Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-12
is WELL PROTECTED.
Mrs. Harriett Simpson No Longer
Fears Unknown Intruder.
TAKES PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
South Side Woman Who Has Been
Disturbed BY Strange Visitor, Has
Electric Call System Installed and
Lives Alone No More.
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Mrs. Harriet Simpson, the South OF
tumwa woman, who has been disturb
ed recently by the strange visits to
her home of an unknown man, was in
tervlewed by a representative of the
Courier upon her return home after a
lew days absence, and says that the
intruder has been even more insistent
than was at first reported His first
visit, Mrs Simpson says, was at about
6 o'clock in the evening, when he
Knocked on her door. She asked him
who it was and helTeplied that he was
Nobody but asked for admittance
to her home. She refused, and he
soon left. About Soclocll he returned
and was not convinced that his pres
ence was Objectionable until Mrs.
Simpson called her neighbors. Then
the man disappeared. A few evenings
later he returned, and upon Mrs. Simp-
sons refusal to open the door for him
he went to a window and attempted to
raise it, but the neighbors were again
summoned and he was frightened
away. Since that time young women
who live in the neighborhood have
kept Mrs. Simpson company at night,
and they testify to visits by the I'M
known intruder. One night last week
he came and loosened the screws in
the lock on the front door before he
was frightened away by the neighbors,
and on another occasion he loosened
much of the putty at side window.
Mrs. Simpson is of the opinion that
the man is either insane or was in
toXicateG, but leans rather to the be-
lief that he is mentally unbalanced.
Other Visits.
Other residences in, the neighbor-
hood of Mrs. Simpson, who resides at
Gil South Ransom street, have been
visited by the same man. AT the resi-
dence of Mrs. e. E. Fisher, few
blocks north of Mrs. Simpsons, and on
the same street. he raised one of the
windows late at night before the fam
lily knew of the occurrence, but his
evident intention to- enter the house
was thWarted by the sudden falling
of the5window. which aroused Mr.
Fisher and started the man away on
the run. Although he could not be
seen well, Mr.. Fisher describes him as
about five feetseight inches in height
WEARING d 1iul SUI idl VI Cap anu al
overcoat. the collar of which was turn.
ed up about. hisihsad and face. This
is the same description given by Mrs
Simpson and it would seem that the
same man has been committing all the
depred atiohss mother fact that is in
teresting in connection is that during
the past few weeks several hen coops
in the neighborhoUd have been robbed
at night. and the unknown" is held
responsible for all OF these crimes.
Takes Precautions.
Mrs. Simpson, since her second ex,
perience, has not been alone at her
home over night. She and her neigh.
bors have taken every precaution to
protect her from danger, and now she
is as safe from intrusion as if she were
at the very doors OF the police station
An. electric bell has been installed in
the house of one of her neighbors, and
all are on the lookout for the unwel
come visitor. 1t safe to say that
the next time he puts in an appearance
The will receive warm reception and
one which may result in his capture