Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-04
WEALTHY TEXAS
ANR0bbED;.
=. $4,000 TAKEN
Carries Money in $1,000
Bills About Her Person !;
Found on Doorstep Suf-
fering From Wound.

Chicago, March 3.-Chicago and
Evanston police officials cooperated
today in investigating the mysterious
disappearance Of $4,000 which was
either lost or stolen from Mrs. Mabel
Mills, 46~years old, wife~of wealthy
real estate dealer of San Antonio.
Texas, Mrs. Mills is in a serious con-
dition at an Evanston hospital due to
wounds on the back of her head which
she received either from a blow dealt
by "obbers or fall She was found
on the doorstep Of Mrs. A. j. Cooper
in Evanston and removed to hospital
where she was revived and told the
Chicago bank Saturday and spending
$4,000 on shopping tour in State
street, and then dining with woman
friend In Evanston. She said she suf-
fered intensely from the cold when
she started back to Chicago and that
she had no recollection OF how she
flost the money. When the woman
was found she was unconscious, her
pocketbook was open. Mrs. Mills was
reported to have spent comfortable
night and to be improved this morn
ing.
Woman Makes Statement.
Mrs. Mills made the following state
mcnt today:
81 came to Chicago last Tuesdny,
primary election day, and deposited
my money with the Union Trust Co.
with the purpose Of getting 1t back In
$1,000 bills, in which form always
carry my money. have ranch OF
1880 acres on which I employ fifty
men. On pay day carry the money
myself. When removed the money
from the bank on Saturday had it
placed In the safe Of my hotel but
took it out again last night, as after
visiting my friends in Evanston l ex-
pected to take train for home. From
the Stevens residence I took cap to
station of the elevated railroad. I
had ridden about twenty minutes
when l discovered did not have my
Illinois Central transportation with
me. 1t was in small pocketbook
which also contained $1,950. l imme-
diately left the train and started back
to Evanston. Arriving there started
to walk back to the Stevens residence.
My feet got cold and l went into
fruit store to warm them Then /
started again. After that remember
only falling. did not see any one
around me on the street nor did I
notice anyone following me from the
station"
The small purse containing the
1880 and the railway transportation
was found at the Stevens home after
a search.
$4,000 Was Taken From Bag.
The larger bag which had contained
$41, 900 was discovered on the street
1t was empty. An envelop in which the
money had been placed had been torn
open and was lying nearby. The ticket
agent of the Central Street station OF
the Northwestern elevated told Of see
ing Mrs. Mills.
"She came in about 9 o'clock and
looked around nervously," he said.
"She was giggling, and acted so
strangely that watched her curiously.
She took off her rubbers and warmed
her feet at the stove When she put
them on and walked out again she was
still giggling."
1t was an hour later that the dazed
woman aroused the Cooper household.
Officials of the Union Trust Co. re-
called giving the money to Mrs. Mills.
She was warned against carrying so
large a sum with her but she replied
that she was accustomed to it and car
ried revolver to protect herself, add
ing Il am from Texas"