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* o'HSeen at Church.1 The history of t*» • case Is not witherout its interest owing to the excitement that black hand letters create everywhere they have figured in police circles. The letter that Roy Besco is accused of writing was received by F. M. Epperson at his bank In Eddyville, February 1, 1910. It demanded that the banker under threat of having his bank dynamited, leave $2,000 in a secluded spot near the southeast corner of the Adventist church in Eddy-ville the Wednesday night following the receipt of the letter. In company with B. D. Way of the Pinkerton agency. Mr. Epperson left a decoy package at the appointed time and place and together the two men watched the place. Their efforts were rewarded by seeing Roy Besco come to the place and strike two matches as if to look for the package, he then lighted a cigar and when seen by the two men. Mr. Epperson told Mr. Way that he knew the young man and was sure that he did not write the letter. The Chicago detective thereupon left the case and returned to Chicago. E.J. Weiss coming to Eddyville to take up the matter.Meet at Ballingall.An appointment was made by Officer Weiss and Frank Epperson, a j son of F. M. Epperson, with Roy Besco! € to meet at the Ballingall hotel in Ot- r tumwa at 10 o’clock Saturday. February 12. Failing to keep his appointment with the officer and Frank Epperson, these two with United States Marshal Frank Clark left for Eddyville arriving there in the after-and met young Besco on his way to catch a freight train for Ottumwa. The party returned together and in the Ballingall hotel sufficient evidence was gleaned by the officers to make the arrest of Besco. who later upon a t/nd of $600 given by his father. George Besco. a retired farmer of near Eddyville, and J. C. Besco of Albia was given his liberty. The following day a confession is claimed by the officers to have been obtained from the young man in the presence of Postofflce Inspector J. W. Welburn, Marshal Clark and Mr. Weiss.Denis* Confession.This confession has since been repudiated by Roy Besco and the case has assumed a different angle, promising to be ' fought hard in the trial. Judge J. C. Mitchell of Ottumwa and J. R. Price of Albia will defend Besco and District Attorney M. L. Temple of the United States court will prosecute the case. It is probable that the Jury will be empanelled this afternoon and the hearing begun.The question of hearing the Me-PherBon-Malcolm damage suit which the defendant's counsel is seeking to have heard at tuis term, will be known In a day or two. It Is probabie that the length of time necessary to hear the Besco case will have much to do with the hearing of the McPherson ptcase. !
Newspaper Details
Ottumwa Tri Weekly Courier
Ottumwa, Iowa, US
Sat, Apr 08, 1911
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 07 Oct 2021
Other Publications Near Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa Daily Review
Ottumwa Courier
Ottumwa Tri Weekly Courier
Baptismal Register Sacred Heart
Standard Atlas of Wapello County Iowa
