Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-12-22
FAMILY TO GIVE
$1,000 TO SPECIAL
HUNT FOR KILLER
An additional S 900 reward for the capture
of the slayer of the late Ralph B. Esmond of La
Sale, was offered by the dead mans widow, Mrs.
Charlotte Esmond, his
widowed mother Mrs.
Ora B. E.smond and his

| OAA, AAo
widowed mother Mrs.
Ora B. Esmond and his
two brothers, Harold and Wrqht Es-
mond. This makes a total Of $500
which has been offered for the appre-
henson of the murderer of the weIi
known man. One hundred dollars was
olLefed BY the La Sale Elks' lodge,
I so0o by the La Sale county board of
/ supervisors and the $1,000 offered To-
day by the family.
Infringing the thread of evidence
which will in time lead to the appre-
hension Of tho criminal is being stead.
lly carried on by the county official.
States's Attorney Kelly stated this
morning that he would not put tho
special investigator to work until next
week. Tho county board gave him
authority to employ an investigator for
his office for three months period
yesterday. Tho appointment had not
been made today.
Vag Held as Suspect.
For time last night it looked ss
Though the authorities might be on thu,
trail of a man who possibly had some
connection with tho crime. but this
Gurpostion was blasted when they.
arrested the fellow and found that he
was just J. NJ. Payne. vag, about 40
years old. He was taken in charge,
near Lowell. on the Vermillion river.
where he was sleeping on tho ground,
wrapped only in his overcoat.
He went to Lowell and begged fer'
food at noon. He returned again sc
nightfall and asked permission To-
sleep in the shaft OF the coal mine.
This was refused him, but he was told
there was a shack down on the rive
bank where he might leep. Instead
of going to the shack he went out IN
the open and built himself a camp
fire.
Residents of the community became
alarmed and a man came to ottawa
to summon the sheriff
Sheriff Welter, Deputy Edward Ryan
and Chef of Police Ford went at once
TO Lowell and apnrehended the man,
but after Questioning him thoroughly
eliminated him rs a suspect. He was,
however, placed in the county Jail on
a vagrancv charge and will be held
tlttIt ltI SbIit lllilt, utt lldll tD~
routo to Jefferson CITY. Mo. he claims.
Gun May Vet Be clew.
Attempt to trace the identity of tbs
revolver which was used to say Es.
mond strnck halt TODAY when let
ter was received from the Tvers John
son Gun company stating that they
ko0t no record Of the serial numbers
Of the guns An attempt will now be
made hv the officials to secure further
cooperation Of the comnanv in trac-
ing down the identity of the weapon.
The iohbers of the company keep such
records:
The letter from the Ivers Johnson
company reads:
Fitchburg, Mass.
u. T. Welter Sheriff
ottawa, Illinois.
Tea" Sir.
We are in recoipt Of vour tele-
erem of noc. 10 in referanceto re-
vclvpr No G0150 and have wired
in reply that We have no record of
this
In explanation we would State
that we do not keen anv record
of the serial numbers OF our re-
volvers. These are all distributed
hv tho iobhine trade, and the num-
hers are all used for factory pur-
poses only.
Regrattine that we cannot give
you this information, we remain,
with hest regards.
Y0rrs very truly
IVFP JOHNSON ARMS AND
CYCLE WORKS
SALES MANAGER.
Killer Used Auto.
Evidence gained nv the states at
tnrnev Yesterday indicates that the
robber If he travelled on foot to tlrr
scene of the murder evidently did nT
use the nubIic highway. for Of dozens
of nersons who passed along the road
near the hour Of the murder. and who
have heeu infarvinwed by the officials
not one reported having seen a man
on foot
Search for SUSPICIOUS characters III
la Sale ami Cglesby still continues.
the authorities following down every
clew that might be considered worthy
OF Investigation.
/ Tho gun which was used to do the
killing is thought to be about 1910
model. It is a 80 calibre and looks
as though it had not been used much.
Marks on the revolved indicates that
+ II has not been carried a great deal.