Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-11-03
SMITH SENTENCED
TO TWO YEARS
MAN WHO STOLE "RoLL" OF
BILLS FROM TOM DAVIS OF
BATAVIA, PLEADS GUILTY
Petitions Presented Asking for the
Leniency Of the court--Was Odd
Theft, as Money Was Taken From
Davis Discarded Vest.

Asa Smith, charged with the theft
of $1,1S5, the property of Thomas
Davis, an elderly farm hand, who re-
sides at Batavia yesterday with
drew his plea of not guilty and plead
guilty. He was sentenced by Judge
F. W. Eichelberger to two years in the
penitentiary.
In connection with the change in
the plea petitions from various people
who had known Smith or by whom he
had been employed were read, asking
for leniency on the part of the court
in dealing with the defendant. The
most remarkable of these was one
from McFalls, Mo-, Smiths old home.
which was signed by forty-five of his
old friends and neighbors.
Story Of the Crime.
! The robbery, which was one Of the
oldest and most sensational which has
occurred in Wapello county for years,
occurred September ~.
Davis was working i'll corn field on
the farm of Roy Golf, about one mile
and half west of Batavia, just a
short distance over the Wapello coun-
ty line.
It has been Davis custom for years
to carry his savings with him. In the
roll of bills which Smith stole there
were some that Davis has carried on
his person through the day and slept
with them under his pillow at night
for the last seventeen years.
Stolen from Clothes.
Becoming heated from his exertions
Davis took off his coat and the vest
in which he carried the money, and
hung them on hedge at the side Of
the field in which he was working
Later, happening to look toward where
the clothing had been hanging, he
noticed that the vest had been disturb
! ed.
/ He at once went to examine the
clothes end found that he had beer
robbed. Sheriff Cremer was notified
and after strenuous preparation
having but twenty minutes within
which to make the train to Batavia
with his dogs, left for the Jefferson
county town.
| After strenuous search for clew
the sheriff by the aid of the hounds
at last fixed his suspicion upon Smith
and in spite of protests from residents
OF Batavia, who believed Smith incapa
BILE of such a deed, took steps to sc
cure his capture. Smith was later cap
tured at Fairfield and the roll" re
covered.
4 Suit Dismissed.
The case of the state of Iowa VS.
L. o Baldwin was dismissed yesterda.
on the notice of the county attorney
The action was an appeal from thu
decision of justice court.
Permit Granted.
i Judge Eichelberger has granted ,
permit to j. H. L. Swenson, loca
, druggist, to keep and sell alchoholi,
, liquors for medicinal purposes as b,
/ law provided.
Sues on Account.
The Ottumwa Brewing and Ice com
|pany has filed a suit against the part
nership of DunninS a. Marts asking 70
a Judgment for $13S30, alleging tina
that amount is due the plaintiff on a,
account.
Building and Loan Cases Not Heard
The Wapello County Building an
Loan association cases, which wer
expected to come up for trial begin
ming with yesterday. have been cor
tinued until next term. 1t was foun
that some papers needed in the tria
of the cases had been misplaced wtic
! made the postponment necessary.