Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-26
Angry Mob Gathers in Numbers
At New London---Talks of
Lynching and Safety of
Prisoner is Feared
NOW AT BURLINGTON
After Taking Men to Mt
Pleasant Authorities Feared
To Leave Them

Burlington, Jan. 25.-(Special.-
Arnold thinner and Tom Grimes,
4 each accusing the other of the
4 murder of John Gavin near New
London Tuesday, we're lodged in
the local Jail this morning.
County Attorney Grey, Sheriff
Campbell and Detective O'Brien of
I Chicago. worked all morning try
my to secure more definite con-
fession, from the prisoners, but
have not succeeded.
Each man still accuses the other
of the crime and have not wavered
from their stories
Mt. Pleasant, Jan. 25.-(SpeciaD -
The town of New London, eight miles
east of this city, was the scene of an
attempted lynching last; night. After
Fred thinner had confessed to compile
ity in the brutal murder of j. w. Gavin
3 Tuesday night and had been hurried to
Mt. Pleasant on No. II, rumors were
heard duplicating Thomas Grimes, col
ored, and crowd of more than 100
gathered and threatened to mob the
suspect. The authorities removed the
prisoner through the back door while
a the crowd remained in front and drove
q him to Mt. Pleasant Both prisoners
4 were later taken to Burlington for safe
keeping.
Feeling is High.
4 The feeling in New London over the
thing ran high, and there were rumors
afloat of mob violence, although no
concerted action toward this end was
taken It was not deemed safe, how
ever, in the face OF this feeling, to
keep thinner in town over night, and
it was determined to take him to Mt.
4 Pleasant on No. II. News of this in
tention leaked out, and crowd of
nearly one hundred persons gathered
at the derot
Ruse to Escape Crowd.
81 Fearing to display the prisoner to
the crowd, lest the sight inflame them
to violence, Sheriff Campbell hurried
thinner to water tank, a short dis
tance east of town, where No. II was
boarded AS the train drew into New
London, thinner crouched down under
a seat in the caboose. and passed un-
noticed.
Excitement at Mt. Pleasant.
Mt. Pleasant, Jan. 25.-Between 300
and 400 persons were at the station
New London, bringing Fred thinner
the man who is accused of having a
part in the murder of John Gavin, near
I ioht az
was in charge sof Sheriff Campbell OF
this city, and Detective o'Brien OF
Chicago. A cab was in waiting and
thinner was hustled into it, and driven
rapidly away before the crowd could
interfere. The crowd apparently was
drawn to the scene more out of curl
osity than from any desire to wreak
summary justice upon the prisoner, as
no demonstration was made against
him.
People Visit Spot.
New London, Jan. 25.-There has
been much suppressed feeling in town
over the tragic murder of John w
Gavin Tuesday night, and a continual
stream of people yesterday viewed the
scene of the frightful affair, mile
southeast of town.
! The jury, called by County Coroner
G. A. Yeager was in session all day
and took the testimony of some fifteen
witnesses The evidence, which was
given behind closed doors, is said te
have been substantially verifcatior
of the general facts heretofore report
ed and in the hands of the public.
New and important evidence, how
aver, further duplicating Tom Grimes
who was held pending the investiga
ton. was unearthed yesterday after
noon Sheriff Campbell and P. G
O'Brien, Chicago detective, who was
employed i'll the case made thorough
search of Grimes house and in small
closet under the stairway, uncovered
under pile of articles, an old craven
cite. overcoat and a pair of overalis