Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-14

short time there was a network of Of
ficers i've the vicinity but the efforts
to locate the robbers proved futile. O.
E. Stewart was at that time superin-
tendent of the Ottumwa division of the
Burlington and within a few hours a
number Of the high officials of the
railroad and express companies, sew
eral special agents and a number Of
Pinkerton detectives were in the city.
1t was learned that the men had
boarded the train some place east Of
Maxon. The next day they were
traced across the river below the lower
dam and two packages stolen from the
safe and containing a small amount
Of money were found. All trace of the
men was lost at this point and 1000
reward for their apprehension was Of
fered by the railroad and express COM
panies.
Brakeman Gives Clue.
While all kinds Of false clues were
being run down by the officers, Chief
of Police Van der Veer Of this city re-
ceived a letter from Phil McGrath, a
Wabash brakeman. Of Moberly, for
merly of Ottumwa, stating that the
robbers were in the former city. The
chief showed the letter to the railroad
officials but they did not believe it
worth investigating. After receiving
several letters from McGrath, Chief
Van der Veer and Special Agent Jos.
Bellew Of the Burlington decided to go
to Moberly. They took the Wabash and
at Belknap. M. L. Ely n of the rob-
bers, but unknown to the officers,
boarded the train and occupied the
seat directly opposite the officers. His
appearance caused the officers to sus-
pect him but they had nd cause to ar
rest him at that time.
Bateman Arrested.
When the train arrived at Moberly
Ely left the train at a crossing and
the officers noticed that he had left
his rubber overshoes In the car. 1t
was afterwards learned that Ely at
once went to the home of Bateman and
told him that the officers were on
their track and that they had better
skip out. Bateman however, refused
to take his advice.
Chief Van der Veer went to the ad.
dress given by McGrath and the door
was opened by Bateman himself. The
Ottumwa officer asked for McGrath,
and sat down In the parlor to await his
coming. While he was awaiting in
the parlor the chief of police of Mob
erly came to the rear door with a war
rant for Bateman and he was taken to
Jail. Mrs. Bateman finally came into
the parlor and said to Chief Van del
Veer, "a funny thing happened a lit
tie while ago. The police arrested my
husband for being implicated in the
hold-up of the passenger train near OF
tumWa."
Overheard Robbers Story.
y tMcGrath boarded at the Batema1
home and had overheard the train rob
Der telling the story of the hold-up tt
his wife. McGrath had told the story
to the Moberly officers before they hat
!, apparently given little credence to The
, tale until they saw the Ottumwa officer.
!, arrive in the city when they con
!, cluded they would go after the reward
:, McGrath had failed to keep his ap
, pointment with Chief Wander Veer be
, he had been arrested as a sus
, pect and confined in jail. Batemal
, was finally brought back to Ottumw;
, and later made a confession implicit
ing Ely. He was sentenced to fv,
years in the penitentiary at FIT. Madi
son by Judge +. W. Eichelberger an
after serving his time secured EN-
ployment as a switchman in the yard
at Kansas City.
r Ely Escapes.
NJ. L. Ely believed to be the instiga
tor Of the plot, and to have secure,