Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-18
TALK OF LYNCHING
Man Who Kidnapped Wife of
Wealthy Iowa
Farmer.
Is CAPTURED BY SHERIFF
Taken to Upton to EVade Angry
Residents of Village of
Bennett.

Mrs. John Telsrow, the wife of a
wealthy farmer living near Bennett,
Iowa, 20 miles from Davenport, was
kidnapped Sunday night and held for
a ransom of $4,000.
Sunday she managed to escape from
the place where she was held captive
and is now at her home in a state of
nervous collapse.
\ sheriff's posse is endeavoring to
trace the guilty person, for whose
apprehension a reward of $1,000 has
been offered by Mr.. Telsrow.
Sunday night at 10 o'clock Il stran-
ger drove up to the Hilsrow home.
and, having aroused the occupants,
got Mr.. and Mrs. Telsrow to go with
him on the plea that their son, work
ing 10 miles away, had met with an
accident and was in a dying condition.
Husband Driven Away.
lie drove them about eight miles,
and then drawing a revolver, pushed
Mr.. Telsrow out and told him he could
have his wife back if he said nothing
about the affair and left $4,000 on
the steps of certain school house
the next night.
Then the stranger drove several
miles farther with Mrs. Telsrow. walk
ed her across corn field and to a va
cant house, where he placed herr in
the cellar and tied her to u post. Then
he left her.
Later she managed to free herself
and escaped from the premises. be-
ing found yesterday morning on the
RuScr farm, near the vacant house.
Her story is confirmed by her hus-
band.
Under Doctors Care.
When Mrs. TelSrow was brought To
Bennett she was placed at once under
doctors care and is in a pitiable
condition Her mind is practically
blank, and her sufIerings from the
long drive. the winding walk through
the corn field and her Imprisonment
in the cellar have completely unbal-
anced her and it will he many months
before she will be in her former
health again.
The sheriff arrived as soon as posi-
bile and Immediately swore in
posse. who went to the scene of the
kidnapping and from there to the de-
serted house.
Near the deserted house they found
grip fun of mems clothing. There
was no name upon the clothing or any
clue to the owners identity.
Shortly afterwards cane, which
was recognized as belonging To John
Lee. another prominent farmer IN
that vicinity, was found near the
house.
Mr.. Lee was called upon and stated
that the cane had been stolen from
him several days ago. There is mo-
suspicion against Mr.. ee.
Find Guilty Party.
The valise containing clothing.
which was found by the officers. gave
the clue that led to suspicion being
directed toward August Leuth. a
eaIl-minded farm hand who has been
working in the neighborhood of the
TelsrowS. BY means of tracks and
otherwise he was traced TO an aban-
doned house less than mile from the
place where Mrs. TelSrow was impris
oned and was there found asleep and
placed under arrest by Sheriff Bar
clay last night.
Upon being accused Of the crime
for which he was arrested he readily |
confessed. He was taken to the jail
at Upton to get him out of the way |
OF residents of the vicinity of Bennett, |
who were talking of lynching him.
Lcuth is thought by many to be
half-witted. He came to this country |
from Germany about two years ago.
He has never before shown any crimi |
nal tendencies.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tclsrow are about 20
years of age and are worth about
$15O,0OO, consisting of farm property |
near Bennett. Mrs Telsrow is still in
a precarious condition and cannot he
convinced that her son is not really in
dying condition.