Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-30
is FOUND GUILTY
"FLETcH" FRANKLIN SENTENCED
TO THREE YEARS IN MIS-
SOURI, PENlTENTlARY.
Missouri Horse Thief and General Out
law Captured In ottumwa in 1902
Must Serve Second Term For Horse
steaIing-A Dangerous Criminal.

Fletcher Franklin, the notorious
Missouri horse thief and all round
bad man." was convicted fer horse
stealing fer the second time since his
arrest in Ottumwa in November, 1902
by jury in the district court at Chill
licothe, No. yesterday and sentenced
to three years in the penitentiary
Several witnesses were introduced by
the defense in an attempt to establish
an alibi for "Fletch" but the jury
found him guilty after being out sew
eral hours, there being some question
as to the length of sentence to be
recommended.
According to the reports Of the Off
GERS "F1etch" Franklin is considered
one of the most dangerous criminals
that ever roamed over the state of
Missouri and Is known as a man who
would shoot at the wink Of an eye."
He IS said to have killed more than
one man and to have had several
pistol fights with officers who We're
trying to capture him. He is wanted
in Kansas and Nebraska and there
seems little probability Of him re-
gaining his liberty for number of
years.
Arrested In Ottunwa.
In November, 1902, John w. Gray,
then chief of police, received letter
from the sheriff at Linneus, Mo-, stat
ing that Fletch Franklin was stealing
horses in Northern Missouri and
southern Iowa and making his head
quarters in Ottumwa A reward of
5000 was offered he said to anyone
who would deliver him at Linneus,
Mo. After search Of several days
Chief Gray learned that Franklin was
staying at the home of his brother,
Alex Franklin, in South Ottumwa.
1t was presumed that provisions had
been made against capture at the
Franklin home and the officers decided
to wait a few days and If possible
catch his man on the street. While
walking along Main street with T. H..
November II, Chief Gray saw Franklin
walking south on Vine street. With
Mayor Picker he followed Franklin
to the Hoogewooning livery barn
where he waited his chance and placed
him under arrest. Franklin made an
attempt to get his gun before the
officer took it from him but was I'M
successful. He then said that the
spring was broken and asked the
chief to let him have the pistol and
he would show him where 1t was
broken. The revolver was as calibre
and the biggest piece of artillery ever
taken from a prisoner in Ottumwa.
At the police station 1t was found to
be all right and If Franklin had been
successful in getting possession Of it
he would have probably had no hesita-
ton in using it to effect his escape.
Gets Three Years.
The prisoner gave his name as Ed.
Miller, took his arrest very coolly and
denied that he was the man wanted.
He was taken to Linneus, Mo-, con-
victed of horse stealing and sentenced
to three years in the penitentiary. He
was released from prison last March,
but was arrested before he left the
institution and taken to Chillicothe,
where he was also wanted for horse
stealing. He was tried this week and
John w. Gray and Alfred and R. Cos
ney were among the witnesses for
the state. The team stolen from near
Chillicothe was sold by Franklin to
Mr.. Gcsney, who in turn sold it to his
brother The jury fixed upon three
years as the term of sentence.
Brother of "coon" Franklin.
"Fletch' is brother of Coon
Franklin, who after several dare devil
deeds was killed in a train robbery in
Oklahoma. Detectives Sparks and
Brown of Kansas City made an at
| tempt to capture Franklin few weeks
prior to Ills arrest in this city and one
of the officers nearly lost his life
Franklin had left Pollock, Mo, in a
wagon and when about half mile
from the city the officers started after
him on the run. Brown was the first
to catch up with the wagon and draw
| ing mis- revolver ordered the man on
the seat to hold up his hands "Fletch''
rose up from the rear part of the wag,
on and shot Brown in the face and then
| catching hold of the woman on the
seat held her between him and the Off
GERS while his companion whipped the
horses to a gallop, the officers follow
ing on foot as best they could. Several
shots were exchanged, but the only
wound inflicted was the one received
by Brown.
Franklin is said to have shot Dave
Mullans in game OF cards at Rogers,
Mo-, about fifteen or twenty years ago
and later to have killed a sheriff in
Nebraska According to the story told
by the Missouri officers "Fletch" and
Coon" Franklin had been placed I'M
der arrest while being taken to town,
"Fletch" riding with the sheriff. He
threw his captor off his guard by his
apparent willingness to submit to ar
rest, secured his revolver and shot him
with it. "Fletch" and Coon" then
wheeled about and escaped.
DIED THIS MORNING.