Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-30


cially until 1t became known, over
twenty-four hours after the robbery,
that the robbers had been in this coun-
ty, near Bromley. where few of the
knives stolen from a sample trunk be-
longing to Louis GOette, Of the John
Pritzloff Hardware Company. Milwau-
kee, had been found under the steps of
school house, south Of Bromley.
The first intimation that the officers
here, or at Nevada, where the case
rightfully belonged. had, was given In
the T.-R., when the burglary was an
nounced. Sheriff Shoemaker and bis
men did not concern themselves in the
matter, because of its having occurred
outside the county. and Sheriff Boyd
took no action until he had been noti-
fled officially by the railroad company.
The result was that the robbers had the
advantage of almost two days, in which
to cover up their tracks and get GU.
Of the country.
Claim Agent Marquis Barr, OF the
Central, when he investigated the af-
fair, preferred that Sheriff Shoemaker
and his deputies handle the case AMI
they did so, resulting in the arrest,
T. B. Green, whom Deputy
Sheriff Hutson and the marshal
had been following thru
a cornfield near Tama Green was
brought here and later taken to Ne.
vada, where he has since been in jail
awaiting the action of the grand jury.
Discover "Fenee."
Claim Agent Barr, of the Central,
put Green in the sweat box at Nevada
and got him to confess that there was
a fence" at Ferguson, also at Walford,
and that the stolen goods had been
taken from the sample trunk, where
they were contained when stolen, plac-
ed in telescope, and shipped to Wal
ford to one William Stokes, known as
Iowa Bill" and leader of the gang.
While he said that he knew that the
goods were stolen, he was not actually
concerned in the robbery. He also
claimed that he did not know the other
two men, but met them first at Fer
guson. Mr.. Barr swore out information.
charging grand larceny, thinking that
1t would be easier to convict Green on
that charge than one Of burglary, and
1t looked for time as If 1t might not
been seen at Gearing on the day Of the
robbery. The grand jury, however,
considered that the evidence was suf-
ficient to indict on burglary, and that
1t did.
Can Not Prove Connection.
While 1t appepared for time that
some people at Ferguson could be con-
nected with the robbery in that they
helped dispose of the goods. the officers
were unable to establish any intent at
crime. In the telescope at Walford,
which was secured from the United
States Express company, and in which
were found about 800 knives and other
articles belonging to the Milwaukee
hardware company, were many papers
in which the knives had been wrapped
These papers contained the address of
a Ferguson family, and others were Of
a character that would leave the officers
to think that still another was con-
cerned Indirectly in attempting to get
the stolen stuff out OF Ferguson. No
arrests were made. however.
Stokes 10 Smooth.
Stokes, the man who is said to be the
leader Of the gang that robbed the de-.
pot, is smooth individual and has
kept clear of Walford so far as the Of
ficers have been able to learn. At any
rate he has never appeared to claim
the package that was shipped to him
from Ferguson.
Railroad Company Responsible.
The railroad company is probably
responsible for the loss to Mr.. Goette,
who, in turn, has beeen held resposi-
bic by his house for the samples, which
were valued at between $500 and $500.
The most valuable Of the contents of
the trunk, the razors. were not re-
covered, and probably never will be,
Goette asked for a check for his trunk
when he left Gearing en- the evening
the robbery, but the agent
told him that 1t would be safe and that
he would see that It was carefully
locked in the depot. 1t was to have
been forwarded to him on the Story
City branch the next morning, but was
stolen during the night.
Would Have Been Brought Here.
Had not Green been indicted by the
Story county grand jury arrangements
had already been made to bring him
here on charge of receiving stolen
property. Claim Agent Barr and Sher-
If Shoemaker are confident that Green
is a smooth man, and that he has been
ri, ;1.,, 90, ~