The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-07-30
TALE OF TWO
MISSOURI MULES
Henry Spring, Former inmate Of the
Mt. Pleasant institution
Reaains His
Team.
TORE UP THE CHECK
Took Mules to Gregory, Missouri,
and After Official Investisa-
ton, Sale Was Called
OF.

IL
The case against Henry Spring, ac-
cused of the larceny of span Of
mules from Ben Belts of this city.
has been dropped, and proceedings
against Spring discontinued upon his
payment of the actual costs concured
IN Strengthening out the unusual sit
uatlon which arose as the result of
his unique method of breaking a bad
bargain The story of how Spring
sold his team Tor less than one-fourth
OF their value and of the develop
ments that followed his summary act
ION when he realized that he had been
dome was going the rounds of the
street yesterday and is not without
general interest.
Henry Spring generally is regarded
as "a harmless, likeable fellow, just
little off, At three different times
he has been in the home for the
feeble minded at Mt. Pleasant. and
has been out of tina. institution for
about two years, although he still is
insane, legally speaking, never hav-
ing been discharged A short time ago
ne purchased fine span of mules in
Keokuk, paving 1925 for the animals.
Thursday morning he drove down
Main street with the team, and while
making some purchases got into CON
versation with Ben Belts. Belts re-
marked that he had pair of old
mules there, and that when feed was
a. high as it is now old mules we're
expensive things to have Spring re
Joined that he was up against it with
the team, having no work to do with
them, and no place to keep them.
After some dickering, he sold the pair
to Belts for SIS Belts gave him a
check for the amount and took the
mules
Thursday night or rather Friday
morning at 5 O'Clock, Spring went 70
the Belts barn, got the team and drove
off with it. Belts promptly swore out
warrant against him, charging him
with the larceny of the span, and a
warrant was issued for Springs ar
rest. Sheriff Crimmins soon discov-
cred that the man had driven into
Missouri. Having taken Spring to Mt.
Pleasant several times, and knowing
/ him well, the sheriff at first was of
the opinion that he would drive back
of his own accord and straighten mat
tiers up. But as the warrant was in
his hands and as Belts was getting
anxious about the matter, the two
took the afternoon train to Gregory,
where Spring was headed. AS the
situation stood, there was some doubt
as to the criminality of Springs act
ion. In the first place, he was not
mentally responsible; In the second
place, he had not cashed Belts check.
Arriving at Gregory, Sheriff Grim
minis easily found his man and the
mules. Springs explanation was such
as might be expected He said that
after he got to figuring the thing over
he decided that he ought not to have
let the mules go at any such price,
and that as he had not cashed the
check he received for them, the deal
was not closed. Therefore he tore
UP the check, got the team, and left.
AS the situation stood, Belts was
out nothing, and upon Springs agree
ment to pay the costs which had been
run up in settling the case, it was de-
cided to let the matter drop. The
county attorney concurred in this de-
cision, and further, stated that steps
probably would be taken to have a
guardian appointed to care for
Springs interests. The costs were
assumed by responsible friend of
the Spring family living in Missouri,
and were paid yesterday morning.