Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-13
The Arrest.

The Arrest.
Special to Times Republican.
Muscatine, Aug. 13.-Bert Sheppard
the son OF a wealthy coal operator OF
Oskaloosa, Qowa) WIS arrested in
Muscatine yesterday charged with the
murder of Arthur Meade. the young
West Liberty man who was shot and
instantly killed in restaurant in his
home town on the night of May 1.
The information upon which :Shep-
pard was arrested was furnished by
Sheriff Andrew Hofer, of Iowa City,
Johnson county, and Night Police Mac
Burnett, of the same city, the latter
claiming that to the best of his belief
Sheppard answers the description OF
the man given by those who saw the
supposed murderer on the night Of the
tragedy.
The arrest of Sheppard is the Gull
mination of line of work that was
started by officer Mac Burnett four
weeks ago.
ION the night preceding the murder
of Arthur Meade said Mr.. Burnett,
"a dozen or more men climbed off the
blind baggage of train II on the main
line in Iowa City. l Immediately
rounded them up and sent for tile pa
troll wagon. One load Of the i9eis were
taken to the station. and the wagon
returned for the remainder. in the
remaining bunch there We're two men
who particularly attracted my aten-
tion. They appeared TO be very much
disappointed over bcir taken o the
ms rod nd En
reach Des Moines by the following
morning.
Il noticed them carefully. l orserv
ed how they were dressed, particular
ly one of them, and snce the murder
of Arthur Meade, l have gone over
the case until / am almost positive
that one of the men answers the de-
scription OF the man given by those
who saw the murder committed, We
have been trying TO locate this man
for quite a while and IL was only few
DAYS ago that we traced him 10 Mus
catine'
Sheriff Hofer, and Officer Burnett ar
rived in Muscatine at $40 o'clock this
morning. and immedia ely after break
fast began the search for their man.
The arrest OF Sheppard was FASTENED
by the fact that Chief Rice and officer
McElravy had just taken the man
wanted TO the city Jail.
This morning before the arrest was
made Sheriff Hofer said:
Il believe that the man we want
stands a better show OF getting away
now than he will after we get him.
Bert Sheppard, who is a young man
about % years OF age, denies enaphat-
ically that he knows anything of tbs
Of Arthur Meade, and states
that his arrest is all a terrible mis-
take.
Il have been in AIuscatine for .
week or ten days, s;dd Sheppard to
a reporter in the county Jail, and !
came down here to visit friend. | was
in Davenport the other day, and
friend of mine who lives in Muscatine
that when got ready to go
home to come by way of Mu&catlne
and remain here for few days.
did so, and when arrested, had 10 idea
of what was wanted with me.
Il don't want any notorety out of
this thing" he said, and | wish you
would keep it out OF the papers. In
can be found anywhere, and If this af
fair was to happen there, | would have
no trouble in getting out of it and get
ting out quickly"
Sheppard is handsome fellow about
twenty two years of age After his ar
rest he appeared to be rather nervous
but he told story that confilcted in
no particular.
Il have never been in Wilton in my
life he said, and l don't even know
where the town of Nichols is. About
four years ago / was in West Liberty,
but have never been in the town since
that time.
Il have no fear over the outcome of
this affair, and l am sure that when
.he two men who they say will be
asked to identify me arrive, they vii!
agree that the wrong man has been