Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-17
'DISMISSES CASE
AGAI|NCT YOUTH
NEPHEW OF JOCKEY TOD SLOANE
Is BROUGHT BEFORE COURT
ON INcoRRIGlHILITY
LAD FINDS FAVOR
FINDS FAVOR
Judge ElcheIberaer Falls to Find
Against the Boy and Recommends
That Different Action BE
Started.

A jockey and nephew of the famous
Tod Sloane and Bob Sloane of turf
careers, who gave his name as William
Toggard Keller, aged about 15 years,
was made the center Of attraction In
the district court this afternoon. Will.
lie would be sent to the reform school
or some such other place If the will OF
Mrs. Jennie Ficktenmiller Of Farm.
ington had it's sway, but the court
ruled otherwise.
The lad is exceptionally bright and
one at whom person will look more
than once before Diminishing himy from
mind. His former caretaker, however,
says anything but good for the boy,
although there was nothing in what she
complained of to the court. that would
hold the lad for one OF the state in
stitutions for incorrigibility. "He is
untruthful and knows all manner of
meanness," said Mrs. Ficktenmfller to
the court, "and he is not what, a boy
should be. We never have nor will we
ever whip him, but talking and plead
ing does no good and have thrown
him on the court for cannot and will
not have anything further to do with
him."
Notwithstanding the unsavory rat
ing given the lad by his former patron,
the sympathy of those who saw him
was with the boy When asked by
Judge Eichelberger what he was
brought to Ottumwa for, the lad with
a confident smile and fearlessness that
would do an elder credit, answered.,
mot bein' good at school, sir, guess
The information states that w.
Toggard Keller Is a delinquent incor.
rigible and growing up in idleness;
that he takes teams Of others without
their consent and drives about with
them. Sheriff c.. Jamison of Van
Buren, county accompanied by Mrs.
Ficktenmiller brought the boy to the
court house during the noon hour.
Made a Hit With Men.
The history of William Toggard KEEL
Ter is that OF a Chicago reared lad find
ing surroundings in Pennington
hardly up to his idea Of cities. The
story told by Mrs. Ficktenmiller Is
that the boy was brought from the
Wisconsin state fair last September to
the Ficktenmiller home at Farming
ton by her husband. Mr.. Ficktenmiller
and Bert Boyer had hog on exhibit
tion at the state fair in Milwaukee and
young Keller was riding horses there.
Coming to the tent where the prize
hog was kept, in the absence of Mr..
Ficktenmiller, the lad stood in the
entry Of the tent and spelled his lay
about the wonderful porcine specimen
that it would cost ten cents to sec,
ETC., in this way made hit with the
men. This took place the Monday OF
the fair and he made his headquarters
with the men for the remainder Of the
week. So well did he impress the men.
to whom he related his sad story OF
crphanage, that Mr.. Ficktenmiller took
pity on the boy and brought him to his
home to give him a place to live. A
week ago last Sunday, Mrs. Fickten-
miller sent the boy to Sunday school.
but seeing team hitched outside the
church, he took notion to take
ride, and unhitching the team. rode
around the block. and returning.
hitched the team again. The
court appointed Seneca Cornell to
represent Mrs. Ficktenmiller and 10.
'JdQucS w uSiCllu Lie Ivy AlCSl
hearing the story Of the complainant.
the Judge dismissed the case and told
the plaintiff she would have to bring
a different action against the boy.
Sheriff Jamison took the boy and lett
the court house in an effort to get the
youth placed in local institution.
Has Ridden Mays.
When asked about his life, Willie
Keller stated that he was raised in
Chicago. and lived for a time in south
and east sides of the city. He claims
that he is nephew of Tod and Bob
Sloane the famous jockeys and that
he has ridden some himself. Il rode
for about three.fourths of "a year and
the horses rode were "Donal Labor
Mayor of Sidens.' and fnce Of
Towns" His first remark upon greet
ing the court as the latter returned
from lunch, was: II see you have a
public library here and the impress
sion was not lost on the court.