Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-05

Yeggnlen, thugs known 10 be
among the most desperate in the
country, are believed to be in Spo-
kane or on their way to that city
to assassinate Billy Sunday, &C
cording to an article in Spokane
paper.
Ready to ward off the attack
which may come at any moment,
4 Billy Sunday is carrying. re
yolver In his hip pocket. Every
man on his staff of workers is al
so heeled with a big gun to pro-
|, tect their leader.
The Spokane article continues:
( ~ a letter to Charles Butler, the
sol list, q converted ex-convict reveals
a dot to kill Sunday--a conspiracy so
bfnous that it is almost unbelievable
Ian attempt to prevent the famous
reformer from ever appearing in
Springfield, Illinois, where he is next
billed to go.
This letter comes from an ex-con-
vict who was himself converted year
ago by Mr.. Sunday from a man who
himself has a record as being one of
the most expert yeggmen of the coun-
try. and who has done time in Sing
Sing and Joliet. The informant is now
3, straight man. according to Mr.,
Sunday and works in revival services
being held throughout the country.
Want Special Policemen.
The letter came like bolt from a
clear sky and caused CONSERVATION
among the followers of the evangelist.
Every man Of the staff promptly for
tilted himself with revolver which is
carried night and day. Application has
i been made to Chief Of Police Rice TO
have all the men who are with Mr..
Sunday sworn in as special policemen.
Mr.. Sunday believes the plot re-
vealed through this timely warning is
backed by the saloon element of
Springfield, Ill. He says:
Springfield is now facing city
4 election which will determine whether
Z the city is to stay wet or go dry
y am sure that this has been arranged
by certain members of the saloon ele-
q ment, who would stop at nothing in
s an attempt to keep me from getting
there and holding revivals just before
the election. The Springfield saloon
people are arranging big fight
4 against me, but l can hardly conceive
how they would dare attempt this.
Afraid Of Boomerang.
The f1endishness Of the plot is
shown in the fact that they are send
ing to Spokane to kill me rather than
killing me in Illinois. They know
only too we'll that to attempt my life
In that section would act as boone
rang and would arouse such sympathy
that their cause would be lost and
would sweep the saloons at once from
! the state Of Illinois. But to have it
done is Spokane would cause no sus-
picion that the forces back there were
connected with it.. Please do not give
away the name Of the man who wrote
that warning letter. as it would get
him into trouble. You may publish
the rest of the letter word for word, if
you wish"
The letter follows
Met TWO "Stckups.y
Fried Butler: While in Springfield
| met two stickups named Brickyards
Jimmy and Kid Harrington and they
told me they were going to Spokane.
They had lots of dough and new toys
and benny (oyercoaD Just bought iii
Springfield and as the Kid just got out
of the stir at Joliet wondered where
they made the touch, and they said
friends in Springfield fixed them up.
Either one of them would crush a
lid or put out light for 100 bucks,
and they told me they expected TO get
$500 each for going vest. and then
they would open a slop joint in Chi
!.
here read of the Springfield people
going to fight Sunday and knowing
they would do almost anything to keep
the town wet and win the election and
] put 2 and 2 together and although
would not tell Sunday SO, would ad-
wise him to watch out. You use your
own judgment about that. Now I know
Joe Warren out there and he knows
me, as he was sheriff and chief of po-
lice. A man six feet four inches high
and sure shot and afraid Of no one,
and If you think best will write him
about their going there and maybe
stop something doing.
"Some Dirty job
II know from the roll they had.
more than / ever seen them with, that
some dirty job is on hand.
Would like to hear from you, re-
CARDS to Sunday
Sign ED
P. S.--Don't give me away outside
or my nut would be cracked. am not
knocker, but don't like to see any
one hurt for dough-"
To this letter is signed the name OF
one of the country's former expert
yeggmen. He is said by Sunday to be
q straight man now, but ne has a rec.
ord which is known 10 the police in
every city in the land. The sman Joe
4 Warren, referred to in his letter, is
now in Alaska.