Captured A Horse Thief

GRIFFIN

Posted By: Deborah Brownfield - Stanley (email)
Date: 2/28/2005 at 18:29:30

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa
Thursday, June 18, 1908

A horse, saddle and bridle was stolen from Chillicothe yesterday by RALPH
BARGER and last evening the Wapello County officials telegraphed Sheriff
Griffin to watch out for him. Billy is always on the alert for criminals
and he got busy at once, getting track of the thief at Avery and kept it
until he was north of Melrose. Sheriff Griffin went to Chariton on the
first train where he captured his man with the stolen property. He brought
him to Albia and today he will be turned over to the Ottumwa authorities.
That was a quick piece of work -- just the way the sheriff does business.

-- ALBIA UNION.
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It is not the desire of the Leader to take away any laurels won by Sheriff
Griffin, of Monroe County, but the honors of capture belong to Sheriff
Gittinger, of Lucas County, though he does not desire to blow any loud
trumpets over it, as it was no great achievement of daring danger to
apprehend the young man. Modestly the history is as follows: On Thursday
evening the sheriff here received a telephone message from Sheriff Griffin
asking him to watch out for a young man on horseback, dressed in a navy
uniform (a very conspicuous attire for the business) and if seen to
apprehend and hold for orders. About six o'clock the young man rode into
town and was immediately arrested and placed in jail. Sheriff Griffin came
a few hours later and got the young fellow as stated above. However, it is
not necessary to hold a court of inquiry in order to correctly place the
honors of the "bold capture" as Sheriff Griffin is welcome to them if he
needs them in his campaign, but when the good book said "Thou shalt not
steal" it meant that sheriffs should come into honors honorably as well as
that young man should hold title to horse, saddle and bridle before riding
away.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
February 28, 2005
iggy29@rnetinc.net
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ialucas/Main.htm
posted at this site with Nancee's permission