The expressions used by Udell opened up another field of work. It was agreed between the lawyers and the sheriff that the latter should establish confidential relations with the prisoners, holding out the inducement that he could be bribed. The plan was so cautiously worked up that the cracksmen were fully deceived. It was also arranged that the jailer's boy should carryall letters offered by Udell; but instead of posting them he delivered them to the sheriff. When it was known that Udell made use of milk that article was supplied him as a regular diet. The usually shrewd man thus fell headlong into the trap.

The next letter was as follows:

"Oskaloosa, May 8, 1868: This is written with milk-heat it hot. Send me some answer this way. Write to the sheriff of Mahaska County, Iowa. The sheriff is a brother of Hinesley that keeps the exchange livery stable in Indianapolis. I have talked with him about letting me out. He said if I was from where he heard I was that he could do something. He asked me about different persons at Indianapolis. I offered him six hundred for letting me out. He said it was not enough. Since Billy was here he has come and talked with my partner and wanted $2,500. But from his talk I am sure he will do it for two thousand. So if we can get two thousand I am sure we can both get out. He, of course, will not trade just for one of us, as he says that all in here will have to get away at the same time so as not to have him suspicioned. I am confident he is in earnest but he wants to make money by it and does not want to let anyone have a holt on him hereafter. If Billy has this amount come and give it to me and I will be out in less than a week after. There was no drop about him being at the window that night, but the jailer won't let anyone in after night, unless he knows just who they are. So that if anyone was to come they would have to come late at night and get in on the quiet. But I know the sheriff will give us a chance to get off if we can get two thousand dollars. I don' t believe that Rose can raise any money, so if Billy can get me that amount I can be out right off. But no one must know we bought the sheriff, for if he was to know I wrote this he would do nothing. He has got his left arm shot off and is poor and wants money. If I could raise the money any way of myself I would do it. But I don't know only to depend on Billy and that amount will let us out, and that is better than to run any uncertain or dangerous chances. If Billy can see those friends and get some funds from them Ayers will give some, if he has it. But if Billy has the money himself don't delay. If he gives to me we will make it in less than twenty days. I hate to ask this, but is a sure thing and I have full confidence in it. If he did say anything to Ryan about me trying to bribe him, I am confident he is all right now, for he can't make any money by keeping us here or nothing by blowing on us for bribing him. If Billy comes to the window he must not say anything about the sheriff, for it won't do for the others in here to know we bribed the sheriff. But they can get out when we do, for the sheriff does not want them to know enough to implicate him. He is very cautious when he comes here to talk."

How well the scheme worked will be seen by the following instrument, which announces the full capture of the sheriff. It also alludes to the presence of Udell's friends outside the window, a certain prisoner named "Laidley," and possibly Pinkerton's Registers - at least the letter reads:

"Oskaloosa, May 16, 1868,

"I have a bargain to get out for $2,000. If I can get half and Abe half, we can get out right off, I don't know if the boys can do anything or not. B. said they would come in two weeks. That time is past two days ago. A prisoner upstairs tells me three of my friends was here Monday and Tuesday night but failed to come to my window. This man upstairs lives at Columbia, Iowa, His name is George S. Laidley, He is a harness maker and gets out the last of this month. If B. goes to him the thing can be done here on the quiet. We want a all-key made. We have the impression, Then we have only three bars to cut. This can be done with muriatic acid in one hour. Make a cup of beeswax around the bar and pour on acid. In forty minutes it will eat it off. This man understands it. Let one come to window and get our impression and go to Keokuk and get the key made. Get a dollar's worth of muriatic acid and a pound or two of beeswax and come and give it into the window about two or three in the morning, All is quiet at that time. The next night we can cut out. We want also a good-sized screwdriver to take the lock off the back door. That lets us into the garden. Let B. come to Columbia the first of June and find George Laidley. I have posted him and if he gets out before the first of June he will write to you. But he will be home in Columbia by June 1st. Anyhow he can tell B. more than I can and he will help at anything. He has been a rebel in his time and says he cut the bars and let Stonewall Jackson out of prison at Harper's Ferry. If B. will risk this plan, let him work it in dark of moon in June. But I can be home in three days if I can get a thousand dollars and Abe a thousand dollars. The sheriff lets us break out. Leave no stone unturned until you get me out. I am afraid B. will get discouraged but we must get out somehow before court. We may be too late then. If that Ayers had money Abe would get his. He writes to three or four men for money but has only heard from Ayers and he has none. He expects some from John Richardson, his brother of Forest City, Missouri. He writes today to his uncle at Troy, New York, Thomas Richardson. He is wealthy and I think Abe will get a thousand dollars soon and then I hope B. will let me have a thousand dollars. It might be best to buyout at once. So much expense will run up to that soon and we can get out immediately then. Write a few lines in ink and a few in milk. Send to J. W. Hinesley, this place. Don't mention about this letter, as I got the jailer's boy to mail it, but you can say Ayers was there and how you are, etc."

May 27, 1868, Udell delivered a letter to the sheriff, with the sincere belief that that officer was still working in his interest, which letter was to be sent to his brother in Indianapolis, the liveryman above alluded to. This missive contained an ordinary hope for better times, but was signed with a significant cross, evidently a private mark placed by Udell on all documents containing milk writing. Some three pages of invisible writing were discovered on this sheet, but the information contained has already been covered by other letters, except that these stated that he had not gotten his share of the Jasper safe robbery and that by reason of his going to Chicago to get his full share he had been captured.

The letter ended by an intimation that the boys were still engaged in their dangerous work. He says, "If the boys 'make' $2,000, bring it to me without a moment's delay. Anyone can see me in company with the sheriff. We are like old acquaintances. He knew father well."

He also asked his wife how many letters she had received, as if he suspicioned the sheriff might not be playing fair with him. In a second letter on the 27th of May, he signifies that he fears Laidley is not going to be true to his promise. He urged first one plan, then another, as if driven to desperation as court time was drawing close at hand. He repeats his injunctions concerning the ease with which the jailer can be "ruffed," and himself and partner set at liberty.

Another letter is found written entirely in milk, without date, which seems to take up the thread of the story at this point. It is here reproduced entire and is in Udell's own handwriting:

"We have a job for the boys to do. Let them get a good worker to help them and they can raise the money at one place. I think Jo Miller could work it with B. and C. There is a town called New London; it is eighteen miles west of Burlington. It has six hundred inhabitants and there are ten stores and groceries in the place, and one steam gristmill. There is a drug store and grocery store together in one building. The store is kept by Allen & Thompson. They have a safe five feet high, and it must have inside doors, as it is quite thick. It stands with the back towards the door, so that you can't see the front of it. It sets in the front of the store at one end of the counter, and is the only safe in the town, except one at the gristmill. The one at the mill is a Pittsburg, single door. But don't disturb it until after the drug store one is got. There is no one sleeping in the drug store, and no one nearer than the tavern across the street.

"This is the best job I know of. There is some bonds in it, and the druggist bought $900 in gold last fall from one man. There is some deposits in it. They are sure of $5,000, and it ought to be made sure of. If they could get that and come on here, one of them, with $2,000, we would be free in a little while. At the back end of the store is a warehouse. You could raise a window in the back and get in through the middle door into the front room, or go in at the front door of the store.

"The thing is as I tell you and if you prepare yourself to go out you might watch it sometime to satisfy yourselves about it. But be sure and get a good worker and go ahead and do this as soon as possible. It is not harder than the Mount Vernon matter. Be sure and not make a failure. My life almost depends on raising this $2,000. I do hope that it will be got before long. Nearly half of my time is up and nothing clone yet. Don't lose the rest of the time.

"I spoke about a man named Laidley, that lived at Columbia. He went out the 30th of May. He promised to go and see you. He said he would stop at Springfield and see Ayers, and write back and go on to your house. We gave him ten dollars to get through on; but he has not wrote back, nor have we heard anything from him yet, and if he has not come he then only lied to us. Let me know in milk in your next letter if the $10 man has ever come yet. If he wrote to you, you need not pay much attention to him for he promised to go and see you and get some help to get me out. If he writes, or comes either, do not give him any money, nor do not let him lay around long. If he does anything, let him go at it. If not send him about his business. But let me know if he comes or wrote. If I had a little stuff I could settle the man that is here.

"In yours of the 23rd, you say they watch the house. I see by the papers that the Jeff train was beat the night before you wrote, and it is likely the police had their eye on the house when you wrote, to see who would be coming in, to see if any of the express robbers were likely to be in it. I kind of suspect Salisbury is about there, and if he is he may be knowing old matters, and may have put someone on the affair that Ruby tried to shake him on. Sol is as mean, if not meaner, than Gonzales, and they both ought to be put out of the way.

"Write in black next time how much you can raise me, and how soon it can be got. B. thought the sheriff was wrong when he was there that night. I will find out when Ryan comes, if the sheriff said any thing about me to him; but anyway, if he did say anything, I know he would not do as he does now if he were not right; besides when Abe's brother comes he will fix it so that he can't fool us; and he would be afraid to not let us break out after he got his money, for fear am friends would kill him."

Another touching letter from "Lizzie," the wife of Udell, reads thus:

"Well, I hardly know what to say, but I would give all this world that I ever expect to have to see you and to know how to get you out. But my will is good, but for me to do anything without anything to go on is impossible, for I hardly know what to do next sometimes. I have just one hundred dollars left now. The money that was lost with them dirty dogs B. says he will give back to me. It was three hundred dollars, but the lawyers got two of it. For my part I can't do nothing but just wait. I expect that you look for someone, but there was no one to go, for B. and C. had gone away to try to get some old debt settled up, and I will have to wait. If I could raise the money I would be glad to do so sure, and I think that B.'s pile is small at this time, but when they get back they can say what can be done. I think that they watch my house and that makes B. very shy, what makes it hard on me. But I will try and do the best I can. I have found out through one of my neighbors that they quit Tom Wilson for not taking you. When you was out here they tried him in the police court, and he came very near losing his office. She says that day that he came to my house that there was three more in here, and Tom told a friend that he could not take you, because he thought so much of your wife and children. Hereafter, I will be warned of danger. Well, I don't know what to say next, but hope that something will be done for you when B. and C. gets back. I hope that something will be done for you. I have got the blues so bad I am almost sick. Well, I have told you all I can this time. Oh that I could see you and talk I would be glad. Write soon and let me hear from you, and I will try hard to get something done, so keep in good heart, and for this time. "LIZZIE"

June 9, 1868, came the next letter from Udell to his wife. Interlined between the ink writing is the information that his identity had been discovered and his connection with the general band was known. He expressed no anxiety on this score, and assures his wife that he talks merely on general topics with the sheriff. He is satisfied that he can make his escape upon the receipt of one thousand dollars, and said the sheriff wanted the money sent by a trusty man, instead of by express. They had received a letter from Ayers. He had no money, but would attend to their case as soon as he got through with the trial of his own brother in Illinois for burglary. He said they could place no more confidence in Ayers. He again mentioned the chance at cracking the safe at New London and explains what he meant by wanting "stuff' to give a prisoner in jail there in Oskaloosa. It was thought the jailbird had told the authorities of his trying to make a wooden key.

The last letter from Udell to his wife was in pencil and spoke of having her bring the children to see him at time of his trial.

Another letter from Mrs. Udell to her husband, dated June 27th, refers to the prisoner, Laidley, in the following language:

"The man you gave the ten dollars wasn't here. He wrote to me to send him forty dollars to come and see me, but I can't do that, and I am afraid of your friends. I fear the letter that you sent by the sheriff's brother was give to Bill Robison, the old sheriff, to bring to me. Don't trust too far to no one. Joe Miller is gone up, and his wife and little Jim. But I think I can raise the money of Perkins by a mortgage on the land. The job on the Jeff road I don't know nothing about.

"Send your letters to Mrs. Smith, same as before. That man Ayers, I don't want you to write to him, for I don't like his style, from what I can hear; and don't talk too much to no one, for everything leaks out. If he had the money, it would be all right; but he has not got it..

"Well, I hope that your partner will raise his part by the 4th, and then someone will fetch it with the rest soon. Keep in good heart for it is hard for me to think of you."

The correspondence between Rose and his friends begins in April 1868, by a letter to Ayers, written in ink, urging Ayers to come to Newton and consult with the lawyers for the defense relative to bail.

May 8th three letters were written by Rose, one addressed to William C. Ayers, Springfield, Illinois; one to John Richardson, Forest City, Missouri, and one to James Gillmore, of St. Louis. The letter to Ayers is plainly a renewal of the request for one thousand dollars to aid him in getting out of his difficulty. The one to Richardson was addressed "Dear Brother" upon the inside, and is of the same import as the one just referred to. The third letter was of a similar nature.

Another of the interesting communications to Ayers was one written June 11, 1868, which presupposes a knowledge of the attempted escape by bribery, and was written by both Udell and Rose, jointly, This letter read as follows:

"You know Fitzsimmons, or Sandy, as he is called, also James Stein, and maybe Billy Burns. Either one or all of these can tell you who it is that should raise the money. It was our misfortune to be found first, and by that means others had a warning of something wrong. We have been wise enough to keep our mouths shut, also, we do not want to write to Chicago from here, or to make a false move to endanger any man's liberty, but we want money, and must have it, for the purpose that we have heretofore in formed you. If you have any business up at Chicago, take this with you and find some of these men, and tell them you want to see our friends, or those that ought to help us. If you can be satisfied of the abilities of our friends to keep the secret, then you can tell them what is wanted with the money. And if they wish to see or know more about it for their own satisfaction, let them send a man that they can depend upon here, and they shall be satisfied. Burns or Stein or Sandy, they can see us by seeing the sheriff. But for Christ's sake don't let this matter of ours become too public. It is a bad policy for men you know to gab and blow as soon as they are in trouble, but it is worse policy for free men to not step forward with a few hundred dollars to save men from long suffering and hardships.

"We have got a knowledge of matters now that would of been cheap five months ago for $1,000. If we can get fixed, as money will fix it, this information will cost you nothing. The amount we ask, $2,000, can be returned inside twenty days. This letter, Ayers, I hope you will use with discretion. It is the only chance we have for seeing daylight."

Ayers responded to this letter as follows:

"I received your letter today of the 12th instant, and was glad to hear you were well. But I am sorry to be obliged to say that I cannot help you at present. I am on my way to Springfield, just leaving Harry. He had a trial and was sentenced to eight years and Jim to six years. But we appealed it and got a new trial. It comes off next September. Abe I expect to see Mc, and I shall lay this before him. I saw him once, but he was not fixed. I can't get to see Billy, but I understand he says that he would not help anybody. I shall do all I can. I have overreached myself financially in this case of Harry's, but I shall go into business soon and keep you posted."

From the time "Laidley" was liberated, May 30th, a constant visitor to Udell appeared in the jail yard. To this friendly fellow Udell fell into the habit of throwing numerous bits of tracts and hymnbooks, which some good Christian lady had evidently supplied him with, for the benefit of his soul. These scraps of religious literature were covered with fine writing in pencil, giving instructions as to how to work. In one of these messages Udell gives expression of a fear that "all was not as it should be," but that he had a "true wife" who would look out for his interests.

These messages found their way into the hands of Wilson, the attorney, in a way that was strange. Udell began to doubt the "honesty" of Laidley, and no one will blame him for that.

The jail at Oskaloosa was strengthened by additional bolts and bars, in an unusual degree, Udell thought, considering the fact that no one knew of the proposed escape.

Day after day dragged heavily by, and no one came to his rescue. The day for his trial came and the two, Rose and Udell, were taken to Newton for trial. Lindley & Ryan defended the men. No defense was required, however, for on the 25th of November, both men pleaded guilty to the several charges.

Charles Udell was sentenced December 30th to ten years' imprisonment in the penitentiary and to pay half the costs of the prosecution.

Abraham Rose was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and half the costs of the prosecution. Rose was let off easy on account of his honorable service in the Union cause in time of the Civil War. The nine hundred and fifty-four dollars taken from them at their arrest was applied on their fines.

The sentence of Rose was carried out to the end, but Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood, in 1878, pardoned Udell a few months before his time had expired on account of his disease, consumption, which, it was believed, would carry him from earth within a short time. Thus were the ends of justice met, and thus ended the career of two noted western criminals.

THE OVERTURNING OF A STAGE COACH

A public meeting was once broken up by an accident that could not well happen nowadays. The only public conveyance then was the old-fashioned stagecoach, which passed through Newton a couple of times a day, and sometimes several of them together. They used to stop at the old Phelps House, a four-story hostelry on the south side of the public square. The drivers liked to attract attention, and would sometimes drive in with their four horses on the run and turn up to the hotel door in grand style. One driver made too short a turn and upset his vehicle. The round, heavy body of the coach broke loose from its fastenings and rolled across the street, like a huge pumpkin. The numerous passengers were packed in so tightly that they did not receive a shaking up. They were like so many sardines in a can. B. F. Allen, the noted banker of Des Moines, the only Iowa millionaire at the time, was a passenger, and had to share the delights of pioneer travel with the rest.

A GRAND JURY INCIDENT

An incident is told of the grand jury room, that illustrates the difficulty that is sometimes met with in the enforcement of law. It probably leaked out through the keyhole. The jurymen were discussing among themselves how they could secure evidence that would lead to the conviction of certain well-known liquor dealers. One of their number, who was a drinking man, but a good citizen, remarked that they had ought to make inquiry of a certain man, as probably he knew more about it than any man in the county. He was brought in and duly interrogated, as to whether he knew of any place where liquor was sold or had been sold, as a beverage, or of anyone who had bought and sold. To all these questions he replied in the negative. The gentleman, who had suggested his name took him in hand, and inquired whether he could remember at a certain place on the street, a short time before one of the witnesses remarking that he was going to get some liquor, and after going away soon returned with some. But although he strained his memory until it almost cracked, he was unable to recall it. He was then asked somewhat hotly, whether he could remember of their having drank together at any time, or at any place. He cheerfully replied that he did not. Whereupon the juryman proceeded to express his opinion of him in a way that made the air seem blue!

VENTRILOQUISM

From some of the early day incidents, of an historic character, and possibly worthy of preservation in a history of Jasper County, where it occurred, is the following:

During the fall of 1843, perhaps in October, two strangers, young men, stopped at Adam Tool's house for the night. They said they were from St. Louis. They were dressed in buckskin trousers and hunting skirts nicely fringed with the same material. After supper all were sitting around the campfire. One of the strangers stepped back from the circle. Soon sounds came from the roadside like one in distress. The stranger called for a lantern, the man by the roadside saying his horse was down, and was crying for assistance. The lantern secured, the stranger, accompanied by James A., started to assist the horseman, but when they arrived at the spot from whence the sounds had proceeded, the stranger called out, "Where are you?" "Here, a little ways off! Come quick" was the answer. Running about in this manner for a time, the stranger remarked, "The fellow must be drunk. We won't go any farther," and returned to the fire. In half an hour or so there was a call in another direction. The stranger was again interested, and with lantern in hand, again accompanied by James, they started to assist him. Soon after, James discovered there was a trick in this, and ventured to say he believed it was a ventriloquist, and explained to the stranger, at his request, what a ventriloquist was. They soon returned to the fire. The stranger, dropping behind James, barked like a dog and caught him by the pants leg. By this time the women folks had retired for the night, and after the lights were blown out, all sorts of barnyard noises proceeded from this man's couch, chickens crowed, cats squalled and babies cried, the rest of the family not understanding the joke until the following morning.

THE VALERIA CYCLONE, 1896

The most disastrous windstorm, taking the form of a cyclone, that ever passed through Jasper County, since white men have known it, was the one, which struck Valeria, Mingo and vicinity on Sunday night, May 24, 1890. There were many accounts written of this storm, as seen from various viewpoints, but we have chosen the account as published in the Newton Journal the week of the storm, the facts of which here follow:.

There were twenty-one killed outright. It occurred about eight o'clock in the evening, after a very sultry Sunday afternoon. The dead included the following: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Phalen and children, Charlie, Mike, Susie, Mollie and Dan. Charles Phalen, the husband and father, was a wealthy farmer and large land-owner in the neighborhood of Valeria, and upon bearing the roaring of the oncoming cyclone, the sound of which resembled that of a train of freight cars rumbling rapidly over a wooden bridge, started for a storm cave near by the house on his farm. He evidently had one child under each arm in his flight. He was carried some forty feet and dashed against a tree and instantly killed, as were also the children he had with him. The house was completely demolished. The daughter, Mary, and son, Willie, were blown fifty feet and they were the only ones of the household saved. Willie had his hip broken. The mother got as far as the mouth of the cave and was there soon after found in a dying condition. The hogs, chickens, calves and all other domestic animals were killed and badly mangled.

Other persons who were killed were Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bolenburg and an adopted daughter, eight years of age, Lucretia Whitney and Martha Dickey, and the wife and son of D. Aiken and grandmother Shell. But few persons were injured, aside from those killed outright. The head of Mrs. Lucretia Whitney was so imbedded in the earth that it took the strength of several persons to extricate it.

Most of the bodies of the deceased were fearfully mangled and must have been killed instantly. Many were sleeping at the time and possibly had no opportunity to save themselves from an awful death.

The house of Robert Bailey, two miles north of Bondurant, was completely demolished and he and his wife and three children belonging to a brother at Colfax were all killed outright. In and near Mingo, the storm again did much damage and the property loss on farms was immense.

At Valeria, in the house of G. W. Lacey, there were nine children. The house was badly wrecked, but fortunately none were materially injured.

The house of Miss Sue Philson was completely turned over and the ridge of the roof was thrown into the side of the next house to it, but strange to relate, the occupants of the former were unharmed. It is stated that the family started down stairs and arrived there just as the house turned over and were obliged to go back up stairs in order to get out.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Valeria was moved from its foundation two feet and badly wrecked, while the Catholic Church building was totally demolished. In the priest's house, the pastor of the church started across the room as the storm struck the house, and only escaped by a few inches a flying two-by-four scantling, which was sent through the window.

In the business portion of Valeria village, Taylor Barker's hardware building had its front blown in and mud and water covered the stock of goods.

The residence of James Jones was entirely demolished, but the family had escaped to a cave nearby.

The Knights of Pythias building, with a floor, was completely smashed to pieces.

The general stock on the first blacksmith shop of D. M. Ilhon was also mashed flat to the earth. The newly built creamery was totally destroyed and its fixtures strewn to the far away fields.

The railroad depot had two sides blown in and a nearby bridge was washed out, delaying all train service until the following afternoon. At the time there were six young men and boys from Poweshiek Township standing in the depot and their fright was something they will always remember. The public school building west of town was blown to kindling wood, not even a large section of the same being found in the neighborhood.

Solomon Dickey's farmhouse was actually leveled to the ground, but his wife and daughter were saved, with a few injuries. Harvey Pitcock, south of Mingo, had his farmhouse picked up and carried fifty feet and landed in a ditch; his family were more or less injured. Charles Couche's house, south from Mingo, was destroyed, while the family escaped death by making their way to the storm cave.

Sol. Dickey was in bed with his little baby and was blown to a brush heap some distance. He was bruised badly, but the babe was uninjured. Five were killed of this family.

The cloud has been variously described. From the point seen by many, it appeared dark and inky, while in other directions it was reported as being white. The sound was awful. It was like falling water, or again seemed like trains running at rapid speed over trestlework bridges. Its form was like a balloon or funnel-shaped, and it bounded along to and from the surface of the earth. There were many wells in the pathway of the storm, all of which had their waters sucked from them as if by a huge pump. An apple orchard west of Valeria was completely uprooted. At another point a whole Osage orange hedge was taken up, roots and all. In the depot yards at Valeria, there were steel rails twisted into all kinds of shape, and in one instance many will still recall the strange sight of a steel rail thirty-two feet long, driven into the hard earth a depth of fourteen feet in a perpendicular position.

So distinct was the path of the storm that one-half of many forest trees had their entire foliage and limbs cut off. While the remaining half was apparently untouched. Chickens were seen picked clean of feathers, pinfeathers and all. While hogs had been beheaded as clean as if struck by a sharpened ax.

Monday and Tuesday, as well as for days afterwards, visitors came from far and near to view the strange, yet ugly, sights made by this terrible electric storm, which mowed in its certain path of death and sure destruction.

Many, indeed, nearly every visitor, carried away some treasured relic of the storm. The same evening there was a large waterspout in Mariposa Township, this county, which caused property damage, but no loss of life. This terrible wind-storm occurred the same week of the great St. Louis cyclone in which so many lives were sacrificed, and when the Eads steel bridge over the Mississippi River, between East St. Louis and the city proper, was partly carried away. There have been other severe windstorms in Jasper County, but none to compare with this one.