KinSource - Tale of the Week - Invited To Leave Town

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The Rock County Herald, August 16, 1895, page 6

A disreputable female and an equally disreputable male companion, who have been camping in a covered wagon in the woods north of the fair grounds, were rudely awakened about 5 o'clock Wednesday morning by a pistol shot which took effect in the woman's left leg below the knee. The male creature sprang up and claims that he saw a man going away from the wagon and that he followed him to town. At any rate, he summoned Dr. Spalding and notified Marshall Clegg. The former dressed the wound and the latter located the alleged shooter in Jole's restaurant, where he arrested him. The disreputables who occupied the wagon give their names as Albert J. and Amy M. Wilbur, and claim to be husband and wife. The man arrested says that his name is George Deever and that he lives at Elk Point, S. D. He says that he gave the woman a ten-dollar gold piece the night before and that she cheated him out of $4 in making change. He was brought before Justice Helgeson for examination Wednesday afternoon, but the complaining witness was unable to give bonds for his appearance at the next term of court, and being required to choose between going to jail and abandoning the prosecution, he chose the latter and the prisoner was discharged. S. C. Rea appeared for the prisoner and County Attorney Canfield for the state. The woman's wound is not serious, though the bullet passed entirely through the fleshy part of the leg and struck the bone. The bullet was found in the bed and exactly corresponded with the bullets in the cartridges taken from the pistol which Marshal Clegg found on the person of the prisoner.

The Rock County Herald, August 23, 1895, page 1

INVITED TO LEAVE TOWN

AND THE INVITATION ACCEPTED.

Women Insulted by a Lot of Tough Hobos, Who Were Arrested and Compelled to Leave Town --- The Woman Who Was Shot Fired Out With the Rest.

Seven of the toughest specimens of the hobo family that ever struck this place arrived at Luverne last Sunday from nowehere in particular, en route to the usual destination. They were rough, ragged and tough from top to bottom. The village park east of the river furnished them a pleasant resting place and they soon had entire possession of the park. Their first act after supplying their camp with chickens purloined from handy roosts, and vegetables stolen from gardens near by, was to purchase two kegs of beer and indulge in a grand old hobo drunk. Up to Monday noon they committed no depredations which in any way disturbed the public, and they were left alone in their glory. Monday afternoon, however, they became noisy and boisterous and insulted several ladies who were passing along the street by the park. Complaints were made to the marshal and Monday evening the whole outfit was rounded up and placed in the refrigerator for the night. The next morning the seven bums were loaded upon a dray and escorted to the city limits, where they were dumped out and ordered to travel to some other port. They were headed to the north and will probably bring up in Pipestone.

The female who was shot in the leg Wednesday morning of last week was visited Monday evening by Sheriff Black and ordered to get out of the county. Dr. Spalding dressed the wound and then the sheriff escorted the woman and her male companion out of the township and admonished them not to return. The outfit was one of the toughest that ever visited this section, and the town is fortunate indeed to be rid of them.

The Rock County Herald, August 30, 1895, page 1

DIXON HOUSE ROBBED.

THE WORK OF A WANDERING HOBO.

He Steals Some Articles of Clothing Valued at $30 and Made His Escape into the Wilds of Dakota
---
Traced to Sioux Falls, Where He Stole More Goods.

A member of the hobo tribe who was known at this place by the name of George Allen, stole some articles of clothing at the Dixon house Friday night and after disposing of the goods to another tramp succeeded in making his escape. Allen drifted into Luverne about two months ago and worked for three or four weeks for John H. Jones. About two weeks ago he gave up his job and commenced boarding at the Dixon house, where he remained until last Saturday morning, when he suddenly disappeared. Very soon after, the discovery was made that a lot of clothing and other articles of personal property belonging to one of the guests of the Dixon house had also disappeared and the conclusion was naturally reached that the robbery had been committed by George Allen. Marshal Clegg was notified and immediately began an investigation which resulted in implicating a tramp by the name of W. J. Lewis, who had been loafing about town for some time. Lewis was put into the sweat box and finally persuaded to disclose all he knew about the matter. He admitted that he had bought the stolen property from Allen and said he had shipped it to his relatives in West Liberty, Ia. He also informed the officers that Allen had gone to Sioux Falls on the noon freight, and that he intended to go from that place to Ballaton, Minn. Supposing that Allen would leave Sioux Falls by way of the Great Northern, Deputy Sheriff Mart Connell drove to Garretson Monday morning in time to catch the train at that place, but failed to find his man and went on to Pipestone. The search was continued at Pipestone without success, and Mr. Connell returned to Luverne on the afternoon Burlington train. In the hope, then, of finding their man at Sioux Falls, Messrs. Clegg and Connell left for that place by team immediately after the arrival of the train from Pipestone and instituted a thorough search. They finally traced their man to the Parker house, where he was registered under the name of H. H. Pratt. He had remained there only one night, however, and when he left he took with him some property belonging to the Indians who were stopping at the Parker house during court. No further trace of Allen could be found, and the officers returned Tuesday morning.