Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-08

this morning and the arguing Of thu
case to the jury. will not take long
Before the session opened this morn
ing Judge Smith Mcpherson heart
further argument for new trial II
the Clyde Stansbury VS.. the Wabash
4 railroad case, won by Stansbury in
former term of the United States cour'
/ here.
Besco Case Next.
j The case that promises to create
/! perhaps more local interest than any
| of those to be herd in the April term
of federal court, is that Of the United
| States vs.. J. Roy Besco. This Is the
case tat caused no little excitement
when the circumstances that brought
/! it to light were disclosed year ago
The case Is brought under the criminal
| code, act of March 4, 1909, and deals
! with black hand letter sent to the
Manning & Epperson state bank at
| Eddyville.
Weiss to Testify.
i Half dozen witnesses on each side
will be heard in the trial of the case
and among those who will appear on
the stand, is Assistant Superintendent
E. J. Weiss. Of the Pinkerton detec-
| one of the detectives who is largely
responsible for securing the evidence
/ that is to be used against the defend
| ent in the hearing. He with B. D.
Way, q Pinkerton man who worked in
Ottumwa on the Junkin case, was en-.
gagged, Mr.. Weiss taking charge upon
the return to Chicago OF B. D. Way
after seeing Besco visit the place
where the decoy package was left by
Mr.. Epperson.
Seen at Church.
The history of tt ), case Is not with
out its interest owing to the excite
ment that black hand letters create
everywhere they have figured in police
circles. The letter that Roy Besco is
accused of writing was received by
F. M. Epperson at his bank in Eddy
Vile, February 1, 1910. It demanded
that the banker under threat Of having
his bank dynamited, leave $4,000 in a
secluded spot near the southeast cor
ner of the Adventist church in Eddy
vile the Wednesday night following
the receipt of the letter. In company
with B. D. Way Of the Pinkerton
agency, Mr.. Epperson left a decoy
package at the appointed time and
place and together the two men
watched the place. Their efforts were
rewarded by seeing Roy Besco come to
the place and strike two matches as
if to look for the package, he then
lighted cigar and when seen by the
two men, Mr.. Epperson told Mr.. Way
that he knew the young man and was
sure that he did not write the letter.
The Chicago detective thereupon left
the case and returned to Chicago, e.
J. Weiss coming to Eddyville to take
up the matter.
Meet at 1allingalI.
An appointment was made by Of
f1cer Weiss and Frank Epperson,
son Of F. M. Epperson, with Roy Besco
to meet at the Ballingall hotel in Of
tumwa at 10 o'clock Saturday, Feb
ruary IL. Failing to keep his ap-
pointment with the officer and Frank
Epperson, these two with United
States Marshal Frank Clark left for
Eddyville arriving there in the after
and met young Besco on his way to
catch freight train for Ottumwa. The
party returned together and in the
Ballingall hotel sufhcient evidence was
cleaned by the officers to make the ar
ISbL OIL 0SSCO, WIZ l0ISl upOu d EEuu
of $500 given by his father, George
Besco, q retired farmer OF near Eddy
VILE and j. c.. Besco of Abba was
given his liberty. The following day
confession is claimed by the officers
to have been obtained from the young
man In the presence Of Postoffice In
spector ]. w. Welburn, Marshal Clark
and Mr.. Weiss.
Denies Confession.
This confession has since been re-
pudiated by Roy Besco and the case
has assumed different angle, promis-
ing to be fought hard in the trial.
Judge J. C. Mitchell of Ottumwa and
]. r. Price Of Abba will defend Besco
and District Attorney M. L. Temple OF
the United States court will prosecute
the case. It Is probable that the jury
will be empanelled this afternoon and
the hearing begun.
The question Of hearing the Nc
Pherson- Malcolm damage suit which
the defendants counsel is seeking to
have heard at ,lis term, will be
known in a day or two. 1t is probable
that the length of time necessary to
hear the Besco case will have much to
do with the hearing of the Mcpherson
case.