Hide Article Text (OCR)
CONFESSES TO WRITINGROY BESCO, YOUNG MAN OF EDDY. VILLE, ACKNOWLEDGES TO OFFICERS THAT HE WROTE HAND LETTER.BOND IS GIVEN FOR HIS LIBERTYSON OF GEORGE BESCO, A RB TIRED FARMER, IS ACCUSED OF USING MAILS TO DISTORT MONEY FROM BANKER.Rot Bosco, 20 year old eon of Georg* Bosco, a retired farmer of Eddyvlflo, niado a confession to United Statbs Marshal Frank B. Clark and Postoffloo Inspector J. W. Welburn, wherein ho acknowledged writing a Black Hand letter to F. M. Epperson, tho Eddy-villo banker demanding tho sum of $2,000. Besco was arrested. Saturday afternoon by Marshal Clark and when arraigned before Commissioner A. W. Enoch, was bound over to tho federal grand Jury. Sunday night when further examined by Marshal Clark and Inspector Welburn, bo made the confession. Ills father George Besco and a brother, J. C. Besco, who resides near Albla. furnished the $500 bond, and the accused youth was released. He returned to his homo In Eddyvillo this noon.Tho crime for which Besco Is accused Is writing a Black Hand letter on the night or Febmnry i in which F. M. Epperson was Instructed to loavo $2,000 at tho southeast corner of the Adventist church in KddyvlBo on the following night, Wednesday, February 0. Threats wero made in the letter to blow up the bank and Epperson's homo with dynamite unless the money was loft at the placo Indicated. Tho letter was addressed to Manning and Epperson, Stato bank. and was opened by F. M. Epperson on Wednesday morning. It was written in lead pencil and signed The Black Hand association. On the opposite side ol the written portion was a drawing oi a Black Hand, but no other character was vlsiblo.Package Left at Church.Following out the instructions of th« letter. Mr. Epperson left a decoy pack* age at the appointed place, and In com. pany with Detective B. D. Way of th« Chicago Pinkerton agency, the church was watched. Besco approached thi church and stooping down near the south oast corner, lit two matches, pro Runiably looking for tho packago. He lighted a cigar and proceeded down tin* street, followed by Detective Way and Mr. Epperson. When recognizing young Besco, Mr. Epperson stated thut he knew the young man and that It was not he who wrote tho letter. This somewhat discouraged tho officer employed, who later returned to Chicago.10. .1. Weiss, assistant superintendent of the Chicago Pinkerton agency was then employed on tho case, and through a’ letter written to Besco, Weiss and F. M. Epperson's son Frank Epperson, who is associated with hia father In tho bank camo to Ottumwa Saturday to 1111 an engagement with Besco at tho Ballingall hotel at 10 a. m. A delay In tho arrival of tho morning Rock Island train prevented this expected Interview, and the two men with United States MarshalClark went to Eddyvllle on tho Saturday noon train. Upon arriving at the depot there, Besco was met on his way to catch a frolght train to this city. Ho was taken to a hotel and closely examined by tlio officers, with the result that ho convinced them he knew something of tho Black Hand letter. His arrest followed and he was brought to Ottumwa on the evening train. When arraigned before Commissioner Enoch, he wns bound over to await further Investigation by the federal grand Jury which meets in March.Would Not Talk.Besco, aside from acknowledging having mude a statement to Marshal Clark and Inspector Welburn. rofuaed to talk of tho case this morning wheD seen in the county Jail. With him wh« his brother, J. C. Besco, who in company with his father, arrived in the city this morning from Eddyvllle They stated their mission here was to secure bond for the boy and to endeavor to keep him from going to tb€ penitentiary.Hao Good Reputation.Tho action of F. M. Epperson 1c first refusing to believe that Bescc had any connection with writing the black hand letter, is an indication o! the good repute in which Besco is held in Eddyvllle. His parents are highly respected In Eddyvllle, and the son, too, bears an excellent reputation.B. D. Way, who first worked on th« case. Is tho Pinkerton man who waa employed here last year on the Johnson case aud later on Aim JunkJji mur der case.
Newspaper Details
Ottumwa Tri Weekly Courier
Ottumwa, Iowa, US
Tue, Feb 15, 1910
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 02 Mar 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
