USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 27
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Gleason and Soper were taken in the manner best described by the local news of the day :
"Friday morning.
"Last night about one o'clock a mob numbering several hundred went to the court house, where the prisoners were placed under a strong guard, took Gleason and Soper and then left for the country. Sheriff Bireley and the guards made a desperate resistance, but it was useless against such numbers. Gleason and Soper are probably hung. We have just taken a view of the court house where the prisoners were placed. The door is broken, the stove, table and other furni- ture smashed and thrown around, giving evidence of a hard struggle."
"P. S .- Word has just reached us that Gleason and Soper are hung." 232
To give a full description of what occurred in the attack on the court house at this time one would need the story from several sources. It has been summed up in a vivid way from which certain facts are drawn bearing on the general history of the case and showing the spirit of the county which was only one among a group determined to rid their respective environments of the menace of the lawless element.
In the attack on the guards the mob were well organized and made three at- tempts, so it is said, before succeeding in overpowering the protecting force. Many were injured and had to be carried away. All were disguised. The signal for assembly was a pistol shot when two hundred men came from everywhere to break in the door with a "battering ram." As soon as Gleason and Soper were taken they gathered in their wagons previously removed outside, leaving Cassidy in the hands of the sheriff, Van Ausdel having been already released supposedly as innocent. All was quiet the next morning and the day passed off without bringing any news of the "regulators." Such a condition today would of course be impossible. The rural phone allows no such condition, but then it was neces- sary to send a messenger in case news came at all.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
An eye witness makes a statement of what actually occurred at the execu- tion. The summary of his statement is as follows: The two men were taken in the wagons to Yankee Run. As many as three hundred men assembled and a jury of twelve men was empaneled, giving the prisoners the privilege of object- ing if they chose. They expressed themselves as satisfied. An examination was held lasting two or three hours, the persons being separated during this exam- ination. The jury deliberated but a short time when a verdict of guilty was ren- dered, after which the prisoners publicly confessed the same. They gave the reg- ulators the names of thirty or more who belonged to the gang of horsethieves and counterfeiters. The execution followed. At this time those implicated by the confession suddenly left, never to return. It is said that several left as soon as they heard of the arrest and before any confession. Many men of good cir- cumstances were implicated.
Word was sent to the friends of the victims to come for the bodies in accord- ance with which notice the mother and brothers of Soper took his body to Tipton and deposited it in the burying ground. What became of Gleason's body is not stated, but it is probably buried where it was cut down, if rumors are to be relied upon to any extent. The morning after the prisoners were removed from the court room was one of curious interest as to what had occurred, although one would suppose that it did not require a very fertile imagination to picture the events that really transpired. Every one coming in from the north or east was' questioned about the news of the day. Everybody had gone to the hanging. Travellers wishing to cross the Wapsie had to be ferried over by women as "all the men had gone to the hanging." No one was at home but the "women folks" as "all the men had gone, etc."
The confessions of these two men led to a stir in Jones County. A committee of several hundred citizens assembled above Rome in Jones County and arrested two men who confessed to many things, but promising to reform were pardoned or set free for some good reason. The mob then went to Rome to wait upon a merchant and a landlord to effect some change in their future actions it is said.
Countless rumors arose in near-by counties of what was transpiring in Cedar and doubtless some false stories were set afloat. It may be that many are not to be depended upon for a grain of truth and it was a long time before quiet was restored.
A mob assembled in Mechanicsville to punish two men implicated by the con- fession of those executed and the sheriff was called upon to take a hand. These men had left the county for safety but after the excitement had passed returned, when a mob took them into custody. A jury was selected to try them. On prom- ise of good behavior they were discharged although it was stated they confessed to passing counterfeit money.
The "Muscatine Journal" reported some good service by the Cedar County reg- ulators in warning two citizens of that county, suspected of horse stealing and counterfeiting, to leave the country in ten days. It hoped that such extreme measures as hanging would not be resorted to but the persons whose names were mentioned ought to be arrested and the charges against them investigated ac- cording to law, for they have long been suspected of such nefarious operations.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
In August 1857, seven men were arrested by Sheriff Huber in Massillon Township upon the charge of being concerned in the lynching of the two men at Yankee Run. They were brought before Judge Tuthill and admitted to bail in the sum of one thousand dollars each to appear at the next term of court for trial. Most of these men were old settlers and with the exception of this affair had always been peaceable and law-abiding citizens. Further record of public nature is not mentioned.233
Men now living know who were concerned in some of the activities of the watchful committees for mutual protection, but they are silent on these subjects although the case is so far past it would matter little now if the particulars were put on record. Correspondence fails to bring any answers to questions on the subject. Though facts may do no harm they cannot be had.
The lynching of Roberts was late enough in county history for a complete record to be obtained if those who know could be induced to tell about it. His case is not different from others beyond the fact that he was taken over the county line into Jones and that brought the indictments from Jones upon the sup- posedly guilty ones here.
Roberts was said to have confessed to any number of crimes, especially to counterfeiting, but he was a victim of his associates in the beginning, for had he not kept constant company with the suspicious element he might have avoided such serious consequences. He made his headquarters in this county at the home of Jim Hanlin, whose name appears on a document under a patriotic title during the Civil war, but the purpose of which was evident from the form of agree- ment-namely, to resist the government in case of draft. Here Roberts was taken and carried, or hustled we would say, to the farm barn of George Saum, whose biography one may find in a recent Jones County history, and here after summary trial somewhat confusing as to exact details Roberts was hung to a beam.
Subsequently a number of Cedar County men were placed under bonds to appear for trial and a hundred or more citizens signed for their due appearance. The grand jury of Jones County never brought any indictments and when one considers the close relation of the counties in their efforts to rid the territory of loose characters it is not strange that the people took care that their servants in executing the guilty in such a summary manner did not in the end suffer much inconvenience. This was almost the last of the active service of the vigilants and they ceased to be needed. Yet one finds them with annual meetings and new men- bers as the following pages show. While the immediate need for mutual pro- tection societies passed away after the "reign of terror" in the fifties, and the horse thieves disappeared for a time the organization was kept up to a much later date. An account of a meeting of one of these is given by a member: "In the year 1857, twenty years ago (1877), the citizens of Red Oak and vicinity organized themselves into a mutual protective association and after administering several doses of their kind of justice, horse stealing and destruction of property have become rare occurrences. On the eleventh inst. (June, '77) this mutual protective association, alias Regulators, met at the Safley school house for their annual session. It was called to order by the president, new members were ad- mitted and the usual form of business conducted. The reports of the officers were read and found correct. Committee on finance reported funds enough in
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
the treasury for any common emergency. There used to be an idea afloat that all they wanted was an excuse to act but it is only stern necessity that compels the Regulators to act. The election of officers in 1877 resulted in the following : President, Wm. M. Knott; Secretary, Henry Walters; Treasurer, Samuel Yule; Trustees, Moses Bunker, William Dallas, James Davidson and John Graham.234
Between three and four o'clock on the morning of the twenty-third of April, 1873, what has been pronounced the most daring robbery ever committed in the town of Tipton occurred, by one Crawford, who was supposed to have entered the town from far distant territory for the express purpose of robbing the office of the county treasurer. In this undertaking he was baffled, for it happened that some one remained too long on the grounds for him to act. Being of a disposi- tion to improve his opportunities he turned his attention to the jewelry store of Mr. Rowell which he entered through a broken front window. The noise had aroused the residents of the vicinity but before the alarm was given the safe was blown and its contents carried away. Geo. S. Hicks had rooms directly across the street and gave the alarm later and then the pursuit began. Crawford had his team ready and took a direct line for the river. The booty he carried amounted to less than five hundred dollars but such is the foolishness of men who prefer thievery to honest work that he risked his neck to get it.
By the time the sheriff and deputy, the detectives and the marshal, and the owner of the property were sufficiently aroused the culprit was several miles on his way of escape. There was no way of heading the man off as now, not even a telegraph line nearer than nine miles, so the only way to make chase which immediately began. Across the country to Lowden two men came upon the trail first. These were O. W. Porter and Eugene Holtslander. Here they summoned aid in the person of Barney McCabe, and continued the lively chase to Bellevue, Jackson County, where they arrived at one in the morning. The fugitive had crossed only a few hours before and the ferryman set them over the river on their way toward Galena whither they supposed the law breaker had hurried. In this they were compelled to go over several miles of overflowed territory through which the generous ferryman had shown them the way.
Arriving at Galena they made search of the livery barns and found the Craw- ford team the worse for wear after the long drive of seventy miles over the coun- try roads. Calling the city marshal they searched the town, when in a short time they found the burglar fast asleep as if innocent of any misdemeanor. His con- science appeared to have no sense of guilt and one wonders in what particular his brain structure was different from that of the ordinary mortal. Why should he be made a matter of history because he happened to steal some bauble of decoration ? The result to a citizen of the town made the case one of unusual record.
It is sufficient to say that the arrest was not resisted and the prisoner re- turned without requisition papers. His kit of tools was found in his possession which indicated his professional training.
He was returned to the place of the crime and arraigned before the justice, J. S. Tuthill, who sent him to jail in default of the bail fixed.
Indictment followed, of course, in due time and he came to trial in November of the same year, six months after arrest, such is the speed of the courts of jus-
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tice, and the sentence upon conviction was nine years in the penitentiary. He served six months in jail and six months in the penitentiary when a gracious pardon was extended to him on account of some secrets he possessed that were said to be useful to the future prosecution of some other burglars.
But the incident that resulted in the narrow escape from instant death of the jailer, Simons, is the only thing that makes this narrative at all necessary or of great interest.
One Thompson had been sent to jail for some minor offense and had during the time engaged with the man Crawford to help him to make his "get away" after the former had served his time in the county reformatory. This he under -. took to do, like any inexperienced hand, and in so doing came to battle with the jailer at close range. Securing the duplicate keys from the office of the sheriff he went to the jail where the confusion awoke the jailer, who came down stairs with a loaded shotgun. At this presentation Thompson fired at him striking him in the breast and inflicting a dangerous wound. The fire was returned by Jailer Simons and the left arm of the would-be rescuer was shattered to pieces. The noise of the two shots aroused the entire town. On the arrival of assistance the wounded officer of the law threw his gun to John Kiser who had instructions to shoot the first man attempting to make his escape. Crawford who had now suc- ceeded in unlocking the cell door with the keys furnished him understood that all escape was impossible and returned to his cell in despair and with signs of childishness, because he could not restrain the tears.
Meanwhile the injured Thompson escaped to the country and stopped west of town at the home of William Kettell for assistance. At two o'clock in the morn- ing when honest folks are sound asleep he aroused the quiet family and de- manded aid for a wounded man, shot in the arm, and suffering intensely from pain and weak from loss of blood. Think of it! Aroused at the midnight hour by such a request, in a country farmhouse, with no surgeon near and to care for a man with an arm shot to pieces !
Neighbors were summoned through the aid of two small boys of the Kettell household and the suffering man was returned to the authorities where the arm had to be cut from his body to save his life, all that was worth saving. This operation was performed by men from the county and two of them are dead, the other being in the far west.
There is usually a woman in the case and this was no exception for one came to the assistance of the prisoner, Crawford, early in the period of his assignment to the county jail. She claimed to be his wife, which was easy, and secured quar- ters with the deputy sheriff, which was convenient for her purpose of finding a way of escape for the unwilling boarder in the jail. Her first quarters were at the Fleming house but that did not quite meet her tastes when the purpose was. explained, and a convenient reason was found. On the night mentioned when the attempted delivery took place she was arrested as an accomplice and com- mitted to jail along with her spouse. Habeas corpus proceedings secured her release and after another short stay in the vicinity of the near-tragedy she left for parts unknown. This is the end of her story so far as we are concerned. As mentioned Crawford was tried in November and sent to Anamosa. Thomp-
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
son was indicted on the charge of attempting to kill and sentenced to four years. He too was pardoned after half his term.
Crawford sued the sheriff while in confinement in the county jail on the charge of cruelty to prisoners. Just as if any one could be more cruel than him- self who had brought the man Thompson to the penitentiary for four years and left him with one arm for life. The jail was under guard all the time after this event until the trial and the removal to the stronger place of confinement.235
A case of more than ordinary interest in the state, as well as in the county and criminal record because of the recent law governing such cases, is the one known by the title of the Kidnapping Case in which the offender was one August Leuth and the injured an aged couple, Mr. and Mrs. John Telsrow.
Through some wild scheme of quick riches this individual sought to extort money to a large amount, some say fifty thousand dollars, but it makes little difference in the case of penalty, from the wealthy man by taking possession of the person of his aged wife and holding her a prisoner for a ransom.236
The particulars are about as follows : Sometime in August, of the year 1903, the youth, Leuth, rode up to the door of the old couple and stated that he had come in for them to go at once to the bedside of a sick son near Walcott. This was at the dead of night and the old gentleman at once planned to hitch his own team to go at once. Through the urgency of the case the kidnapper persuaded the parents to hurry away with him to the scene of the dying relative. To make this scheme more plausible the son had been ill and the doubt, if any at all in the minds of the parents, was whether he would live until their arrival.
When they arrived at a certain point in the journey the driver, Leuth, pulled a gun and demanded of the old gentleman the fifty thousand dollars saying he would keep Mrs. Telsrow a prisoner until the money was forth- coming. He ordered the husband to return to the home and to make no at- tempt to give an alarm as other men were watching him and he would be in great danger if he attempted to do so. The poor old man obeyed and returned directly to his home making no outcry until morning fearing that all the things that had been threatened would happen if he did, his houses and barns burned, his poor old wife hidden away and never recovered if he did not forthwith get the fifty thousand dollars and return to that very spot the next night as the rob- ber had said.
Meantime the woman in the case was taken to the Unity school house where the kidnapper locked the kidnapped in the coal house for sometime while he went away probably to find a more secure retreat to conceal his hostage. Re- turning some time later in the early morning, it must have been about two a. m., he took the prisoner to the cellar of an old deserted house on a vacated farm and told her stay there on penalty of death.
Under the conditions the fright left her little inclination to run away and she remained here, more dead than alive one should suppose, until the light of morning came to show her the way out, when she escaped without mishap, to the house of Mr. Agnew. Then the news spread and the whole county was notified of the deed.237
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
The sheriff and deputy were summoned and made haste to find the accused which happened in due time, after some search on tracks that anyone skilled in crime could never have left.
It is sufficient to say here that the culprit was supposed at once to be some person familiar with the entire vicinity and he was found asleep in an oat bin like any tired individual after a night lost. He was lodged in jail to await fur- ther developments. The thousand dollars reward offered by the husband of the lost woman was fruitful in an early capture. At that time the case attracted wide attention and it occupied the attention also of the courts for more than one session as will be seen from the record.238
While confined in jail in June, 1904, Leuth endeavored to make good his escape and broke away from the jailer under circumstances that showed his ability to plan well under emergencies. He was captured soon after, having been traced through Durant to his brother's house near Sunbury.
After trial he was sentenced to the penitentiary for ten years, the maximum, and was sent there awaiting appeal to the supreme court.
In reviewing the case the Supreme Court covered the ground substantially as mentioned heretofore and in addition made the comment on certain parts of the evidence to show what kidnapping was under the law.
At the time of this occurrence the defendant was but eighteen years of age and had been in this country but two years or less. He was shown to have been an industrious person, but to have been out of work the two weeks previous to this event. He could not speak the English language but during the time he was confined in the county jail he learned to read the daily papers in that lan- guage.239 All the witnesses agreed that he could, and did speak nothing but German at the time of the arrest. The court affirmed the decision and sentence of the lower court.
After four years of confinement in the penitentiary Leuth was paroled by the governor upon recommendation and he is now somewhere in Oklahoma, hav- ing been finally pardoned by the recommendation of the board governing such cases. One member saying that this was the first case of pardon by this board where the applicant was not making the plea on account of sickness.
These are the circumstances of the case and its merits must be left to the future to determine.
It is worthy of mention that the judge of the Supreme Court before whom the argument was finally made was willing to recommend a parole on presenta- tion of the plea of attorney for defense.240
SECTION IX.
MILITARY HISTORY.
When the news came to Cedar County that Fort Sumter had been fired upon, Captain Hammond of the Tipton Guards ran out the stars and stripes from his window. The national colors were placed at the top of the flag pole in the courthouse square, the brass band saluted the flag and patriotic feeling was displayed on all sides. One wonders how those concerned really felt, and whether any conception of the magnitude of the event entered the minds of men in those days.
The rumor came on the very day the attack occurred, but few could be- lieve such a thing possible. It is evident from all discussions up to this time that the community lying away from the center of population and off from any telegraph line had not yet felt any sense of the gravity of the situation. True there were letters and messages from the seat of government, and these were full of meaning sentences, yet these could not arouse as the one startling line about Fort Sumter.
Then Iowa was called upon to furnish one regiment, such was the opinion in the public councils of the nation, and we knew how easily it was thought the Rebellion could be put down. Reading the names of those who went from Cedar County and of those left upon the battlefield one cannot be forgetful of what war meant to the whole country.
The Tipton Guards had been under discipline for several years, and much favorable comment had been passed on them during these years of training. Both at home and abroad they stirred the patriotic spirit and now they were con- fronted with a new obligation. They had been honored by receptions and en- tertainments in neighboring cities and at the state meetings of various organiza- tions, and by competent authority pronounced the very best of their kind. Their appearance was the signal for enthusiasm.
The very first "war note sounded in this vicinity," to use the language of one who was active then, was in the form of a poster and appeared immediately after the news from Fort Sumter. The call reads as follows :
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
"To the Lovers of our Country :
The Star-Spangled Banner has been attacked by the Rattlesnake and the Rebels of the so-called New Dahomey ; our Forts, Arsenals, Mints and Custom houses have been seized, and for the first time in our history our National Government has been publicly defied and attacked by internal enemies.
We therefore invite all citizens of Cedar County who are in favor of uphold- ing the Constitution and the Union, and who hate treason and rebellion, rob- bery and anarchy, to assemble at the Courthouse in Tipton, on Wednesday, April 24, at I o'clock p. m., to consider what shall be done for the maintenance of our government, and for our own safety.
A military company is being organized and it is earnestly desired that the ranks should be filled promptly.
Signed by Jas. H. Rothrock, S. S. Daniels, S. A. Bissell, Casad & Gilmore, C. Swetland, H. D. Brown, S. W. Young, John Swineford, J. S. Tuthill, D. H. Roush, W. Hammond, Wm. Moore, G. P. Ingman, J. Culbertson, Wm. Mc- Namara, E. & M. Childs, F. P. & W. Dean, Geo. Schmucker, C. H. Millhouse, W. H. Burns, J. K. Snyder, G. W. Logan, and J. G. Schmucker.
Tipton, Iowa, April 22, 1861."
A communication signed "G" in the issue of the Advertiser for April 25, 1861, reads as follows : "Our town was visited last Sunday (April 21) by Capt. Brewster and Lieut. Smith of the Davenport Light Artillery, who came to urge upon our citizens the necessity of organizing a company to represent Cedar in the Iowa regiment now forming. The sound of martial music breaking the quiet of the Sabbath afternoon drew a large crowd together at the old postoffice building, where the recruiting sergeant of the Guards was drumming up re- cruits. A number of names were added when a procession was formed and marched through the streets bearing the Star-Spangled Banner.
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