WAS llore. convinced than ever as to
WHO was responsible for the pecuia-
tions. and a few days afterward called
before him one of his clerks, Owen @.
Ball, whom he Informed that he was no
longer needed. Ball left Mr. Lander 5
employ on Aug. IA, but was not in
formed as to the cause for his dis
charge. The robberies did not stop, anu
between the 18th and the 2Sth the store
was entered at night seven different
times. and money stolen aggregating in
all S110. This amount represents
straight rhefts of cash. to say nothing
of large quantities OF candy, cigars,
perfumes. aid soaps which were missed
at regular intervals. and stolen after
Ball was discharged. How much had
been taken In small sums. from the cash
register, Mr.. Lander is, of course, UNI
able to say.
Five wees ago the LaShelle & Cook
robbery occurred, and at that time the
thief covered up his TRACES in such
way that while Ball was ttisn suspected
of the crime there w9 o,hing in the
shape of tangible ri. further than
that about SIS VI Of nicNels were
taken and Ball, Following day was
throwing nickels at newsboys ana
bootblacks. to see them run am: scram-
bic for them, and paid a livery bill in
nickels. The LaShelle & Cook robbery
aggregated about 500, including s24 i'll
cash, 400 10-cent cigars, a considerable
quantity of smoking tobacco, several
valuable pipes, cigar cases and combs.
The Bee Hive robbes- was the most
recent, and occurred between the night
of the 18th of September and the morn-
ing of the Goth. Two hundred and fifty
dollars WORTH of merchandise was
stolen, including jewelly. cigars, under
wear and ladies' furnishings.
Had EIeen Watched all the Time.
From the time of the LaShelle &
Cook robbery City Marshal Nicholson
and the Police, and the sheriff officers,
too for that matter. have been watch
ing young Ball. He was Swallowed ev-
cry day and a strict surveillance kept
of his actions. City Marshal Nicholson
instructed all of the police to keep an
eye on him, and to report should there
be anything suspicious in his maneuy-y
ers
Girl His Undoing.
The same old story of a woman figur-S
ing in the case presents itself, and
whi1a tho 1ppnan IN, r,,aStio,, I,nd ,,.,fl,