DAVE SPRAGUE RETURNS

SPRAGUE

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 11/29/2009 at 09:38:58

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, January 19, 1899

In the early 70's, in the palmy days of horse thievery and general
cussedness, no man ever attained greater notoriety in the line than DAVE
SPRAGUE. SPRAGUE's operations extended all over southern Iowa. He was one
of the smoothest criminals known in the annals of crime, and for years
carried on his nefarious business unmolested. Justice, however, overtook
him and for the past twenty years, until recently, he has spent his time,
either in the penitentiary or eluding the officers, who have been constantly
on his track. His career has been a checkered one, and a fortune awaits the
man who encompasses it within the bids of a ten-cent library.

DAVE SPRAGUE turned up in Leon last Tuesday. Fourteen years ago he broke
jail here and has been as though dead to Decatur County people since. He is
broken down in health, and though only 44 years of age, looks like a man of
60. Confinement has broken his once fearless spirit, whitened his beard and
hair, and emaciated his form. His eye, however, is undimmed and shines with
the lustre of bygone years. He claims to have been out of the penitentiary
of a neighboring state for two years, and says he will lead a different life
from now on. He was indicted nearly twenty years ago for horse thievery in
this county, but has never served sentence. He is spending his time over on
Grand River where his family resided years ago, and pushing a claim in
regard to an estate in Rhode Island which he claims to have an interest in
through relationship with prominent families bearing the SPRAGUE name in the
East.

The story of SPRAGUE's life would be of great interest and the Journal will
probably publish it in a future issue.
--------------------------------------------------
Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
November 27, 2009
iggy29@grm.net