Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-28
have THE POLICE
CAUGHT G. R0BBER?
EARL FORD is BOUND OVER TO
y GRAND JURY ON OWN CONFESS
I SION TO STEALING WATCH.
NO OTHER EVIDENCE

) Chief eeeman States That He Can Be
Connected at Present With No
i Other Robbery; Are After T.,
# More Evidence.
Earl Ford, tramp, was bound over
: to the grand jury by Police Judge L.
. c Hendershott late yesterday after
noon on the charge of larceny from ,
building in the day time, upon Ford's
own confession that he stole watch
from the reception room of DR.. w. B.
Stocker, corner of Davis and Church
streets, Christmas morning at 1880
o'clock. After Ford's incarceration in
the county Jail It was learned from
DR.. Stoker that the door of the recep-
ton room was closed, thus consti'
Ituting a charge of breaking and enter
ing. Judge Hendershott states that he
expects the grand jury to return an
indictment for the latter charge. :
In Ford, Chief of Police J. E. Bee
man state that he firmly believes that
the police have captured the burglar
who has been operating in Ottumwa
for the past month, or at least, one
| VI CHcul. AlIAOueA uOIAAA6 VI GAL -
eliminating nature with the exception
of the watch, was found on Ford when
searched, his physical description con-
forms with that given by persons who
have caught sight of the burglar at
his work. One of the strongest points
upon which the police base the belief
that he is 1.-THE" burglar, is the mark,
about the size of q quarter. on his left
cheek. The man who endeavored to
cash a check taken from the Thomas
Pallister home in the notion store OF
c., c. Boose had some abrasion on his
face This fellow made his escape
when Mr.. Boose went to telephone
for the police. Mr.. Boose was
unable to identify Ford as the
man positively when he looked
him over at the station yester-
day, but stated that the mark on the
face was almost Identical. This was
one of the points in the description
given the police by Mr.. Boose the day
the check was presented. A candle
was found on Ford, partially burned,
which Is considered suspicious al
though not important. A piece OF a
candle was found in one residence and
spots of candle grease in other houses
that had been robbed Although the
police at present cannot connect Ford
with any other thievery, investigation
will be made for evidence.
~ Confessed His Guilt.
Ford was arrested by Patrolman
Charles Sauders, Christmas morning,
shortly after the watch was stolen.
Patrolman Sauders nabbed him the
moment he learned that Ford was en-
deavoring to sell watch.
According to Ford's own statement
the officer arrested him within twenty
minutes after he had committed the
theft. In police court yesterday morn
ing Ford was found guilty Of vagrancy
and sentenced to thirty days in Jail,
that an investigation might be made.
About noon, Benjamin Hastings, age
10, a brother-in-law of DR.. Stoker,
came to the police station to report
the theft of his watch, which he had
left in the physicians reception room.
Chief Beeman Immediately thought OF
the watch taken from Ford, which he
was endeavoring to find an owner for,
having suspected it as a stolen one.
Young Hastings identified it i'm
mediatly as his own. He also stated
that his ring was missing. 1t was a
lady's ring, anil although Ford denied
having stolen it, it is thought that he
sold it before the officer arrested him.
It was sold on the South Side. if sold |
at all. and Chief Beeman requests that !
if any one bought it that it be brought |
to the station for evidence against |
Ford.
Judge Hendershott drew up an in
formation against Ford about o'clock
When arraigned for preliminary hear
ing he admitted his guilt
Went to See Doctor.
eyes, your honor, stole the watch
and I will admit it?" declared Ford to
the great surprise of all. II went up
to this doctors office for treatment.
He was in his prescription room
cracking nuts Of some kind. I saw
the watch lying on the mantle and
took it. I left without saying word
to any one. tried to sell it to a man. |
but he offered me only So for it and
wouldn't take it. Just a little while
after was arrested"
DR.. Stoker asserted that there was
no one in the reception room when the
watch was taken, as he was out on a
call.
Judge Hendershott at first filed
charges of larceny from building in
the night time. Ford asserted 1t was
In the day time. which was the truth.
He knew the difference between night
time and day time offense. He de- !
clared that he saw the cards were !;
against him and the only thing to do
was to plead guilty. He showed his
knowledge Of criminal charges when
he declared the watch was not worth
$50 (the amount necessary to consti-
tute grand larceny and that all the
police could do to him was sentence
him for petty larceny. a comparatively
light punishment But he failed to re-
member that he was forced to open
the. door, which is breaking and enter
ing. Ford was nonchalant in his an.
swers. asserting that he was willing
to be "sent up" for what he had done
but nothing more. When JUDGE Hend-
ershott placed his bond at $500. Ford