Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-13
GALLAGHER Gets
new FORMATION
oTTUMWA CHIEF OF POLICE IN
LETTER is ADVISED FoLLlNo
WAS A BAD ACTOR.
REFERS TO DEAD MAN
Des Moines Man Writes Officials That
Body Found in River Friday
is of Former Thug
The Advice.

That Pietro Folina, the Italian
whose dead body was found in the
Des MoiDes river near CliffIand last
Friday was bad, bad" man, whose
death was doubtless inflicted by his
pals with whom he failed to divide
some booty, is the suspicious of a
Des Moines man, who has written a
letter to Chief Of Police Peter Gala.
CHER. The informant states that Fo-
lima murdered man in Wallston, Pa,
some nine years ago and disappeared
causing an innocent man to serve Jail
sentence for the crime The writer ad-
vises the chief to cause the arrest of
two Des Moines men as suspects of
Folina's murder, and instructs the Of
ficer to let him know what is done
by causing the publication of written
letter in the Des Moines paper.
Chief Gallagher puts but little ere
dence in the wild suspicious OF the
Des Moines man, more for the reason
that he refuses to sign his own name,
and subscribes himself as michael
Angelo" and the additional fact that
the Des Moines officials are CONVEX
SAINT with the death of the foater and
have been appraised of all the informa-
resulted in the cOrOner's inquest.
Says FoIino is Married.
81 beg to inform you that happen
TO know the man found in the river
in your CITY," says the letter received
by Chief Gallagher, "and his name is
not Ross, but Pietro Folino. born in
Adaml, Catauzaro, Italy, and has a
wife and two boys in that country. He
70 A,,,N
and has been all over the country,
east and west, north and south. and
about nine years ago. while in Wall
ston. Pa, mining town, he commit
ted one OF the worst tcrimes that you
ever heard of. He shot a handsome
young Italian just for a word, having
waited for the poor fellow in dark
place and shot him in the back He
then ran away. Another man was ac-
cused of the crime and served eight
months in Jail and spent $500 in the
trial. This man Folino never could
be found. A good many people knew
where he was, but would not say any
thing, so I thought I'd keen my mouth
shut. too. He has committed other
crimes and robberies wherever he has
heen. He has always been a bad char
Rcter"
Accuses Two Men.
1t this juncture the letter referred
to two men, whose names Chief Gal
lagher would not consent to being
published, as the possible murderers
of Folino. 81 would not be surprised"
continues the letter. eff these two
people are guilty persons, or if they
did not do it, they know who killed
him. because there is a bunch Of
these bad chara cters here that never
J work, besides they are bad, bad, and
Folino was either killed because he
knew too many Of their secrets and
they thought he would betray their
gang, or perhaps he must have robbed
some one and did not give them a
Fhare, so they consequently killed him.
It was in your place ! would arrest
these fellows on suspicion and make
them confess if they are guilty. If you
act upon my suggestion, let me know
by having the following published in
Des Moines paper: 'Signor Michael
Angelo, Des Moiness Your letter re-
ceived and thank you very much for
the information given. Will do my best
to help Angelina and hope to have the
honor of your acquaintance soon. Will
keep you informed of our progress and
Z lif you can do anything in the mean
time. let us know Petrosini, Ottum
wa"