Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-26
.A[ HAS A BAD RECORD
c. A. Desmond, the Medicine
Man, Had Been In the Pen
Before
OFFICERS HAVE INVESTIGATED
OFFICERS HAVE INVESTIGATED
Something About Hi. Escapade at
searsboro For Which He Did Time In
Fort Internationally Believed to
Have Turned Burglar, For Which He
Was Arrested at Des Moines.
Special to Times-Rapublican.

Special to Times Republican.
! escapade of C. n. Desmond at Des
Moines recalls the C. Fl. Desmond who
| did time in Fort Madison for an as
sault on three little girls at Searsboro
He is said to be the same Desmond
| DesmonG's offense at Des Moines is
breaking and entering. He was con-
victed and sent to the penitentiary for
| five years. He was discovered under
| the bed in a room occupied by Miss
Winnifred Burnett and that young lady
| is credited with dragging him from his
hiding place and holding him until the
police arrived. 1t appears that Des-
mond has worse record than was sup
posed when he was sent up from this
county.
Sheriff Mattern has been investigat-
ing the record of the man since his
conviction as burglar. He is in re-
ceipt of his photograph taken for the
rogues gallery at Fort Madison. Ac-
complaining the photograph is his rec
ord, which states that Desmond served
sentence there and that he was known
as John Scully, alias Four Ace jim.
After remaining in Montezuma by
his side while he was under trial and
awaiting for him here until he served
his Jail sentence, Mrs. Desmond left her
husband after his release from the pen
itentiary, it is alleged. and taking with
her her little daughter. returned to her
home in Maryville, Mo-, where she is
employed in the postofiice. 1t is stated
that Desmond made hec acquaintance
while he was visiting the town with a
medicine show.
The crime which brought him before
the Poweshiek county court was par
ticularly revolving. At the head OF
medicine show, he visited Searsboro
IN January 1898. At the conclusion Of
a matinee one afternoon, he persuaded
three little girls to remain in the hall
and after the crowd had departed, he
assaulted them, so the evidence showed.
He was arrested on an information
sworn out by Mayor Morgan and
NAMED I'M the county Jail until the
next term of court. After trial
which attracted state wide attention,
he was found guilty of assault and
battery and sentenced to thirty days.
Later he was retired, found guilty OF
assault with intent to commit rape and
given three years in the penitentiary.
After serving a year he was granted
new trial and brought back to Monte
yuma. No one appeared against him
and he was discharged. 1t appears
that since that time he has been ply
ing the vocation of burglar. so it would
seem from the conviction at Des
Moines. Fort time he was in Chi
cago where he was "basher" in res
taurant and it was there that his wife
parted from him.
It was while he was awaiting trial
here that Desmond made an effort to
escape from the county jail and was
detected by the watchful eye OF Mrs.
Binegar when but single brick re-
manned between him ard liberty.
In company with several other
prisoners, he had been turned. into the
corridor of the Jail. Here heFseized a
poker and began industriously to dig
his way out thru the brick wall.
His hammering and prying caught the
attention of the sheriff,S wife and she
FASTENED to the cells. There she dis
covered that the man had dug thru
three brick walls and needed but a few
more punches to gain his freedom.
Grasping revolver she commanded
the men to go to their cells. Desmond
made as If he would rush past her but
the gun stopped him and he sullenly
obeyed. Mrs. Binegar locked the doors
and sent for Deputy Sheriff Ed Bine-
gar who took the matter in hand.