Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-10-01
RICHARDS IS
NOW ON TRIAL
Frank Baird Tells His Story
of the Robbery at
Hamilton.
BASIS OF The STATES CASE
Defense Will Undertake to Show
That Baird Is Seeking Revenge
Baird Says Richards Went Back on
Promises to Him.

lnuianold, sept. Zf.--S1artiinS dCcu-
sation of the most bsinous character
were hurled at ex-Deputy United
States Marshal William A. Richards
on trial for the sensational hold-up
of the Sullivan family at Hamilton,
Jan. 2, yesterday by Convict Frank
Baird, who consumed more than an
hour in detailing the alleged particu-
lars of the hold-up and naming the
defendant as the man who not only
conceived the plot, but who helped
to carry 1t into execution.
Baird was the first witness on the
stand, the state thus spr!nging sur
| prise as 1t was thought he would not
testify until later in the week. He
| told his story in rather a straightfor-
ward manner, though frequently inter
rupted by the attorneys for the de-
Tense who endcavored to prevent the
| submission of certain damaging facts.
Baird's testimony was full of sur
| prises. For the first time since the
sensational robbery at Hamilton when
| 1t was believed a third party had q
hand, the name OF third party has
been made known. Baird says it was
| Charles Redrup, a crook, who formerly
| lived with him In Plattsmouth, Neb.,
that entered the house, held a pistol
to the head of Peter Sullivan, tortured
Mrs. Sullivan by holding a burning
| lamp to her feet and later took the
money from an envelope and escaped
through the door.
So quiet was 1t in the court room
when Convict Baird took the witness
| stand that the sound of a pin drop
ping to the floor could have been
| plainly heard. Baird has been guard
ed closely in a cell at the county
| Jail SO that it has been impossible for
anyone to get at him. He looked
neither to the right nor to the left
as he slowly and painfully--for he
is but mere shadow, made his way
to the witness stand assisted by
Sheriff Hodson. After preliminary
questioning by the court the convict
witness told his story of the hold-up
and the defendants alleged connec-
ton.
Il know Bill Richards very well.
Have known him for number OF
years. | had never been in Hamilton
until the night of the robbery.
saw Richards the night before at
Creston. He was at the foot of a
pair of stairs leading up to gambling
room. We met by agreement In the
gambling room two hours later and
In the course of conversation Rich
ards wanted to know IL | wanted to
make some easy money. | told him
sure that | was always open to such
engagements.
"'Bill then told me he knew of
! party that had some money from a
bank and had 1t in the house He
said he was well acquainted with the
parties and knew where the money
was kept. Said he was boarding
there and knew all about 1t. Some
one came into the gambling room ar
the time and l suggested we go over
to his office. He kicked on this and
we went to my house. l got there
half an hour before he came.
1--WE went into the kitchen at my
home and there in the presence of my
wife and mother and children Rich
ards unfolded the scheme to rob the
Sullivan family at Hamilton. Bill
had a piece of paper and pencil and
noted just how and when was to
| get to Hamilton provided everything
was all right. He. in the meantime,
was to go to Hamilton and see If the
coast was clear
1.-TWO kilograms were agreed upon
there In the kitchen, in case every.
thing was all right and | was to go
to Hamilton Richards was to send me
the following telegram: Thomas
Ford--your man Is gone.-Ed.'
| Ford Is a crook and also boarded
with me at Plattsmouth. Neb. We de-
| cided here at my house to take Char
lie Redrup in partners with me. Red
rup suggested that we had better go
pretty well armed and Richards turned
to him and said: We will not need
gun. Old man. Sullivan will be SO
scared he will faint when the thing
is done. Richards told us that there
was 81, 400 In the house and that Sui
| Ivan had $500 Of 1t In his pocket.
| After we had got our plans per-
tected Richards left for Hamilton. The
next day the expected message came
and we got on the train at Creston at
o'clock in. the afternoon. We ar
rived at Abba and remained there
,or supper after which we went on to
| hamilton
| Richards was at the train to meet
us. He did not speak but was there
to see II we came. When he saw we
| We're on the train he left and went
into dark part of the city. We fol-
lowed and Richards called to Redrup
and told him what should be done.
I'VE walked past the house to see
IL everything was all right. Redrup
and | then went down to the Burling-
ton depot Richards came later. there
in the closet We completed the plans
for stealing the swag from the Sulli-
van house. Richards was TO stand
guard outside and Redrup and were
to go into the house and get the
Doodle.
The assertion Is made by a natur-
sii5t that nightingales devour the
drones OF beehive, but never molest
the workers.
II is said that Macaulay's memory
was so retentive that, after reading
a book once, he could give all the sail
ent points OF 1t, and recite many long
passages OF 1t verbatim.
A strange accident befell boy who
was chopping wood near Augsburg,
Germany. His AK struck wire
clothesline. and at the same moment
fash OF lightning struck the line,
passed down the Ratchet and Killed
him.
A horse in wild state lives to be
from thirty-six to forty years old;
when domesticated ne Is usually play
ed out at the age of twenty-five. II
is thus seen that civilization does not
contribute to the longevity of the ami
NAL.
Out West is man whose residence
is in two States, and he votes in both.
His dwelling is on the state line, be-
tween Sioux county, Neb.. and South
Dakota county. When In bed his head
is In one state and his feet across
| thl taAn II lie.