Horse Thief Caught

DAVENPORT

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/22/2008 at 15:41:25

Maquoketa Weekly Sentinel
May 21, 1857

HORSE THIEF CAUGHT.

Last week the Davenport police noticed a man come into their town with a horse having nothing on but a bridle. They thought he looked suspicious, and kept an eye on him. It was not long before they found him offering to sell the horse for $75, whereas he was worth $200. One of them patting him on the shoulder, called him aside, and said that the men standing by the horse were policemen, who suspected that he had stolen it and were going to arrest him, if the horse was rightfully his own, he should walk up and assert his rights, but if he had stolen it, he advised him to pop around the corner of a building nearby. He took the advice of his apparent friend, and popped around the corner, when to an unseen policeman started from his hiding place and collared the self-convicted thief. It was ascertained that he had stolen the horse from this county, near Maquoketa. He was brought before our Grand Jury, and made a confession of his guilt; he how waits for a trial. We presume he will make a like confession before the Judge, with the hope of getting off as easy as possible. –Lyons Mirror.

Who has had a horse stolen in this vicinity?