Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-12
Ottumwa Man Says if Richards is
Robber He Was Shot.
DENIES TRUTH OF Ell pASO STORY
Local Man, Who Has Devoted Some
Time to Study Of Richards Case,
Believes Former Federal Officer, if
Fugitive, Is Not a Robber.


man who has taken an interest in the
affairs of William A. Richards since
he disappeared from Hamilton. This
man also states that he has learned
positively that it was not in Omaha
that Richards was seen last, but in
st. Joseph, Mo-, two Gays after the
time he is alleged to have bought a
ticket at Omaha for Ell Paso, Texas.
The Ottumwan, while he does not mel
cessarily believe Richards guiltless,l
has theory which is altogether
new, and believes that Richards is a
fugitive from justice, if he is for any
cause, because of the fact that the es-
tate of which he was administrator I'M
Des Moines is short and not on account
of the Sullivan robbery. The Ottum-
wa man will not allow his name to be,
mentioned because he is not in any
way connected with the affair or any
OF the principals and does not care
for the publicity that would attach.
However having made an investigar
ton OF the matter insofar as he has
been able he has come to the conclu.
sion that there are many facts con-
nected with the robbery at Hamilton
that are more surprising than even
Richards duplicity, if duplicity exists,
Il have traced Richards thoroughly
ly," said the Ottumwa man in question,
'and | found that on Saturday week
after the robbery at Hamilton he was
in Des Moines. He went to Indianola
and spent Sunday with some relatives
there, and from Indiancla he went to
Creston and Omaha. There he is said
to have bought ticket for Ell Paso,
but instead of going south he came
east. He was seen ON the Burlington
train coming cut of Omaha, and he
told a man who talked with him that
he was going to Hamilton. Whether
he left the train at Abba, however l
do not know. He may have left it at
Creston. At any rate he did not go
to Hamilton. | think he stopped at
Creston. The next day he was at st.
Joseph, Mo-, and after that | cannot
that he would hardly buy a ticket at
Omaha for FL Paso and then go south
by way of st. Joseph, not starting un-
til two days later.
"If Richards is in hiding, and he
may be, think that it is because of
his alleged populations at Des Moines
and not on account of any part he has
taken in the robbery at Hamilton.
However, will say frankly that there
are many things connected with the
matter which look bad for Richards,
but there are several which look equal
| ly bad for other parties.
In Richards Favor.
Zone fact that makes the prospect
| look brighter for Richards is that,as |
have found out during my investiga-
| tons he was not the only one, even
| the only one in addition to Sullivan,
who knew that the money belonging
| to Mrs Sullivan was in the house at
| the time of the robbery. l have learn.
ed on reliable authority that Sullivan
mentioned the fact frequently at Ham
| ilton night or two before the rob.
berry, and that there were several PEG.
pie who knew of the existence of the
| treasure in the house. l am told that
Mrs. Sullivan gave her former hus-
band $3.50 of the money and that he
lost something over 5000 Of it at
| gambling, though how true this is
cannot say.
"In addition to this Richards stay.
ed in Hamilton for several days after
the robbery, and was not suspected in
connection with it until he left the
| place some time later. The story as
told by the Sullivans, too, it seems tc
me, differs somewhat from that told al
first if the newspaper reports were
| true at the time Then it was SAID
that Sullivan's sister thought she saw
| Richards in the yard while they were
4 l. IO1l hot HI
was in the house with Baird when the
robbery took place. They seem to be
sure of this and Sullivan is equally
sure that he shot at and hit both OF
the fleeing robbers. have seen the
fence where the shot were buried il
boards and | will say that | cannot
see how man could get away from
there without carrying away in his leg
several pellets of shot For that reas
on say that if Bill Richards was con
nected with the robbery he will, wher
4 found, have in his leg several sho
from Sullivan's gun, or the scars show
/ ing their removal. Whether he could
j have been struck anywhere else abou
the body do not know, but the charge
struck all the boards of the fence anl
would therefore have extended to a
mans waist at least.
Orchards, so | am told, had goo(
reason for being in Hamilton and al
the Sullivan house. AS is well known
. Mr.. and Mrs. Sullivan had been divorc
, ed short time before the robbery
and it appears that the man was at
tempting to close the breach which
had existed between them and hav
the divorce annulled. For this pun
pose, l am told, he got his sister tt
come to his home from Illinois and alst
got Richards to come to Hamilton an,
attempted to settle the domesti
difficulties. This is the reason Rich
ards was at Hamilton il the story toll
there is true
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- Mauld LAVA IdaaI MLaHId