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*t-ina-n-s-a-l-Police call in FBIFiveheldinseriesofrobberiesWith the arrest earlier this| attorney in Fort Madison, plus}from the Newton Jewelry store house was set on fire the same;he, Adams and the Colletts havejcharged with larceny in thtthe Carnes Finaweek of Robert J. Knupp, 24, of Fort Madison and Keokuk po- robbery, according to the de-835 S. Ward, a chain of events lice and an anonymous tipster, tectives. On Dec. 6, 1966, a dis-began to unravel which by Fri-I Knupp was arrested in Keokuk play window was broken and day had led Ottumwa police to Tuesday.four other men in connectionwith at least eight unsolved crimes, most of them in Ottumwa.Apprehended besides Knupp were Dennis Adams, 20. of 1011 Ingersoll, Gerald L. Collett, 19, of 2521 E. Main, his brother Ronald, 24, of 1221 E. Jay, and Arthur L. Hansford, 20, of Memphis, Mo. Police say the men may be implicated in still more crimes, and according to detective Elmer Collier, “They have made statements which have led us to call in the FBI.”Knupp, Adams and Hansford allegedly stole a tire and four magnesium wheels at the General Tire store here Monday night and sold the items at a Fort Madison car lot the nextday. With the help of the countyDiamond ringWhile in jail at Keokuk, Knupp asked if he could have a visitor, Ransford, who had not yet been implicated. Knupp reportedly gave Hansford adiamond ring to “get rid of”and that ring ultimately led to events that followed.about $1,100 in jewelry, mostly rings, was taken from the store, at 124 E. Main.According to the detectives, confession led to confession and the Collett brothers were brought into the picture. They along with Adams, were implicated in the July 15, 1967 robbery of the Carnes Fina station Detectives Collier and Carol at 533 N. Jefferson. About $470 Pearson called Memphis, and in cash and $300 in checks were asked Ransford's father to bring taken there.him in for questioning. Hansford just returned from Vietnam in pecember and has no previous criminal record, they said.Hansford reportedly confessed to his part in the General Tirerobbery and implicated both Knupp and Adams. He then pro duced the diamond ring and saidOther incidents in which someor all of the men except Hansford have been charged are; Knupp and Adams, a break-inat the Volkswagen garage on Highway 34 East in Ottumwa; the Skate More Holler Rink in Agency, and a farm house near Fairfield, all on the night of the Newton Jewelry robbery. Knupp had told him it camel Collier said the Fairfield farmnight; Adams and the Collett brothers, the Home Oil Station at 502 West Second earlier this week, also a break-in at Bob’s Market, 1115 Albia Hoad. Evidence has been recovered from both these break-ins detectives said.Knupp was recently paroled from Anamosa and police saypolice records.Gerald and Ronald Collett, Knupp and Adams all appeared in Municipal Court this morning. Bond had earlier been set at $1,500 on each man. Knupp and Adams were charged specifically with larceny in the nighttime at, the Newton Jewelry store. The Colletts were bothorIrorosi;crcnighttime at station.All four entered pleas of not udty. Hearing for Knupp was set at 2 p m. on Feb. 20. Hearings for the other three were set for Feb 23 at 9 a.m. Bond for Hansford was also set at $1,500 and he is to enter a plea Monday at 9:30 a.m.n j
Newspaper Details
Baptismal Register Sacred Heart
Ottumwa, Iowa, US
Sat, Feb 10, 1968
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Full Page
Clipped by
Michelle C.
UT, USA 17 Oct 2021
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