Iowa Old Press

Davenport Democrat
Davenport, Scott, Iowa

Wednesday, October 6, 1870:
Police Court.
     Dan Ryan and Frank Overton got drunk and were fined one dollar and
costs this morning and James McLean paid $5 and costs on account of nuisance
in his alley. Otherwise peace and harmony prevails in the police court and
the magistrate has plenty of time to entertain his friends.

Saturday October 8, 1870
Two Confidence Swindlers arrested.
     On Thursday last, two river thieves or professional confidence men,
which is all the same thing, got hold of a green German on the ferry boat
and with some kind of a delusion in the shape of a mysterious tobacco box,
induced the aforesaid green one to bet a dollar that he could open it. So he
pulled out his money about forty five dollars to get out the amount of the
bet, when one of the scamps, named Steck, snatched the pile and the boat
being on this side broke for up-town. He was pursued by some of the boat
hands, was caught, got away, and was followed up to the vicinity of "Flat
Iron Square" When Officer Rohm hearing the calls for police made after him
and corralled him in a privy and soon had him under arrest.- Upon search the
sum of $211.55 was found on his person. He claimed that he won the $45 in a
fair bet with the German, that the money was put up in the hands of a man
named Hennessey, from whom he had taken it after the bet had been decided.
He was put in safe quarters last night had his examination this morning
before Squire Peters and was bound over in $500 bail to appear at District
Court in default of which went to jail.The day after the stealing the man
Hennessey was arrested by officer Simms and was found to be the pal of
Steck. He, too, will probably have a hearing before the District Court and
both a full term at Fort Madison.
     Since writing the above Hennessey had been held to bail in the sum of
$250 as a vagrant and is to have a further trial before Justice Dowd for
assault and battery. He has a boy of about 16-will probably go to reform
school.

Monday, October 10, 1870:
Police Court.
     Chas. Kinsella, for disturbing the peace on Sunday, was this day fined
by Squire Peters $3 and costs, which was paid.
Wm. Traverse and Daniel Boone, for drunkardly conduct were fined $3 and
costs each. Boone was short and went to jail.
     Case of State vs Stere & Miller, hotel keepers at Maysville, charged
with selling liquors contrary to the statute by James Carlin, came up for
trial before Squire Peters to-day. No appearance of prosecuting
witness-defendants discharged.
     Hennessey, the boy who was on trial Saturday before Squire Peters and
turned over to Dowd for trial for gambling and assault and batter y was
discharged by Dowd on first charge, and fined $3 and costs on second. He is
in jail in default of $2.50 for vagrancy.
     A case of cruelty to animals will be tried before Justice Peters
tomorrow.


Tuesday, October 11, 1870:
Cruelty to Animals.
Fred. Rose was arraigned before Squire Peters this morning for beating,
bruising, and pounding a cow, the property of Mr. Bushnell, in a very
beastly manner, and against the law for the protection of animals that
cannot protect themselves or fight back when inhumanly assailed. The
defendant was fined one dollar and costs.

 Friday, October 14, 1870:
Attempted Swindle.A farmer giving his name as Altman, undertook to swindle
Steffen out of the price of forty bushels of barley, yesterday afternoon. He
had obtained one of Steffen's tickets, such as are used by his grain buyers
on the streets, and presented it at the office for the money. The
endorsement was such as excited suspicion, and upon being asked where he
unloaded, he gave a prompt answer, which proper inquiry proved to be false.
He was followed up pretty closely, but in every point it appeared that he
was on the swindle. Afterwards in the day he said he had sold the grain to
Hass, and upon inquiring there it was found that he had done nothing of the
sort. He was not prosecuted, but well deserved that kind of attention. There
is occasionally a trick of this kind in the market, and a little salutary
punishment would have a good effect. We were unable to ascertain where he
came from, but at all events he had better keep scarce.

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