Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-14
Stranger Who Posed As De
tective Arrested at Newton
For Stealing Horse
ACTED LIKE CRAZY MAN
Rents Horse and Buggy From Nc
Combs Bros. Barn and Gets to New
ton With 1t Before He Is Locked UP
Wanted to Return Frank Benson
to JaiI-Brousht Here Tonight.

present is able to be made known by
posing as Pinkerton sleuth, was ar
rested at Newton late Monday night
on charge of horse stealing. filed by
McCombs Bros, of this city. "Creo"
rented a horse and buggy early Mon
day morning and neglected to return
it. In it he got as far as Newton be-
fore he was arrested and locked UP. He
will be brought to this city tonight by
the sheriff's officers, who were hot on
his trail, late Monday afternoon.
The actions Of "Creo," during the
few hours beginning with the middle OF
Monday forenoon, indicated the he was
either on protracted drunk or that
he was crazy. This evidence of mental
arrangement evidenced itself in the
zeal with which he was interested in
returning Frank A. Benson, who is out
on bond for killing Byron E. Body.
the Iowa Central brakeman, ten days
ago.
Rents Horse and Buggy; Gets Away.
Sunday evening "Creo,'' who is de-
scribed as short and heavy set with
closely cropped sandy mustache, went
to the McCombs barn for a horse and
buggy. He said he wanted to drive
about town. The rig was given to him,
but not until after he had paid for 1t
in advance. 1t was returned in due
time.
Monday morning, shortly after Z
O'Clock, "Creo" telephoned the barn
from the Windsor hotel. and ordered a
horse and buggy sent to him. He said
he was the Pinkerton detective who
had had a horse and buggy the night
before. It was delivered to him.
Said He Was U. S. Marshal.
Before reaching State Center, and
when southeast Of LaMoille, he asked
to be directed to the nearest station on
the Northwestern. He said he was
United States marshal, and that he
was hot on the trail Of a man. who
was last seen seven miles north OF
Marshalltown. He was directed to La
Noble, from which he telephoned, and
where he incidentally forgot to pay
the, toll charge.
Wants to Bring Benson In.
Al about 11:15 o'clock Chief Of Po-
lice w. E. Nicholson was called up on
the phone from LaMoille. The person
on the I.aMoille end of the line said
that he was "Creo" the Pinkerton de-
tective and that he was north of La
Noble, and that he would bring
Frank A. Benson into town If the Of
ficer wanted. Nicholson referred him
to County Attorney J. H. Egermayer.
to whom he repeated that he would
bring in Benson. He was told Benson
was out on bond, and was not wanted.
To a passerby, who was coming to
this city, "Creo" said to tell the mayor
that he would be in soon. This con-
versation was reported to the Nc
Combs barn.
Officers Give Chase.
At about 1880 o'clock a State Cen
ter friend Of McCombs Bros. telephoned
them that a stranger, who was acting
uueerly, had driven into town with a
horse and buggy that looked like Nc
Combs outfit The person who tele-
pEoned said the horse appeared to have
been driven hard.
Soon after this information arrived a
warrant was secured for "Creo" and
the sheriff's officers began to give
chase. All of the nearby towns, south
and southwest of here, were notified as
it was supposed that he was headed
for Des Moines. 1t was said that while
in State Center he tried to buy CO.
cafne.
Arrested at Newton.
Among the towns notified to look out
for the man was Newton. He reached
there during the night, after having
driven the horse approximately sew
'enty miles during the day. He was
arrested by the town marshal and
locked up. This city was notified early
this morning. Deputy Sheriff A. A.
Nicholson, who left on an early train
for Des Moines, was communicated
with by telephone this morning He
will bring the prisoner to this city to-
night.