The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 15, 1903
Evidence of Attempted Crime
Kit of Burglar’s Tools Found in Clare Stock Yards
Additional Proof of Plot.
Seems Likely That an Attempt to Rob Clare Bank Was Planned.
The fact has already been recorded in The Messenger that on Tuesday morning several sticks of dynamite were found on the steps outside the Bank of Clare, and the supposition seemed plausible that an attempt to rob the bank had been planned and perhaps would have been successfully executed but for some unknown happening that frightened the would-be burglars and caused them to abandon their conspiracy in a panic of fear.
This morning Mr. Con Griffin found a package in the Clare stockyards w hich on being opened disclosed a kit of tools such as safe blowers would probably carry. There was also a bottle of liquid substance supposed to be nitroglycerine and a piece of soap.
The stockholders of the bank have reason to feel glad over the outcome and no doubt would not object to giving a substantial sum to the person who caused the band of safe blowers to flee so hastily, even though the fact that such an attempt was being planned was not dreamed of. There is absolutely no clue other than the circumstantial evidence easily conjectured from the few facts as stated.
Tags: 1903, Griffin
The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 18, 1903
Forced to Choose Between Rain Water and Work
Awful Predicament of Three Hoboes in This Morning’s Police Court – Chose the Water.
Police court was rather busy this morning. Mayor Northrup having seven cases up before him. Of these three were tramps and they were given the choice of getting out of town in half an hour or going to work. The three of them chose to get out of town and the last seen of them they were “hiking” down the Central tracks towards Tara in the rain. This was not very comfortable but they preferred it to work. They gave their names as Frank Williams, Frank Hoyt and John Silley, but very probably forgot them as soon as they got out of court.
The other four cases were just plain drunks and none of them had any excuse for their condition, but were all eager in their promises to do better if they were let go. Mayor Northup is getting tired of promises of this kind and assessed them all fines and costs. All of them were “broke” so they went to jail. Frank Lynch, John Nuugent (sic), John Griffin and John Fitz were the four drunks. From the list of names it would seem the criminality was predominant among Franks and Johns with the Johns slightly in the lead.
Tags: 1903, Fitz, Griffin, Hoyt, Lynch, Nugent, Silley
