Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-24
BAlRD's TESTIMONY IN RICHARDS
CASE LIKE A BOMB IN CAMP
OF DEFENSE.
L ELLIS WHOLE STORY
Former creston Gambler, Now Pris-
oner at Fort Madison Penitentiary,
Says Richards Failed to Send Mrs.
Baird the Money Promised.

Indianola, Sept. 24.-(special.)-
Disclosures that. if true, brand Will
lam A. Richards as one of the most
dangerous men in Iowa and which, if
untrue, brand Frank Baird to be
Enthusiastically shrewd william with
most vengeful nature, were brought
out during Baird's examination upon
the stand, in the case against Rich
ards, which is being conducted here
this week Baird's story was some
what along the line of the one the
officers worked on during the weeks
while Richards was a fugitive, but 1T
contains points which until they were
heard on the stand yesterday, have
been unknown.
Richards Watched.
Baird says that while he and a
cook whom he brought to Hamilton
with him, named Charles Redrup, held
up the Sullivans and took their mon
ey, Richards, who, he says, engineered
the scheme from the beginning, stood
on the streets a short distance from
the Sullivan house and watched the
place, presumably to prevent surprise
sons for testifying against Richards
the latter's alleged failure to send
to Mrs. Baird the $1,000 which Baird
says Richards promised him on the
night of the robbery and after the
Creston man had been shot.
Case Still Continues.
Today the witnesses for the state
are still being examined but nothing
new is being developed Baird's testi-
mony having been the trump card OF
!. the prosecution, His allegations are
1 very strong and include a, charge to
4 the effect that Richards visited him
since he has in the penitentiary
/ and agreed to look after his wife, tell
| ing him that he thought he (Richards)
1 could secure Baird's release in few
months
Tells of Robbery.
Bairds story of the robbery was told
while he was on the stand yesterday,
and created a decided sensation. Ac-
| cording to the witness, Richards plan
ned the robbery in Baird's house in
Creston and then left Baird to secure
third man. Baird says that on the
day of the robbery, the day following
Richards departure from Creston for
Hamilton, he received a message which
he says Richards promised to send him
/ if all was ready, and which read, so
! he says:
"Your man is gone Ed"
Baird says that upon the receipt
of the message he and Redrup, with
whom he had previously arranged the
scheme, left for Hamilton, going on
the Burlington to Abba and from
there to Hamilton on the Wabash.
He says they bought tickets for Bus
sey and left the train at Hamilton,
4 where they were met by Richards.
/ Richards, the witness ayers, furnish
ed them with Scotch caps and guild
ed them to the Sullivan house, near
which they hid while Richards took
4 the Sullivan boy down town and re-
4 turned alone. When he returned to
the Sullivan home, Baird says, Rich
ards wore Scotch cap like their
Iown. Richards then went into the
house, according to the testimony. to
see that all was ready for the robbery
Baird says that when Richards re,
, turned he reported favorably and he
. (Baird) and Redrup Went to the house
, and committed the robbery.
What did Richards do. the attor.
ney here asked.
!, He stood across the street on the
corner.
did you go into the house and
what did you find there, if you went
in?"
I'VE found Sullivan and Mrs. Sulli
vans sister in the room" ;"
How do you know who they
were?"
Richards had told me-"
"Who went in flrst?"
'I did. That is, ! entered little il
the lead We both stepped in to
: gether, and told them to hold up theil
hands,
5 did you threaten them?"
:, Thought 1t Was Joke.
I'VE drew our guns and had oul
billies in our hands. They seemed t.
!. think ii was joke at first. till VIZ
a told them we meant business
"Then what did you do?'
"We stood them UP side by side fac
ing the north and asked where tn
money was. Mrs. Sullivan said it wa
, on the machine, or the organ, forge