Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-11-05
The Williams
Investigation
By DONALD CHAMBERLAIN

QuCei. ile llNcu ioNiii9 NV t'' ~
was past sixty years old. then bought
an acre of ground commanding heau-
tiful view for $40 and built log cabin
Oh il.
How he liGed-that is, how he bought
clothing ard food. for be raised moth
in no one knew. lie had been some
thing of an artist. Il newspaper man.
poet and, an author generally. Whether
he had made enough money to enable
him to supply his limited wants no one
knew. He occasionally walked to the
store. six miles distant from his cabin
to buy provisions or anything else he
needed and always had the cash with
which to pay. No one could solve the
riddle, so it proved an endless source
Of gossip for the countryside.
But one day a possible clew to how
Williams obtained the necessary funds
presented itself. A robbery was COM
mitted in the region, and the fact at
once suggested itself to the community
that Williams was the robber. Every
one wondered why that solution of the
problem had not been thought Of be-
fore report was started that the
robbery had been committed by
masked man just the height and build
Of Williams. For week this report
circulated. growing more definite as 1t
spread: then it occurred to some one to
mount horse and ride over to the man
who had been robbed and ask him
about 1t. He said that his store had
been entered In the middle of the night
and he knew nothing about the rob-
berry till the next morning. Neither he
nor anybody else had seen the robber.
But Williams having been suspected
of the robbery notwithstanding the
correction of this report, the talk went
on. and the more talk the more the
certainty not only that he made his
living my robbery. but that he was
guilty in the case under discussion.
| CIV Adams, a man who had the repu-
tation of being the principal talker
| thereab bout, said that Williams ought
er be investigated" 1t wasn't to the
credit of the community that man
could live in it without any visible
means Of support and robberies going
on without giving some account of
| himself committee should go to his
| cabin. ask him to explain how he lived
and see if the building contained stolen
/ goods No one had ever been there.
/ and for all any one knew Williams
might have the place full Of plumber
! ua OIL tho p,attar nm. Int tbnuyh
he got number of persons to agree
with him. somehow he couldn't get
anything done. Then he called for
volunteers to serve on the committee
| No one volunteered, so at last he said
that if he were appointed Il deputy
sheriff he would do the job alone
There was no objection to his appoint
ment or his going to interrogate Mr..
Williams The only objection in the
case was by individuals who were not
minded to go with him.
He concluded to go armed only with
the sheriff's badge. His mission was
to be peaceful one. therefore he
/ wouldn't need weapon. He set out
one morning on horseback for Will
iams' cabin and on reaching it dis
mounted. tied his horse TO sapling
and appeared in the doorway vii
iams was sitting at a table writing
He looked up. saw the man standing
before him and asked what he could
do for him.
Mr. Williams" said Cy. I'm com
missioned by the people Of this county
to come to you and ask your business"
My business not being the business
Of the county decline TO answer"
in that event am commissioned by
the people to explain to you that the
people make it their business to find
out your business. and with that end
In view | am directed to search your
house You understand that this Is
simply legal process. not a forcible
one
Cy threw open his coat and showed
his badge
Proceed" said williams and resum-
ed his writing
There was one room and loft in
the cabin. No search was needed for
the room. for there was nothing but
a bunk and a washStand and cooking
stove in It, The sheriff saw 1t all and
looked aIoft
ANY way to get up there?" he asked.
Yes. but I'm too busy to get it for
you"
Tell me where II Is and I'll go for
1t myself"
II keep 1t hidden. I'll 90 for It,"
Laying down his pen. he went out
and returned with a ladder. which he
placed In position Cy climbed up
and, finding 1t dark up there. asked
for light. Williams handed up a
candle. Having satisfied himself that
there was no stolen goods In the loft.
Adams was about to come down when
he saw that the ladder had been re-
moved, Williams was driving pen
at the table. The sheriff asked for the
ladder
Not till you settle" was the reply.
Settle for WHAT"
"For the ladder and the candle"
How much?"
"Ten dollars each"
There was q gun on the table ready
for use and Adams thought he