Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-13
LEROY EDWARDS, ALLEGED RAP
IST, BROUGHT BACK YES
TERDAY.
BOUND OVER BY KIRBY
Again Taken to Abba Before Sun.
down Mother Writes to
Learn If Edwards
Is Her Son.

Leroy Edwards, colorsd, alleged
rapist, was quietly and quickly
brought to Ottumwa yesterday. Late
in the afternoon he was arraigned be-
fore Police Judge Kirby; the evidence
Of Con Hourahan and Mrs. Clara IT.
win was heard; be was bound over 20
the grand jury under bail bond OF ST.
600 and again was as stealthily taken
back to Abba on the next train out
of Ottumwa.
The preliminary hearing didn't oc-
cupy more than half an hours time Of
the court. Only two witnesses were
introduced. these being the prosecut-
ing witness, Mrs. Irwin, and Mr..
Hourahan, to whose house Mrs. Irwin
fed for protection after the assault.
She Tells Story.
Mrs Irwin, who resides at 1117
Hayne street, told how she was on
her way home from town on the even
ing of January "a. She had reached
small bridge near the railroad
tracks and short distance from the
pickle factory, when a man placed his
hand on her shoulder from the rear
and said, Come on with me, sister.
The man, whom she said was Ed
wards, and who had followed her from
Main street, placed one arm around
her waist and the other hand over her
mouth. He carried her to the rear
of pile Of railroad ties and there as
saulted her. He also warned her that
If she made an cutlery or said any
thing Of the assault he would kill her
Mrs. irwin ran into the home of Mr.
| Hourahan where she fell into the
door and the police were notified.
Mr.. Hourahan was placed on tbs
stand and he told of this circum
stance of the story.
Edwards said he was rather afraid
to come back to Ottumwa, and when
he found that he was to be taken Out
again he showed great relief.
Negroes Mother.
/, Evidence has come to light which
seems to clear up the identity of Ed
wards, Of whose history no one seems
to know anything. Sheriff Jackson
In Nashville, Tenn, inclosing account!
Of the mob on the night following the
assault, clipped from Chicago paper
and saying that Edwards is her son
This Edwards denies. He said tina
his mother died several years ago.
Edwards also received a letter frou
the woman Sheriff Jackson, VIII
wrote to the colored woman in repl,
to a letter to him asking about Ro.
received the following reply:
Nashville, Tenn, Feb. s, 1908.
Mr.. Jackson.
Sir: I received your letter and wa
more than glad that you answered
my letter. l wish to heartily thanl
you for the manner in which 70,
answered it. knowing that your tim
is so valuable. and pray God you viii
be successful in all your undertaking.
and hope when you have served you
time Cd earth, you will be elected t
a higher place in Heaven
i Mr.. Jackson, after Roy's trial If an.
thing serious happens will you be 8,
kind as to notify me at once If he i
hanged / want his body because
carry heavy insurance on him.
haven't seen or heard from Roy fl
four years, but have kept up his in
surance.
j If you will be so kind as to Motif
me you won't lose anything. The las
time l heard from Roy he was in Cen
trail America. Will you please Sc
that l get letter from Roy? Will
you please give this letter to him TO
me and oblige mother in trouble.
4 Edna Edwards,
$50 Woods ST.
i Letter for Edwards.