The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-01-30
FARMER SUES RODDER|
UNIQUE ACTION FOR DAMAGES
STARTED IN NEBRASKA.
Notorious "Yessn,an" Captured While
Ransacking House--captor Now
Trying to Make Him Pay
for His Fun.

Omaha, Neb.--One of the most
unique suits for damages in the his.
tory of western jurisprudence has
here. John Wlpf, farmer living sew.
eral miles west of Omaha, is plain
tiff to the action, which is against
John Smith, one of the most noto-
rious and desperate "yeggmen" in
the country. and one who is 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 farmer finally
captured and disarmed the burglar.
Now, gosh darn you," said Wipf,
breathing heavily and looking down
fiercely into the upturned face of
his prisoner, I'm goin to make you
pay for the fun you've been tryin' to
have with me tonight
Why, my dear Mr. Farmer, I'm
perfectly willing to pay for it," said
the yeggman. trying to smile. II
have just sl,400 in cold cash ia my
pocket here, and you may have the
whole amount If you will let me get
up and go my way"
The farmer permitted the burglar
TO run hand down into one of the
pockets of his trousers. and, true to
his word, he drew therefrom 81, 400 in
crisp new bills.
The farmer scratched his head
NO" he finally said, Il guess won't
take it. That might be compounding
a felony, and ! reckon don't want &c
do anything that amt legal guess
Id better haul you to own and see
il can't make you pay for your fur
with me some other way"
The ycggman pleaded with tho
farmer to take tho money and let hin
go, but Wipf remained obdurate.
Keeping Smith covered with tb,
revolver, Wipf called to his wife tt
fetch him piece of stout rope. Sh,
did so, and together they tied th,
burglar hand and foot. Wipf thcy
kept watch over his prisoner unit
daylight, when he hitched a team t,
a wagon, bundled Smith into the We
hicle, and bidding his wife have
breakfast prepared by the time h,
should return to his home, set out TO
Omaha with the yeggman.
The yeggman continued to urge tn,
farmer to take the money, and tn,
farmer continued to reject his allur
ing offer until Wipf finally drew NJ
In front of the police station here an,
in stentorian tones called to the off
GERS within to come out and get tn
prisoner.
81 ketched the darn skunk robbir
my house las night" explained tn
farmer to the surprised and amused
officers who responded to his cal
He put couple of pieces of lead il
my side while | was doin' it, but her
he is, an ! want you to give hin
everything that's comm to him."
When the officers came to searcl
the prisoners they were surprised I,
find the 81 400 which he had offere,
Wipf for his release. a..u ...
"Oh, yes; | plum forgot that darne,
money! said the farmer. HE offerc,
1t to me II l would let him so. but
reckoned I'd better not take ii, an,
SO | fetched him in .Dr .
A few days later he was indicte,
by the grand jury on the charge o
robbing Wipf's house and shootin
Wipf with intent to kill him. Wip
had surgeon dress his wounds an,
then drove back to his home in tn
country. His wounds, while not dan
gerous, were painful.
! The farmer had delivered his prls
oner safely into the hands of officer
of the law; he had done his duty a
he saw it. and his conscience wa
easy, but still lie couldn't help think
ing about the $l,400 which the bun
glar had urged him to accept bu
which he had declined.
He was still thinking about il whel
few days later he drove back t.
Omaha. He went to the Office OF
well-known lawyer.
Yes, sir, Mr. Wipf," said the Law
YER Il think you have eXcellen
grounds for a damage suit agains
this man Smith. l suggest that
you bring suit you ask for at leas
$4,000"
All right said the farmer &c
ahead and get the law on him.
That afternoon Wipf filed suit TO
damages against the yeggman an
the suit will come up for trial a