Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-11-28
Justice Held as Robber.

With the arrest of James Rich
mond, justice Of the peace at Buena
Vista, la, station several miles
north of Dubuque on the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul railroad line,
one of the strangest and most melo-
dramic escapades and deals in the
line of crlminology has been re-
vealed to public scrutiny.
Within the shadows of peaceful,
sleeping, little Buena Vista, on the
Father Of Waters, many mysterious
robberies have been committed.
Cars haye been ransacked and differ
ent articles and commodities stolen.
All these offenses were surrounded
by an air Of mystery. Justice Rich
mond knew nothing officially of the
outrages. No informations were
sworn out against thieves through
his office.
All kinds Of clews were chased
down, but to no avail. In few in
stances either Richmond or some OF
his gang were prosecuted and in ev-
cry case an attorney at Elkader sue
ceeded by good breaks of luck in
getting him free. AS long as he
was at liberty the mysterious disap-
pearances OF personal property were
chronicled.
Not many months ago a fisherman
at Buena Vista got into an alterca-
ton with brother of Justice Rich
nond. One word led to another
with the result both began to fight.
The struggle was fierce, but in the
end the fisherman got the better Of
his opponent.
The vanquished Richmond went
to his brother, the justice, and had
an information issued against the
fisherman, charging hims nth as
sault and battery. Justice Richmond
listened to the case, presumably at
tentive, and when the evidence and
testimony was laid before him he
sentenced the prisoner to eight days
in the county Jail.
1t was through the vengence the
fisherman vowed against Richmond
that finally brought him to justice.
BY careful planning and study he
solved the problem, as the result Of
an incident in the local depot in
which man was seen by the con-
ductor taking several slabs Of to-
bacco from the baggage room. lie
wired the Milwaukee detective, and
as a result the roads special agent
went to Buena Vista and then to
Elkader, the county seat.
Here he swore out two informa-
tons against the Buena Vista JUS
tice, one charging him with larceny
and the other with breaking and
entering.
Three days before election Sheriff
Dlttmer Of Clayton county swooped
down upon Buena Vista while it was
sleeping and met the fisherman. A
frultless search was made for the
justice. The next morning found
the sheriff in hiding and the fisher
man doing the spying. Seeing his
man come up the street, the fisher
man notified the sheriff, who walked
out and placed Mr.. Richmond under
arrest, marching him through the
main street.
Detective Ronaine was informed
of the attorney at Elkader who u.s.
ually got Richmond out of pinches,
and he employed the lawyer to act
in conjunction with roads attorney
to prosecute the case. When Rich.
mond asked his old lawyer to take
the case he was informed that he
had been employed by the prosecu-
ton.
The matter was brought before
the Clayton county grand jury anc
Richmond was indicted on two
counts.
At present he is out on bonds o.
$1,000 in each instance. Three
days after he was arrested Rich
mond's name appeared on the oificia
ballot as candidate for reelection AZ
justice of the peace. He was givel
hearty support and was reelected
by big plurality. He will leave
his justice shop in January to de
fend himself on the charges of lar
ceny and breaking and entering
Cascade Pioneer.