Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-23
ACCUSED OF MURDER
coLoREp MAN ARRESTED HERE
YESTERDAY.
SERVED TWO PENIlENTIARY TERMS

Andrew Tucker Arrested at Morrell
Plant on Charge of Numbering Har.
mon Sapho at South Omaha July 10
Prisoner is Old Prize Fighter.
From Wednesdays Daily.
Charged with the murder of Harmon
Sapho at South Omaha, Neb., on the
night of July 10, Andrew Tucker was
arrested yesterday by Acting Chief
Gallagher and Chief of Police John
Briggs, of South Omaha, while at work
in the killing gang of the Morrell
packing house. Tucker is charged with
murder in the first degree He is ac-
cused of brutally stabbing Sapho in a
fgh. causing the latters death thirty.
six hours later. Chief Briggs arrived
in the city yesterday afternoon on
Burlington No. 6. and in company with
Captain Gallagher soon had Tucker To-
Gated at the Morrell plant. He was
arrested at o'clock yesterday even
ing and was taken back to South
Omaha last night on Burlington No. 1.
Tucker is an old prize fighter and has
served term in the penitentiary.
The South Omaha chief of police To-
Gated the man through information
given out by colored fellow by the
name of Brooks, who knew of the trag-
edy and worked here last week with
Tucker. He was in South Omaha yes
terday and told the chief that his man
was in Ottumwa, first picking fuckers
photograph from large number
shown him. The arrest was made qui-
city, the prisoner making no effort to
escape, although he is known to be a
desperate man.
Was DastardIy Crime.
The murder of which Tucker is &C.
cused was dastardly and unprovoked
affair. Tucker became engaged in a
fight at South Omaha boarding house
with another colored fellow and was
getting the better of the argument
when Sapho demonstrated with him
for Furnishing a man when he was
down. According to the statement of
the South Omaha chief Tucker then
stabbed Sapho with a long knife cut
ting his heart almost in two
Came Here July 10.
Tucker left South Omaha immediate
ly and was traced from Council Bluffs
to Corning. The officers went there
after him but he made his escape and
came to this city. He arrived here
Monday three days after the tragedy
and secured employment in the pack
ing house. He was at work in the
hanging floor when the officers arrived
at the plant and he was Immediately
recognized by the South Omaha chief.
Makes Partial Confession.
When seen last evening in his cell
at the city Jail by a Courier represent
alive he made partial confession. He
said that Sapho came at him with
knife and that he struck back at him
with knife but that there were sever
al in the fight and that he did not
know whether he struck the man or
not. He stated that Sapho before dy-
ing declared he did not know the man
who killed him. When Sapho died,
however, Tucker was well on the way
to Ottumwa and this part of his story
is not given much credence. Chief
Briggs of South Omaha states that the
authorities have no doubt that Tucker
is the murderer.
Has Bad Record.
Tucker has a particularly bad rec
ord. He has served two terms in the
penitentiary, one of two years at Lin
coin, Neb., for shooting colored man
at that city and previously at Jefferson
City, Mo-, for nearly numbering a man
with club. He was released from the
Lincoln penitentiary but five months
a mr. in hn fnrt io,, Il
has been for years regular habitue
Of the Omaha and Kansas City police
courts.
An Old Prize Fighter.
Tucker is an old prize fighter. In
company with George Dixon, little
chocolate) he gave sparring exhibitions
through Colorado and Montana in 1895.
He fought fourteen round draw with
Hatch Smith in Kansas City in 1899
and later was defeated at Omaha by
Oscar Gardner, the Omaha Kid Harry
Mack and Kid Haley were also his op-
ponents in the ring during his career.
fuckers reputation is well known by
men who folloy the fighting game.
Arrested Without Trouble.
The man is less than five feet in
is extremely muscular and has the rep
utation of being dangerous man in a
fight. He always carries firearms or
knife and it was anticipated that it
would be impossible to arrest him
without fight. He was in his work
ing clothes when arrested, however,
and had no opportunity of making his
escape or putting up fight against the
heavily armed officers.
Went Under Assumed Name.
Tucker has been friendly with his
fellow employees and no one suspected
that he held such black record. He
has been living at the home of Eman-
uel Higgins on South College street
since coming to this city. He went
under the name Of Frank Payden while
here.
Last night he was taken back by
Chief Briggs to answer to the charge
of murder in the first degree. He was
heavily shackled and no trouble was
anticipated in landing him safely be-
hind the bars at South Omaha.
TENDERS HIS REPORT.