Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-24
CONVICT COMES FROM PRISON
!. no TESTIFY AGAINST FOR
fIgi MER U. S. EMPLoYE.
oT'rUMwANs IN CASE
John w. Gray and Mayor PickIer viii
Testify AS to Richards Character
Thomas Miller Expected to Help
I Prove AIibi for Defendant.

4 Prove AIibi for Defendant.
Indianola, Sept. % Especially =
Evidence tending to convict William A.
Richards of the robbery OF the Sull-
van family at Hamilton last January
was introduced by the state in district
court here today the witnesses being
Frank Baird, who has been brought
from the penitentiary at Fort Madison
to give testimony, Mrs. P. Sullivan, the
wife of the man whose money was TAX
en-, and the warden of the penitentiary
at Fort Madison.
Says Plan Was Richards.
Baird swore that the former deputy
United States marshal planned the rob-
berry at Baird's home in Creston, and
was overheard by Mrs. Baird. He fur
Their testified that Richards summoned
him (Baird) to Hamilton the day o.
the robbery by telegraph, as had been
previously arranged. and that he par
ticipated with Baird and one Charles
Redrup in the crime. Baird says
Richards promised to send Mrs. Baird
$1,000 after the robbery.
Other witnesses say that Richards
heard Sullivan say he had $4,000 in
the house just before the robbery.
ottumWans in Case.
Among the witnesses on the case
hre Chief of Police John w. Gray,
Mayor Picker and Thomas Miller of
Ottumwa, who have been subpoenaed
by the defense, the first two as char
acter witnesses and the third to prove
an alibi.
Jury Under BaIiff's Care.
Judge Applegate of Guthrie Center,
who is hearing the case in the place
of Judge Gamble, the latter having
refused to hear it, has ordered that
the jury be kept together under 1.-The
Z. care of the bailiff throughout the
trial, giving as his reasons that the
case has caused considerable excite
ment throughout the state and he
wishes to leave no loophole by which
1T can be carried on otherwise than
Atairly to both sides.
Prominent Attorneys in Case.
Richards is represented by Judge
]. H. Henderson of Indianola
w. C. Metzger of Knoxville, (wh'
made such splendid record as coun
ty attorney of Marion county,, and w
f. Powell of lndianola. Richards is il
good health, having gained twely'
pounds in weight since his troubles
began.
The state is likewise Represented
by three attorneys: j. b. McCormacB
county attorney of Marion county, J
o. Watson, county attorney of Warner
county and Loren Hayes of Indianola
Jury is Empaneled.
The most of Tuesday was spent il
empanelling the trial jury. This wa
finished at ten minutes before five an
\. the opening statements were heard be
fore adjournment for the night. In en-
panelling the jury both sides exercis
ed unusual care The jury was passe
for cause at noon, and in the afternoo
the peremptory challenges were take
up. The challenges being allowed eac
side, the state waived one and the d.
Tense four.
The jury sworn in consists of tn
following:
From Belmont township in the cas-
ern part Of the county. on the Mario
county line-H. H. Nolte, farmer; 4
D. Talbot, farmer; John Emmons, Ii
eryman of Milo; D. w. Sloan, farme
From Lincoln township central pal
of county-Wm. Miller, farmer.
From Squaw township, souther
part-Alfred Simmerman, farmer; v
M. Burrus, farmer.
From White Breast township, soutl
eastern township of the county,. /
Smith, bridge foreman; J. l.. Polin
farmer.
From Allen township, northern pa
ID. H. Palmer, farmer.
From Linn township. Northwestern
part-Harvey Reeves, farmer.
From the city of Indianola-y.
Price, clothier.
The States Case.
The attorneys for the state beliey
that they have a strong case again!
Richards, and on paper it does loo
bad, although there are slight discre
ancies III the states testimony thi
the defense believes will yet prov
great things.
The Sullivans will be star witnesss
Of the prosecution and will be place
upon the stand early.
Before the grand jury which indie
ed Richards, e. P. Sullivan told Il
story of the Hamilton hold-up. i
testified that about $50 o'clock {
the evening of January OF this YET
he was seated in the sitting room
his sister Sarah's home, when tp
Iua,Fed men entered and demandt
their money. He states they robbie
him Of s240 in bills and his sister
sl625. Sullivan testified that Fran
Baird was in the lead and acted
guard while the second man search
the premises: Baird robbed Sullivi
himself. Continuing the old man te
tilted.
Il recognized Bill Richards beyol
question as the other robber when
he placed the lamp on the floor