Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-28
HICKS ARRESTED
Charged With Robbery of Postoffiee at
Hicks, Former Postmaster is Arrest
ed-Persecution and Extortion on the
Fart of His Alleged Partner In the
Crime Is Alleged.

Cedar Rapids March 2s.-Stephen
Hicks, of Black Hawk county, formerly
postmaster at Hicks was arrested by
Deputy United States Marshal Healy
and brought to this city before United
States Commissioner j. Q. Stewart, on
charge of using his office for purposes
of extortion. The case promises to be
sensational Hicks demanded a prelim-
mary hearing, but not Immediately, and
the date of his hearing was set for
April 2. He was released on bonds.
In the latter part OF October 1903. the
postoffiice at Hicks was robbed. This
was while Hicks was postmaster For
a time there was no clue, but finally
1t became known that an old Scotch
man named Alexander Ennis. known as
SANDY" Ennis of Reinbeck had been
seen with some of the property taken
from the store In which the postoffice
was located. The sheriff Of Black Hawk
county and the marshal OF RelnbecA
went and arrested him one day, and to
them he told the whole story, claiming
that he was not implicated In the rob-
berry, but that he had bought some OF
the stolen property from the actual
burglar, Henry Miles. While he was
telling the officers this, Miles came in
and both the men We're arrested. There
YVES trial for burglary In the district
court of Black Hawk county. Miles
swore that Ennis was actually impli-
Gated in the burglary and helped take
the goods out of the store. Miles was
sent to the penitentiary and Ennis was
sentenced to pay q fine OF $500 and
costs
Now 1t is claimed that shortly after
this trial Hicks went to see Ennis and
told him that he was in danger OF be-
ing tried on a more serious charge, that
of robbing a postoffice. He told En-
mis-, so it Is claimed, that he had Off
cially reported the robbery of the
postoffice, and it appears that this
statement was a fact. Ennis said that
he, had paid the $500 fine and the costs.
to almost 500: he thought
that was sufficient to expiate his crime
of receiving little stolen property, es-
pecially as he had restored all the
property. But Hicks, so Ennis now
says, declared that il he did not pay
him 5000 he would have him arrested
by the United States authorities
on the charge of robbing a post
office
Ennis says that he was greatly wor-
ri ed, more on account of his wife than
himself He offered to compromise for
sa5. but Hicks would not listen to this.
They separated and Ennis went to see
Attorney Seibert. at Reinbeck who ad-
vised him not to pay Hicks cent.
Tut he claims that his wife was great
~ distressed over the matter and adj
yised him to settle up the matter II
he could, telling him that he had all
ready paid nearly S700 to keep out of
jail and he had better pay this other
5000 rather than go to jail.
Finally, it is claimed, an attorney
from Waterloo appeared on the scene
and told Ennis that he would have 70
pay the 5000 or be arrested by the
United States authorities. Ennis final
~ compromised for s165. and 1t is said
that he has the receipt for that amount
signed by the attorney representing
Hicks. But the receipt 1t is said, is
made out in settlement for all civil
suits for damages. 1t Is understood
that the defense will be that Hicks had
been put to great annoyance and some
expense, and also that goods to the
value of $40 or $13 which were stolen
from the store had not been restored
hy Ennis