Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-09-25
RICHARDS IS
! now on TRIAL
Frank Baird Tells His Story
Of the Robbery at
Hamilton. w

~ ff u. ~ 7t7sI 77la--. "
Hamilton.
BASIS OF The STATES CASE
Defense Will Undertake to Show,
That Baird 10 Seeking Revenge
Baird Says Richards Went Back on
Promises to Him.
Indianola, Sept. 24.-Startling accl.
sation Of the most heinous character
were hurled at ex-Deputy United
States Marshal William A. Richards
on trial for the sensational hold-up
Of the; Sullivan family at Hamilton,
Jan. 2, yesterday by Convict Frank
Baird, who consumed more than an
hour in detailing the alleged particu-
lars Of the hOld-up and naming the
defendant as the man who not only
conceived the plot, but who helped
to carry 1t into execution.
Baird was the firs. witness on the
stand, the state thus springing sur
prise as 1t was thought he would not
testify until later in the week. He
told his story In rather straightfor-
ward manner. though frequently inter-
rupted by the attorneys for the de
Tense who endeavored to prevent the
submission of certain damaging facts.
Baird's testimony was full of sur
prises. For the first time since the
sensational robbery at Hamilton when
1t was believed third party had q
hand, the name Of third party has
been made known. Baird says 1t was
Charles Redrup, q crook, who formerly
lived with him In Plattsmouth, Neb.,
that entered the house, held pistol
to the head Of Peter Sullivan, tortured
Mrs. Sullivan by holding . burning
lamp to her feet and later took the
money from an envelope and escaped
through the door.
So quiet was 1t in the court room
when Convict Baird took the witness
stand that the sound of a pin drop
ping to the floor could have been
plainly heard. Baird has been guard.
ed closely in q cell at the county
Jail SO that it has been impossible for
anyone to get at him. He looked
neither to the right nor to, the left
as he slowly and painfully-for he
Is but q mere shadow, made his way
to the witness stand assisted by
Sheriff Hodson. After preliminary
questioning by the court the convict
witness told his story OF the hold-up
and the defendants alleged connec.
ton.
Il know Bill Richards very well.
Have known him for a number: OF
years. had never been in Hamilton
until the night Of the robbery.
saw Richards the night before at
Creston. He was at the foot Of a
pair Of stairs leading up to gambling
room. We met by agreement In the
gambling room two hours later and
in the course Of a conversation Rich
ards wanted to know if I wanted to
make some easy money. I told him
sure, that was always open to such
engagements.
Bill then told me he knew of 4
party that had some money from a
bank and had it in the house. He
said he was well acquainted with the
parties and knew where the money
was kept. Said he was boarding
there and knew all about it. Some
one came into the gambling room at
the time and suggested we go over
to his Office. He kicked on this and
we went to my house. got there
half an hour before he came.
We went into the kitchen at my
home and there in the presence of my
wife and mother and children Rich
ards unfolded the scheme to rob the
Sullivan family at Hamilton. Bill
had a piece of paper and pencil and
noted just how and when I was to
get to Hamilton provided everything
was all right. He, in the meantime,
was to go 70 Hamilton and see IL the
coast was clear.
Two kilograms were agreed upon
there In the kitchen, in case every
thing was all right and I was to 20
to Hamilton Richards was to send me
the following telegram: Thomas
man Is gone.-Ed.' s
Ford Is a crook and also boarded
with me at Piattsmouth, Neb. We de-
cided here at my house to take Char
lie Redrup in partners with me. Red
rrp suggested that we had better gp
pretty well armed and Richards turned
to him and said: We will not need a
gun. Old man Sullivan will be so
scared he will faint when the thing
is done. Richards told us that there
was $l,450 in the house and that Sui.
Ivan had $500 of it in his pocket.
After we had got our plans per-
tected Richards left for Hamilton. The
next day the expected message came
and we got on the train at Creston at
) o'clock in. the afternoon. We ar
rived at Abba and remained there
for supper after which we went on to
hamilton.
Richards was at the train to meet
us. He did not speak but was there
to see II we came. When he saw We
were on the train he left and went
into a dark part Of the city. We fol
lowed and Richards called to Redrup
and told him what should be done.
We vailed past the house to see
If everything was all right. Redrup
and then went down to the Burling-
Ton depot, Richards came later, there
IN the closet we completed the plans
Tor stealing the swag from the Sulli-
van hcrse. Richards was to stand
guard outside and Redrup and 1 were
. go into, the house and get the
doodle. 81
The assertion Is made by a natur-
alist that nightingales devour the
trones OF a beehive. but never modest
the workers. 5., il
Il It is said that Macaulay's memory
was SO retentive that, after reading
: book once he could give all the sail