Iowa Old Press
Ottumwa Courier
Ottumwa, Wapello co., Iowa
September 13, 1934
HOWARD DENIES ASSAULT CHARGE
Dave Howard of Ottumwa, charged with assault and battery
in an information filed by Isabelle Ramsey, entered a plea of not
guilty when arraigned before Justice of the Peace, H. D. Judd
today. He was released on his own bond to appear for a hearing
Thursday, September 20, at 1:30 p.m.
HAND INJURIES ATTENDED HERE
Ira Katz, said to live in Pella, was attended at the
Ottumwa hospital about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday for injuries to his
hand, said to have been hurt in an auto accident. The injuries
were of such a nature to require surgery, hospital authorities
reported. Katz was later dismissed from the hospital.
Mrs. Isabell Ramsey, South Walnut avenue, was brought to the
hospital about 8:30 p.m. suffering from a cut above the left eye.
The wound was dressed and she also was dismissed.
[transcribed by L.Z., May 2018]
Ottumwa Daily Courier
September 20, 1934
LARCENY CASE IS CALLED IN COURT TODAY.
Alex Davis of Ottumwa accused of the crime of larceny from a person, went on trial in Wapello county district court today.
A companion, Jess Bivens, was granted a separate trial after both had been listed in the same information by County Attorney Ed J. Grier.
The two are alleged by the State to have taken money from the pocket of Dave Howard, August 23, while Hosward sat in the J. L. Lumsden restaurant at the corner of Main and Wapello streets in Ottumwa. Both entered pleas of not guilty following their arrest.
The jury was selected this morning and the first witnesses for the State called before noon. Judge George W. Dashiell is presiding.
Ottumwa Daily Courier
September 21, 1934
JURY FINDS DAVIS GUILTY OF THEFT.
Youth Faces Prison Term As Result of Trial; Bevins Trial To Come Later.
It took a jury in the Wapello county district court ten hours last night to agree that Alex Davis of Ottumwa is guilty of the crime of larceny from a person.
As a result of the verdict, returned at 3:30 a.m., Davis faces a penitentiary term of undetermined length not to exceed fifteen years.
The youth and Jess Bivens were charged by the State with taking an undetermined amount of money from the pocket of Dave Howard, August 23, in the J. L. Lumaden restaurant at Main and Wapello streets in Ottumwa. Bivens was granted a separate trial and the case will be heard later.
The jury, which took the case at 5 p.m. yesterday, had three possible verdicts: larceny from a person, grand or petty larceny, or not guilty.
The trial of the action, before Judge George W. Dashiell, took only a day. The jury was drawn during the morning and County Attorney Ed J. Grier rested the State’s case shortly after noon. The defense case, in which Davis maintained that he only took the money from the restaurant counter after Howard had placed it there, and that he returned it outside the building, was completed by midafternoon. Arguments of attorneys were concluded by 5 o’clock.
Ottumwa Daily Courier
September 24, 1934
DAVIS GIVEN 15 YEARS IN LOCAL COURT.
Alex Davis, Ottumwa youth convicted in Wapello county district court last Friday morning of the crime of larceny from a person, will serve not to exceed fifteen years in the State Reformatory at Anamosa.
The indeterminate sentence was pronounced this morning by Judge George W. Dashiell. It had taken a jury of twelve men and women ten hours to return a verdict in the case.
Davis and Jess Bivens, also of Ottumwa, were accused by the State with taking an undetermined amount of money from the pocket of Dave Howard, August 23, in the J. L. Lumsden restaurant at Main and Wapello streets. Bivens’ trial has been continued over the term on motion of his attorney.
[transcribed by L.Z., Mar 2021]