Iowa
Old Press
The Gazette
West Union, Fayette co. Iowa
Friday, December 13, 1872
T.L. Green has returned from his protracted visit as a juror in
the U.S. Court at Dubuque.
The many friends of Wm. Cowle will regret to learn that he is
confined to his bed by sickness. All wish for his speedy
recovery.
Mark Gilbert killed two hogs Monday that weighed 274 and 305
pounds net. They were born last May.
Twins - The wife of Mr. Zbornik, in Dover township, presented her
liege lord with twin girls a few days ago. Who wouldn't rather be
lucky than rich?
S. Goldberg & Co. have just received a large lot of horse
blankets, which they propose to sell cheap; and a splendid
assortment of ladies' satchels.
P.K. Burditt, of Banks township, has traded his farm for a hotel
in Lawler, where he will move in a few weeks. He offers a lot of
stock and farming tools at auction next Wednesday.
It is rumored that Alex. Innis and a Mr. Hawley, from Lawler,
were recently killed by Indians while journeying through Nebraska
en route for western Kansas. We hope the rumor may prove false.
Moved - Geo. Thompson has moved his barber-ous establishment into
the pleasant and commodous room in the rear of the second floor
of the Fuller block, where he will be always ready to make a
clean shave and otherwise treat his customers well.
Mr. J.E. Lyman, who, as a civil engineer for the B.C.R. & M.
Co., has for over a year been located in our town in charge of
this end of the line, started yesterday for a new field of
operations at Vinton. He and his excellent lady have won many
friends here who are loth to part with them.
A most delightful occasion was the Shakspeare soiree given
Tuesday evening at the pleasant apartments of Mrs. Zeigler. The
amusing Comedy of Errors was followed by artistic music and happy
conversation.
Ed. Kinyon came up the other day and desired our assistance to
express his leg off.
Gone - Dick Arthur, who for years has been an eye sore to this
community - who has been accused of nearly every species of
villainy and convicted of none, has at last reached the end of
his string, if not the end of a rope, and met the desert he has
undoubtedly merited for years. His history is too well known to
most of our readers to need any reference to it here, and no
honest man but must rejoice that for ten long years Dick will be
able to restrain his evil propensities. Sheriff Dorland started
for Ft. Madison yesterday morning with Dick and his comrade
Thompson. Good riddance.
Court
The District court convened again last Monday, and went
immediately at work. The first important business was the trial
of Dick Arthur for burglary. The evidence was not lengthy but
convincing. The point made by Richard's attorneys, that his crime
was theft only, did not go down much. Tuesday morning the jury
received their instructions and before noon returned a verdict of
guilty. He was sentenced to ten years in the State Penitenitary.
Granger and Ainsworth were for the prosecution, Stoneman and
Berkey, for the defense. This winds up Dick for a term of years.
Thompson, the Court House burner, plead guilty as an accomplice
of Dick Arthur, and was sentenced to six years in the
Penitentiary.
The case of O.A. Brown vs Mary A. Stuart, involving the property
known as the Stuart House, in this placee, was given to the jury
Wednesday morning, and averdict was rendered for the defendant.
Motion for new trial granted.
Married.
Tuesday, Dec. 3d, at Fayette, by Rev. R. Norton, Mr.
A.D. Davis and Mrs. Jennie Wood, all of West Union. This office
duly celebrated this happy occasion to Dudley and his fair bride,
and all unite in wishing them a long and happy life, peace,
prosperity, and plenty of the fruit usually borne on the
matrimonial tree.
Married.
On Sunday, Dec. 8th, by Rev. M.H. Smith, at the
residence of the bride's father, David Webber, Esq., Mrs. Mary
Ennis to E.S. Joy, all of West Union.
Fayette Correspondence
Friday, the four week's sickness of Mr. Hogan, a student boarding
at Mr. Latimer's, terminated in his death, in care of his mother
and brother and the family of Mr. Latimer. He was removed on
Saturday morning to his home near Decorah, accompanied by his
friends and other students, Mr. and Miss Johnson and Miss Lomar.
We heard also during the week of the death of Mrs. White, of
Taylorsville, mother of Mrs. A.M. Childs, of this place, and of a
large family of sons and daughters, who came to Iowa from New
York State.
Mr. Henry Boyce has removed his jewelry shop into the bank
building and is doing some good work in his profession, in
company with Ed Montgomery.
[transcribed by S.F., September 2014]
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The Gazette
West Union, Fayette co. Iowa
Friday, December 20, 1872
Young folks' dime society, this evening, at J.J. Welsh's
residence.
Mr. Cowle has so far recovered as to be able to sit up most of
the time.
Last Sunday morning was a cold one - 12 degrees below zero.
Hon. D. Leffingwell, of the McGregor News, left his sign
manual on our desk yesterday.
Thos. Cox has set up his kit in a shop one door east of the
Stuart House, where he is always ready to attend the wants of all
who need repairs on boots and shoes.
We learn from the P.P. that Edward Gilbert, an old and highly
respected citizen of Clermont, died last Tuesday after an illness
of less than two hours. Heart disease.
We have received from Mr. Eiboeck a prospectus of his forthcoming
history of Clayton county. The work will embrace a large scope,
and from the able hands of Mr. Eiboeck will be of great value to
the county.
A. McQuilken has returned from his southern tour and thinks he
has found a desirable spot in southern Iowa, and intends to
travel in that direction in the spring.
It is rumored that other of the goods stolen from Bunton's store
by Dick Arthur have been traced to Osage, and that other parties
than those just sentenced are implicated in the robbery.
Knights of the Cue are in ecstacies over the two new and handsome
tables just set up by Geo. Thompson. Geo. has put considerable
money into those tables, and he proposes to get it back without
the aid of liquors. We wish him a big success.
The following cases in the Supreme Court from this county are
decided:
Thompson, appellant, vs Burnham; from Fayette county; affirmed.
Opinion by Cole, J.
Burnham vs Thompson, appellant, from Fayette county; affirmed;
opinion by Beck, C.J.
Mr. Timothy Mower, of the well-known Milwaukee commission house
of Mower & Bell, and father of Mrs. Harwood, of this place,
made our town a visit, returning home Monday. Mr. Mower honored
us with a call, and proved himself one of those genial characters
for whom our latch-string always hangs a welcome.
H.A. Holmes shipped a few days since several cases of fat
chickens and turkeys and firkius of butter intended for the
Chicago market. Mr. Holmes gathers in huge piles of this kind of
provender now, and enables farmers to realize cash where in times
past they could get nothing.
The sociable of the Presbyterian church, held at the residence of
Mr. Dickey last week Thursday evening, was a pleasant affair. The
next gathering of this nature will be at the residence of T.W.
Sears.
We learn from Mr. Innis, father of Alex Innis, who was reported
in our last issue as killed by the Indians while on the way to
Kansas, that the report is entirely untrue, and without a shadow
of foundation. Mr. Innis has received several letters from his
son since arriving at his destination.
Last Friday while Mr. Shrack, the miller, was at work about the
machinery, a bolt attached to a revolving shaft caught in his
coat pocket and was drawing him bodily into great danger. He
realized his predicament instantaneously and with all the
strength of a powerful man put his weight against the power of
the engine, and by literally tearing his coat off him, escaped
with only a broken arm. It was a close call.
Our old-time friend and fellow sufferer in the cause of the
Union, Harry Shaw, who was punctured by a cannon ball at the
Hatchie river fight in '62, shone in upon our dingy sanctum
Tuesday last, and lighted it as it has not been for long. He is
now serving his country as a representative of the Milwaukee
grocery house of J.L. Osborne & Co., and if he does as well
by that firm as he did for Uncle Sam, they should enlist him for
life and give his heirs a big bounty.
The Elevator
We took a run through Harwood & Blodgett's elevator
Wednesday, and found it already well filled with grain, although
not yet from the hands of the builders. The frame and machinery
of the building were brought from Eagle, Wis., is 60X40 feet, two
stories and cupola, with an addition 24 feet square. It has a
storing capacity of 50,000 bushels, the second floor being
divided into bins, those on the side next the track having hopper
bottoms. The receiving hopper, which will hold 60 bushels, stands
on the first floor and is connected with the gang-way by a
trough. From the hopper the grain descends to a bin from whence
it is carried into any part of the building desired. The
arrangements, when completed, which will not be later than early
next week, are for perfect convenience in receiving, storing and
shipping grain. This elevator under the present proprietorship is
a valuable addition to the business of West Union.
Dick!
The irrepressible Dick Arthur, whose sentence to the
penitentiary for ten years we so joyfully chronicled last week,
is Scot free, or was at last accounts. Dick either didn't like
the company he was with, or the prospect ahead, or else he had
some old debts to pay that suddenly came to mind, or it may be
that he knew where he could make another haul - but, whatever was
the reason, he took French leave, as he took a good many other
things in his life, without ever saying "by your
leave."
The particulars of Dick's escape we glean from a letter written
by Sheriff Dorland to Mr. Camp. Mr. Dorland started from here
Thursday morning in time to catch the western bound train at
Ossian, expecting to make connection at Nora Springs and reach
Burlington that night. But the Calmar train was delayed two
hours, and arrived at Nora Springs too late. Being assured that
he could make the southern train at Mason City, he went on, only
to find that he had been deceived, and was compelled to wait
there until 2 o'clock Friday morning.
Arriving at Marshalltown he was delayed until 7:20 in the
evening. All the night before Dorland had been without sleep, and
at 9:30, just as the train passed New Sharon, in Mahaska county,
sleep overpowered him and for an instant he dozed. Dick was not
slow in accepting the right minute, and sprung from the train.
The conductor let Dorland off, and he returned to New Sharon in
hot haste, raised the town and started files of men in every
direction and scoured the country for miles, and has had gangs of
men searching night and day; but up to Sunday, the day he wrote,
without gaining the least clue.
He had offered $200 reward, and the search was still active.
Monday he went to Ft. Madison with Thompson, and on his return
expected to learn something that would be more encouraging.
This is the plain, unvarnished statement of the affair. Whether
Dick was ironed or not he does not say; neither the whereabouts
of his assistant with the other prisoner. There are naturally
many vague and unreliable stories afloat, and much censure of Mr.
Dorland. But we think it best to with hold complaint until we get
a full statement from Mr. Dorland himself. It is an unfortunate
event to Sheriff Dorland, and none can realize it with greater
force than he does, and when the truth is fully known, we have no
doubt he will be more deserving of sympathy than blame.
Later - Caught
Since the above was in type, Wednesday at noon, with the
arrival of the train, came the glad news that the bird was in
hand again, which was confirmed by the following dispatch to
Deputy Sheriff Camp, which at the present writing is all that is
known:
Marshalltown, Dec. 17
Sheriff Fayette County
We have captured your man Dick Arthur. He is now in Marshall jail
and subject to your order upon payment of reward.
Serviss & Chapman
David Dorland returned yesterday, bringing the information that
Dick was captured Tuesday evening. As the train arrived at a
station 20 miles below Marshalltown, Dick came up and asked the
conductor to give him a ride to Marshall, as he had no money. It
so happened that this conductor, Serviss, had charge of the train
from which Dick escaped, and recognized him instantly. He was not
slow in tendering Dick a free ride, and at Marshall lodged him in
jail.
[transcribed by S.F., September 2014]