Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-26
ROBBED EMPLOYER
DAVE HORN, coLoRED PORTER
AT ST. LOUIS STORE, HELD
ON SERIOUS CHARGE.
Red Silk Wrapper Dropped in Alley
Leads to Knowledge of Robbery, Dis
covery of Stolen Goods and Arrest
of Former Trusted EmpIoye.

~ l. tttC anu leu WldppCl L1oy PloNS
the undoing of Dave Horn, trusted
porter at the st. Louis store, who this
morning was arraigned in police court
upon a charge of grand larceny on an
information charging him with steal
ing a quantity of goods from that
store yesterday and last evening. Horn
pleaded not guilty and his trial was
set for tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Last evening about 1880 a'clock
man came into the police station car
rying fine red silk wrapper and
stated that he had seen the article drop
ped by a colored man, who was carry
ing a considerable bunch of stuff in
the alley between Main and Second
streets. The description was such that
there was but little question as to who
the colored man was. All agreed that
it was Dave Horn, commonly known as
Snip" Horn.
A search was at once begun by Chief
John Gray, Officers Pete Gallagher and
w. H. Black Horn had disappeared
and could not be found. Late last
night it was decided to search his
residence, 603 East Mill street. A war
rant was secured and the three officers
started for Smoky Row. On the way
down they stepped into the Derby sa-
loon on East Main street and found
Horn standing at the bar drinking. He
was arrested and sent to the police
station in charge of Officer Black.
Search the House.
Chief Gray and Officer Gallagher
proceeded to the house and made the
search A portion of the goods was
found covered by Horns overcoat in
rocking chair in which Mrs. Horn,
the white wife of Horn was sitting in
an attempt to hide and conceal the
goods. The search resulted in the
finding of a lavender colored wrapper,
portion of bolt of black nuns
yelling, containing about twelve yards,
three single window curtains, mans
work jacket and a bolt of cloth for
trouser patterns.
All these goods were marked with
the st. Louis Store tags and cost
marks, except the bolt of nuns yelling
and the trouser pattern. Mr.. Donelan
and his clerks this morning identified
all the goods except the trouser pat
tern and this was later identified as a
portion of the goods recently taken
from the show case of the Swenson
East Main street tailoring establish
ment. The total value Of the goods
taken from the st. Louis Store is given
as 1898. This is sufficient to make
the charge one of grand larceny upon
which the penalty may be one or sew
eral years in the penitentiary.
A Curtain Overlooked.
After it was learned last evening
from the tags where the goods had
been taken a search of the store prem
Uses brought to light window curtain
which had been overlooked. This was
found Just outside second story win
dow. 1t was supposed that Horn while
working about the store during the
afternoon in his capacity as porter
took the goods from the various de-
partments and showed them through
the bars of this window. The location
there was such that the act was not
likely to be noticed and the goods after
being placed there could not be seen
from the inside of the store. After
nightfall Horn is supposed to have
climbed to the second story placed the
goods under his overcoat and descend
ed into the alley to make his escape.
He had too much stuff to properly han
die it all and the wrapper which led to
his prompt discovery was dropped.
Horn is we'll known about town and
has never been in serious trouble be-
fore. He has employed Attorney B.
w. Scott to look after his interests.
Mr.. Donelan when informed of the ar
rest of Horn and the charges against
him refused to believe that they could
be true. After Identifying the goods
from his store he was compelled to adj
NIT the truth of the charges.
Horn has been employed at the store
for about three months.