Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-11-02
FARMER SUES R0BBER
UNIQUE ACTION FOR DAMAGES
STARTED IN NEBRASKA.
Notorious "vessnnan" Captured While
RansaekIns Houss-captor Now
Trying to Make Him Psy
for His Fun.

for His Fun.
Omaha. Neb.-One Of tho most
unique suits for damages In the his.
tory of western jurisprudence has
Just been filed In the district court
here. John wipf. a farmer living sew.
eral miles west Of Omaha. II plain
TIL to the action. which In against
John Smith. one Of the most noto-
rious and desperate "yeggmen" In
the country. and one who In known
to the police OF nearly every impor-
tant city In the United States.
One night recently Wipf discovered
Smith In the act OF robbing his house.
and after desperate battle. In which
he was shot twice. the ,armer finally
captured and dlsarmed the burglar.
Now. gosh darn you" said Wipf.
breathing heavily and looking down
fiercely into the upturned face of
his prisoner. I'm soin' to make you
pay for the fun you've been tryin' to
have with me tonight
why. my dear MIR. Farmer. I'm
perfectly willing to pay for It," said
tho ycgEman. trying to smile. Il
have Just 3l.i00 In cold cash In my
pocket here. and you may have the
whole amount II you will let me get
up and 20 my way"
Tho farmer permitted the burglar
to run . hand down into one OF the
pockets OF his trousers. and. true to
his word. he drew thcrcfrom 81 400 In
crisp now bills.
The farmer scratched his head.
NO" Ac finally said. Il guess ! won't
take Il. That might be compromising
felony. and reckon don't want to
do anything thnt amt legal. guess
I'd better haul you TO own and zee
II can't make you pay for your fun
with me some other way
The ycggman pleaded with the
farmer 10 take the money and let him
20. but wipf remained obdura'c.
Keeping Smith covered with the
revolver. wipf called TO his wife to
fetch him u piece OF stout rope. She
did 80. and together they tied the
burglar hand and foot. wipf then
kept watch over his prisoner until
daylight. when he hitchcd team to
wagon. bundled Smith into the We
breakfast prepared by the timo he
should return to his home. set oct for
Omaha with the ycggman.
The ycggman continued TO urge the
farmer to take the money. and the
farmer continued to reject his ailur-
Ing offer until wipf finally drew up
In front OF tho police station here and
In stcntorian tones called to the ofii-
ccrs within TO come out and get the
prisoner.
81 kctchcd the darn skunk robbin'
my house las night explained the
farmer 10 the surprised and amused
officers who responded to his call.
He put couple OF pieces OF lead In
my side while I was doin' II. but here
he ix. an I want you TO give him
everything that's comm TO him
When the officers came to search
tho prisoners they were surprised to
find the si.t00 which he had offered
wipf for his release.
"oh. yes; I plum forgot that darncd
money" snid the farmer. ''IIc offered
II to me II I would let him go. but I
rcckoScd I'D better not take It. and
80 fetched him in
A few days later he was indicted
by the grand jury on tho charge OF
robbinE wipfs house and shooting
Wipf with intent TO kill him. wipf
had a surgeon dress his wounds and
then drove back to his home In the
country. His wounds, while not dan.
gerous. were painful.
The farmer had delivered his pris.
oner safely into the hands of officers
OF the law: he had done his duty as
he saw II, and his conscience was
easy. but still he couldn't help think.
ing about the si.i00 which the bur.
glar had urged him TO accept but
which he had declined.
lie was still thinking about II when
few days later ne drove back to
Omaha. lie went to the Office OF C.
well.known lawyer.
Yes. sir. Mr.. wipf." said the law
yer. Il think you have excellent
grounds for damage suit agains,
this man Smith. | suggest that IL
YOU bring a suit YOU ask for at lea,',
| 81. .OO0.'
All right" said the farmer. Go
ahead and get the law on him.
That afternoon Wipf filed suit for
damages against the yeggman and
the suit will come up for trial at
The next term of the district court.