Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-12-20
FORCES ORGANIZED TO
CARRY ON HUNT FOR
KILLERS
QUESTION ONE MAN
FIRST FORMAL MOVE TO CLEAR
UP MURDER MADE TODAY WITH
LITTLE ADDITIONAL LIGHT
BEING THROWN On CRIME.

Work progressed steadily on the
hunting down OF the murderer Of the
late Ralph B. ESmond today, some
twelve citizens of the county going to
States Attorney Kelly with informa-
ton which they believed might aid in
the app on easion OF the murderer.
The county prosecutor was busy with
these persons most of the day, al
though Up to press time no arrests In
connection with the case had been
made.
II. became known late this afternoon
that one man whose name had been
brought g. the case earlier IN the
week sas again taken before the
4 county Cf:cials ard thoroughly cues.
TONED To-Day, apparently In hope that
l,s would 5ned some light Oh TIE Grim 9.
This was done in ordec to check up 4
few discrepancies IL his previous
statements. It is believed.
States Attorney H. F. Kelly today
got in touch with residents at the
koehler farm near Spring Valley,
where the driver of Dodge coupe
stopped Saturday night, hoping to
purchase gasoline. and Offering 81
q gallon for the fluid. 1t was be-
lieved that this might by DR.. Blacks
stolen coupe sfrom La Sale. until it
was learned that IL gallons OF gas
were in the tank of Dr. Blacks car
when It was stolen.
Sheriff e. J. Welter today secured
a description of Mr. Esmond's watch,
which was stolen from his pocket at
the time he was murdered. This was
q Hamilton watch. size Is, with a
Montanek case, and an open face. Its
number was 466095.
Trace Mysterious Pair
A new clew came to light today,
when 1t was learned that two men,
said to be suspicious looking charac-
ters, redeemed tickets to point west
of Ottawa on Saturday at the Rock
Island station, few minutes after
purchasing them.
The men are said to have entered
the station at 7:30 o'clock, and to
have purchased tickets for destina-
ton west of Ottawa. A few minutes
later they stepped back to the win.
dow and asked Station Agent John
r. McEvoy, the agent who was on
duty, if they could redeem their tick
cts II they were not used.
McEvoy, thinking that this posi-
bly, wasa ruse to rob him. it is said
informed the men that if they de-
sired to redeem the tickets they
would have to do so at once, saying
that he sent the office money out on
the incoming train. The men turn
ed in their tickets at once and left
the station.
There is slight possibility that
these men may have some connec-
ton with the Dimmick hill affair.
Clear Up Woman Mystery.
The bubble, that possibly a woman
was riding in the bandits car and
might have some connection with the
crime was burst today when States
Attorney Harry F. Kelly called Mrs.
Alice Ashley, S14 Columbus street,
the wife of Ernest Ashley, who phon-
ed in the first news of the robbery,
to see If she were the woman who
visited the jail on Saturday night.
Mrs. Ashley stated that 1t was she,
and signed a statement clearing up
and eliminating this clew as to the
murder
Mrs. Ashley resides in the Burrows
apartments. She in her statement
said that on Saturday morning, she
prepared her husbands lunch TOR
him, and he went to La Sale to Work
during the day. Saturday night she
prepared his dinner, but he was late
in coming home After waiting for
n time for him, she went to the cor
ner of the Jail where she could look
across to the Holland Furnace Co. to
see il she saw her husband coming
home.
She was standing on the corner
watching, when she looked up and
saw Ashley standing in the Jail en-
trance.
Mrs. Ashley said she went up to
the steps and calling to her husband
said, What are you doing in there|
He came out. and they talked with
the three other other rnen who had visited
the Jail with him to report the muir
der, and then he went across the
street with her to their home.
The authorities had not believed
before that the woman who visited
the Jail had any connection with the
crime. hut this eliminated her as
possibility
Kelly Issues Appeal.
States Attorney Kelly today is
sued a formal appeal for comrlnt'
list of names of all persons whC