ROBBERY NEAR EARLVILLE - 1877

HARRIS, WELSH, FULLER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 5/9/2016 at 13:17:46

Dubuque Herald –Jan. 6, 1877

ROBBERY NEAR EARLVILLE

From the Delhi Monitor we learn the particulars of the bold robbery that occurred on the road six miles northeast of Earlville a few days ago, of which mention was made in the HERALD at the time. It appears that Mr. Welch, a farmer living eight miles northeast of Earlville, had been to that place and sold Hersey & Co. a lot of hogs, for which he received $156.10. A young man known as Billy Harris, who was working for him, accompanied him to town. During the day they visited the saloons of the place and drank quite freely, and started for home at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Harris had dropped a remark that aroused suspicion of foul play. He was shadowed and followed and when Welsh and Harris had rode as far as Ead’s Mill pond. Harris is said to have pounded the old man until he was helpless. Harris then left him and ran across the pond into the woods. Someone found Welch, and while he was being taken care of, Harris had overtaken some men hauling wood. While with one of them Harris displayed a razor and asked if he should not let the other fellow’s life out. He was told to keep quiet. Then he displayed a large roll of bills and offered to pay the men for his ride. They refused to take any and as he dropped some in carelessness handling it, they picked it up and gave it back to him. Harris returned to Earlville at 6:30 and wanted to treat everybody. Seeing so much money in his possession aroused great suspicion that he did not come by it honestly and he was prevented from taking the eastern train. A search warrant was issued and $151.00 was found in his possession. The impression was so strong that this was Welch’s money and that he had stolen it that Justice Fuller ordered the constables to take him to the county jail, where he would stay until the time of trial.