Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1901 — Noted Horse Thief Captured. [ARTICLE]

Noted Horse Thief Captured.

The party who stole the horse and buggy of Geo. Ketchum last February has at last been run to earth and at this writing is confined behind the bars at Covington, Ky. It will be remembered that the thief left the buggy with the St. Nicholas hotel proprietor at Lafayette, borrowing two dollars upon it which he afterward returned and wrote to Crouch & Son of Lafayette to try and sell them the buggy. This letter was written from Indianapolis, under the assumed name of Thompson, and was turned over to Sheriff Hardy of this county. A Lafayette detective went to Indianapolis and shadowed a man supposed to be the thief, but he escaped before the detective could make sure that he was the man wanted. Later he wrote from Covington, Ky., again under assumed the name of Thompson, to the St- Nicholas hotel man at Lafayette, to find out why he had not heard anything from Crouch regarding the buggy. This letter was also sent here to Sheriff Hardy and the Lafayette detective was at once sent to Covington to arrest the man when he called for the letter which was sent in reply. The thief’s son called for the letter and was nailed, but it was found that he was not the party wanted. His residence was found, however, and the detective, sheriff of the county and two Cincinnati detectives called at the house. Mrs. Powers came to the door and stated that her husband was not at home, but Detective Gaffey of Cincinnati pushed by her and opened the door to-an-other room, when he was met with three shots from a revolver, two of which struck him, one in the right arm and the other directly over the heart, but happily struck his star and was deflected, thereby saved his life. Powers was quickly overpowered by the other officers and placed unper arrest. It was reported that the officer had bgen killed, and threats of lynching were made, only abating when it was learned that he was not seriously injured. Wednesday’s Cincinnati Enquirer contained a column article on the arrest and stated that Powers had a respectable family consisting of a wife and six children. Fifteen years ago he was a prosperous lumber dealer at Spear Fish. S. Dak., but a fire swept away his fortune. Since that time the family was migratory, and had resided in Covington one year. A year ago Powers stole a horse and buggy in Warren county, Ohio, was arrested but escaped from jail through outside aid. One of the sons was arrested for being implicated in aiding his father to escape and was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary. He stoutly maintained his innocence and after serving three months was pardoned. The father came to Indiana aud is said to have assumed the name of Hoyt. “Detective Weinhardt,” says the Enquirer, “will have to Nfeturu without his prisoner, as the charge of shooting with intent to kill was placed opposite his name, and he will be held in Covington on that charge.’’ Thursday’s Enquirer stated that Powers is also wanted at Grand Rapids, Mich., whero he shot at police while being chased for o title stealing, and at Lebanon, Ohio, where he was indicted for horse stealing and escaped from jail before being tried. He is being closely guarded at the Covington jail to prevent his escaping again.