Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-01
Former Deputy Marshal Who
Left Ostensibly For 1T. Madi-
son Has Not Arrived
WAS NOT SEEN in cREsToN
Thought That He May Have Come
There for Farewell Visit With His
Wife Proved Erroneous-tias ReIa-
tives in IIIinois-conjecture as to
His whereabouts.
Special to Times-Republlcan.

Special to Times Republican.
Burlington, May 1.1-Up to noon to-
day sex-Deputy Marshal Richards had
not shown up at the state penitentiary
at Fort Madison and Warden Jones had
heard nothing concerning Richards
appearance in that city. There is
disposition to believe that Richards
never started for Fort Madison and the
Des Moines story to that effect fake.
Des Moines, May 1. - With forty
eight hours having elapsed since for
mer United States Marshal William
goodbye and announced that he was
going direct to Fort Madison to COM
mence his sixteen year sentence in the
state penitentiary, the prison door has
yet to swing open to receive the for
mer official. He left Des Moines at
1880 Saturday morning. He was sup
posed to have gone direct to Fort
Madison and word was sent to the
warden and turnkey to be ready to re-
ceive him. At midnight last night the
prison authorities announced that they
had not seen Richards and knew moth
ing of his whereabouts.
Where he is now is a mere matter
of conjecture.
1t was believed in Des Moines yes
he his old
home in Creston, seeking the last few
hours of his liberty with his wife and
family. Inquiry in that city proved
that he had not been there since the
first of last week.
Dropped From Sight.
Doubling ones, remembering the
mysterious disappearance of the ia
nous old peace officer some years ago
when the first charges We're made
against him, believe that he has dis
appeared and is seeking to avoid his
arduous sentence. Those who know
him best scout such an idea.
The only place where it is known
that natural instincts would draw him
from his journeys to the state prison
is in Illinois, where he has relatives
living, and to whom it might be natur-
al that he should give them last fare
we'll visit.
owing to the unusual method of
commencing a prison sentence by vol
UNFAIRLY going to the penitentiary
without the escort, of an officer, the
prison authorities are much worried
over the disappearance Of Bill Rich
ards.
az orae jc arrS 9 nf
He is scheduled to serve sixteen
years behind the walls Of state pris-
on, into whose confines his official acts
have caused more men to be placed
than perhaps any other man in the
state of Iowa. If he has disappeared,
it is not to be wondered at, some say,
as they figure out the advanced age
which he will have attained when he is
liberated.
Early Pardon Expected.
Yet the many friends which the
condemned prisoner possesses his In
fiuence in the state of Iowa and the
good record made in the past We're
thought to be mitigating circumstances
which would tend to shorten his term
by a parole or pardon. The action of
Richards in deciding to go alone to the
was actuated by desire
to begin to serve his long sentence as
soon as possible, he said, and to pre-
vent the humiliating experience of be-
ing escorted on the train with irons on
his wrists.
The prison authorities last night In
ferred that should he fail to appear to-
day, some search would be instituted
to locate him, If possible.