Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-01
JURY SAYS FORMER FEDERAL Of
FIcER PLANNED THE sULLI-
VAN ROBBERY.
WILL APPEAL THE CASE
Noted Trial Comes to Close at In
dianola This Morning, the Jury
Occupying Only Forty Minutes in
Reaching Verdict.

lndlanola, Sept. 29.- (SpeclaD -
With one ballot the jury in the case Of
the State Of Iowa VS.. William A. Rich
ards, charged with completely in the
robbery of Mr.. and Mrs. P. Sullivan
at Hamilton last January, found the
defendant guilty as charged and the
announcement of the verdict in court
brought to close trial which has
excited more widespread interest than
any which has been tried in Iowa for
several years. Richards, whose rep
utation as a successful peace officer and
a deputy United States marshal of abil-
known for years, stands convicted of
one of the most cruel and cunning
crimes recorded upon the criminal his
tory of the state.
Will Appeal Case.
Even before the case was finished
it was announced that Richards, if
found guilty would appeal the case to
the supreme court of Iowa in the hope
of getting a favorable verdict from that
tribunal. At any rate this will afford
him respite even if the decision of
the lower court is reversed. Richards
is nearly so years of age and a term
like the one given Baird, the convict.
ed robber. will mean almost the re-
mainder of the life of the former depu-
| ty marshal. Baird received a sen.
tence of eighteen years in the Fort
Madison penitentiary.
4 An Affecting Scene.
/ The scene in court when the verdict
was read was affecting. Although
Richards did not show any concern.
i having spent too many years around
courts of justice to allow his features
to express his feelings, his aged faith
er, who has been constant attendant
I at court during the trial, and the peo-
pie who have known "Bill' Richards
i since he was little boy in Indianola,
were ALMOST overcome by the realiza.
ton that this man, who has given the
best years of his life to the work Of
catching criminals should have been
1 convicted of crime as bad as any
4 for which he has bounded men for
\ years.
This case is, from some standpoints,
one of the most remarkable.
That man like Richards, after spend.
ing wears in building up a reputation
as an officer whose ability was equal
to that of any in Iowa, should stoop so
low as to plan and help commit the
robbery of the Sullivan family is al.
most beyond belief Some do not and
! will not believe his guilt even now, af.
ter hearing the conclusive tsGtimony
of the witnesses in the case All feel
/ pity for his wife and children. who
bear the best reputation. The family
home is at Crestoa.
\. Story of the Crime.
The crime with which Richards
was charged is so well known that
only brief mention is necessary. He
was we'll acquainted at Hamilton,
where the Sullivans and his brother
lived, and had spent some time at
the Sullivan home when in Hamilton
on business. He knew that Mrs Sui,
4 livan had money amounting to about
4 $4,000, the proceeds of the sale Of
land. According to the testimony Of
i the states witnesses, he planned the
robbery and stood guard near the
house while Frank Baird and Charles
Redrup of Creston secured the money.
Baird was shot by Sullivan as no
and Redrup were leaving the Sullivan
house, and was arrested during the
!, night. Redrup escaped. Richards
took charge of Baird and befriended
him. Baird claims that Richards
promised to give Mrs. Baird $1,000 IL
| her husband would take the blame for
Z the robbery and exonerate the ex-
: deputy marshal. To this Baird says
: he agreed but when Richards failed
5 to pay the money he turned states evil
: dence.
Richards disappeared completely
soon after the robbery and did not
again show his face in Iowa until
two months afterward. He has given
y no good account for this action and
it has counted against him in the
trial.