The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-02
ne MADE RESTITUTION
James Baker IS Paid 500 by a Man
Who Robbed Him Twelve Years
\ AGO. A Strange Story.

An unusual story, not fiction, but
fact, has been brought tollight in De-
catur county. About twelve years
ago, Mr.. Jas. Baker, who now resides
with his family about four miles
northwest of Leon, was living near
Crown in Franklin township. One
night some. stole $4,000 from the
house No clue to the theft was dis
covered, though some suspicion rest
ed on the hired man and another
young man in the neighnorhood.
One night last month during Sc
we're snow storm, about eight O'Clock
some one knocked at the Baker home.
Mr.. Baker went to the door and a
man of middle age whom he did not
recognize, spoke to him, calling him
by his first name and asked if he
might stay all night. Mr.. Baker re-
piled that he never turned any man
away, and especially on a night like
that, and invited him in. After en-
tering the house he made himself
known and Mr.. Baker remembered
him distinctly as the young man
whom he had reason to believe helped
to get his money twelve years before.
He could think of no reason why this
man should come to his house at that
time Of the night and in the midst of
a severe snow storm, and so felt a
little uneasy lest he might be bent on
mischief, and might have some pals
waiting outside. A repeating Win
chester rife was setting in easy reach
of Mr.. Baker which he intended to
use in defense of his family and home
il it became necessary.
About half past nine o'clock, all
the family had retired excepting Mr..
Baker, his son, John, young man
about seventeen years old, and the
visitor. John dropped to sleep in his
chair. The stranger asked If the
boy was asleep, to which the father
replied that it looked like it. He
then asked Mr.. Baker if he kept any
secrets from the boy, and he replied
that he did not. This strange visitor
then collected his courage and made
an open confession that he had been
a party to the theft of twelve years
previous; and said that while he did
not take the money he had helped to
hide it in an old hay stack and af-
vterward had received $4,000 of it
from Mr.. Bakers hired man who
had stolen it. He said that seven
years ago he became a christians and
that this had been a burden upon, his
heart ever since. At that time he
did not have the means to come
back and make it good. Since then
heshas prospered financially but did
not feel free from this obligation,
AZ last hess made UP his mind To- Re
turn to this county, hunt up Mr..
Baker and make it right at what
ever cost. He offered to, settle in
full with Mr.. Baker, who promptly
refused it saying that inasmuch as
he had been man enough to make a
full confession he would not hold it
against him. The next morning he
offered to write check for r.vv.OV
but again Mr.. Baker refused to ac-
cept it. He then went to Mrs. Baker
and gave her $500 for his bed and
breakfast He was about to start
back to Leon to take the morning
train out, but Mr.. Baker would not
let him walk. He had the boy hitch
up the team and drive him to town.
The man returned to his home in
Lincoln Nebraska. A few days ago
Mr.. Baker received letter from
him in which he enclosed remit
tance for $500 which with the
five he handed to Mrs Baker makes
an even $4,000. He said in his let
ter he wanted to feel that he had
paid back all of that money he got
with interest to date. Mr.. Baker
purchased a nice Bible and had the
writer inscribe the mans name in it
with Mr.. Bakers compliments and
appreciation which he has sent to
him. I was requested to withhold
his name as he has relatives living
near here. This request came from
Mr.. Baker, and not the man of whom
I write. Here is case of true re.
pentance; the kind that John preach
ed in the wilderness when he de-
manded Fruits meet worthy of re-
pentance." Not only so, but Mr.
Baker has exemplified a spirit of
forgiveness and generosity not often
found among men. This is the
spirit of brotherhood.
T. 8 Coffin