Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-05-19
ARRESTED ON A
SERIOUS CHARGE
MEN CAUGHT STEALING CHICK
EMS LODGED In JAIL, BUT
NOW OUT ON BOND.

Charles owen and Dude" Pep
pers were arrested late Saturday
night on a charge of chicken steal
ing, and lodged in the county Jail,
where they remained until Monday
afternoon, when they secured their
release by furnishing bonds.
About $50 Saturday night Ted
Petersen and his wife were return
ing to their home north of town, and
as they neared their destination they
saw an automobile standing beside
the road. Mr.. Petersen recognized
the party in the car as Mrs. Charles
Owen and stopped to see If some
thing was wrong. and to offer his
help. Just as he reached the car,
the driver drove off at a good speed.
Ted gave chase, but was unable to
overtake the car. He turned around
and parked his car where the other
car had been standing.
On their way home, Ted and bis
wife discussed the matter Of chick
en- thieves and as they had already
lost a number of chickens, they be-
came suspicious when they saw the
car at the roadside. Mr.. Petersen
determined 20 await developments,
and left his car. Soon he saw some
one coming from his hen house, and
walked across the plowed ground to
meet him. To his establishment he
met Charles Owen. Ted asked what
on earth he was doing there, and Mr..
owen said he and "Bude" Peppers
were out there waiting for couple
of James" from Coon Rapids. This
Ted denied, and charged Owen with
stealing chickens. He walked over
few feet from where they were
standing, to a place where several
chickens were lying on the ground.
Petersen said Owen had dropped the
chickens when he saw him (Peter-
sen) coming. A lengthy argument
followed, in which Mr.. Petersen says
Owen offered him $1,000 if he would
drop the matter.
Dude" Peppers fell on the
ground and was not seen by Peter
sen at the time, but he saw him up
town later, and "Bude" told the
same story about the James" Pet
ersen reported the matter to the
sheriff, who called the county at
torney. After talking the matter
over with the officials, Petersen
swore out warrant for the arrest
of Owen and Peppers and they were
placed in Jail about two o'clock in
the morning. Monday morning he
swore out another warrant for the
arrest of Mrs. owen. On being ar
raigned they waived preliminary
hearing and were bound over to the
October grand jury on bonds of $500
each, which Mr.. and Mrs. Owen cas-
lily secured. Peppers bond was plac-
ed at $500, but this he was unable to
secure.
Rumors have it that late Monday
evening Dude" Peppers confessed
to the officials his part of the crime.
He was taken to Atlantic before
Judge Rockafellow, who as the re-
ports have il, reduced his bond to
500 IL he would testify in the trial
against the other two parties. Pep
pers is out on bond and is required
to appear in court which convenes
here the first week in June.
A representative of this paper call
ed on County Attorney L. d. NAL
lonee this morning to interview him
,on this matter, but he refused to
deny or affirm the rumors. Howev-
er, from the fact that Peppers fur
nished the 500 bond there is much
to convince one that the rumors are
substantially correct.