IOTA POST OFFICE ROBBED

CP Democrat March 6, 1909

Four arrests were made Monday night near Trilby on account of the Iota post office robbery Saturday night and three or four arrest are expected to be made on suspicion and the suspects have been taken to parish jails in other parishes in order to separate them in hope of getting confessions.  The men arrested are residents of the vicinity of Trilby and their names are with held from publication for the reason that the evidence against them is thus far only circumstantial.

Postmaster Daughenbaugh of Iota and Constables Reed and Simar on Sunday found the coin boxes taken from the post office safe under a railroad culvert in the northern part of Iota.  Bloodhounds secured from Breaux Bridge by Sheriff Fontenot were taken to the place where the boxes were found.  The boxes contained only a few small coins and some other articles were found near.  The hounds at once started up the railroad track toward Trilby.  They went straight to a house toward Trilby.  They went straight to the house of a resident of the neighborhood and ran into the house and put their paws on the owner of the place.  He and his son were arrested on suspicion.  Two men were subsequently arrested at Evangeline by Deputy Sheriffs Arthur Lavergne and Amy.  All were (taken) to Crowley but were immediately removed to other points for safe keeping.  It is regarded as by no means certain that the persons arrested are guilty parties, but it is believed that they are residents of the vicinity of Trilby.  Officers are now working on a new clue and it is expected that several more arrests will soon be made.

Postmaster Daughenbaugh has fully identified the boxes found under the culvert.  The loss, as near as can be ascertained now, amounted to $511.93 of which $286. 93 was government money; $118 in gold and $80 in paper belonged to Postmaster Daughenbaugh and $30 belonged to the Woodmen of the World.