The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 9, 1906
The Jail Door Needs No Lock
Two Prisoners There are Old “Standbys” – Like Jail and Won’t Run Away.
For the first time, perhaps in the history of Fort Dodge two persons have been found who like the jail so well that they are allowed to come and go at will. “Nutty Willie” and Martin Hohn, who are confined there now, say that it looks just like home to them, is the best place they ever struck, and that they won’t leave it as long as the police will let them stay.
Officer Ditmer brought the prisoners their breakfast this morning at nine o’clock and kindly invited a Messenger reporter to watch him give out the food. “Nutty Willie” with his usual grin greeted the officer and reporter and taking the breakfast began to divide it with his fellow prisoner. “Willie” is a sort of trusty about the jail and turning to Ditmer with a mouth full of bacon and potatoes, he said, “Say! You know, you want me to clean out that front end today and take out that trash. Well, you’ve got to leave the door open. Just leave it open when you go out, and I’ll carry the stuff out in the street. Oh, he won’t run away,” in answer to an inquiring look from the officer in the direction of Hohn, the other prisoner. “He’s just like me. Says he likes it here and it is just like home.” The officer walked out after this, throwing the jail door wide open behind him, and “Willie” cheerfully began to carry out the rubbish, as he had promised.
(Editor’s note: “Nutty Willie” is most likely Ernest Willey, as he has been identified in other articles.)
Tags: 1906, Ditmer, Hohn, Willey, Willie
Posted by: admin in Crime
The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 21, 1905
Misfortune Follows “Nutty Willey”
Has Finger Cut Off by Being Caught in Jail Door This Morning
“Nutty Willie” who gained increased fame in police circles yesterday by being arrested for stealing a Christmas tree, and getting a sentence of thirty days ont he charge of vagrancy, seems to be a child of misfortune.
His latest trouble has been to get the forefinger of his right hand cut off by being caught in the jail door. When Officer Dittmer entered the jail this morning to bring the prisoners their breakfast, he found Willey executing a double shuffle with variations for the remainder of the bunch. Willey took a sudden fascination for the policeman, and when he went to leave, tried to follow him. He caught hold of the door, and the officer not noticing what had happened slammed it shut, only to open it again, when a howl of pain came form the inside.
It was found that Willey had stuck his fingers in the crevice of the doorway and that one of them had been cut nearly off, when the heavy door swung shut. The injured member will have to be amputated.
Tags: 1905, Dittmer, Willey
The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 21, 1904
He Forgot to Stay Away
Nutty Willey Returns and Gets into Trouble.
Steals a Coat and is Bound Over to the Grand Jury on the Charge of Larceny.
Ernest Willey, the “Nutty” Willey of police court fame, will probably give the city authorities little trouble for some time to come. Willey was ordered out of the city Friday morning and promised to do so and never return. He left town, but forgot to stay away. worse than that when he did return Saturday night he went into the Haire clothing store and when he left forgot to pay for a coat which he had carelessly picked up.
When arrested he was given no further chances to depart from the city, but was taken before a justice of the peace and bound over to the grand jury charged with larceny. It is probable that the jury will report on Willey’s case tomorrow, and a disposal made of the charge against him at the present term of court.
Tags: 1904, Willey
