Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-12-22
A. w. Dickerson Free.

A. w. Dickerson Free.
Atlantic, December 10 The case
of the State of Iowa VS. y. w. Dick
erson are now matters of history,
and the indictments which have
been hanging. over Dicllerson sin e
the failure of the Cass County Bank
in 1893, have been disposed of for
all time. The decision was deliver
ed by Judge N. w. Macy, after the
facts had been presented to him and
considered at some length by the
attorneys. The State was represent
ed by County Attorney I. B. Swan
and the defense by Hon Smith Nc
Pherson and Major H. g. Curtis.
The Cass County Bank closed it's
doors on December %, 1893, and
what was at first supposed to be
temporary suspension occasioned
by the stringent money market and
the hard times, turned out to be one
of the greatest failures occasioned
by nismanagenent and misplaced
confidence that ever occurred in this
county. The receivers statement,
issued shortly after the failure,
showed that the deposits amounted
to $525,OOO.0O. So far the preferred
claims have been paid dividend
Oh ten per cent
Mr.. A. w. Dickerson, who was
cashier, was arrested on eighteen
or twenty charges, but he finally
secured change OF venue and the
cases were transferred to Shelby
he plead guilty of fraudulent bank
ing and was sentenced to six years
in the Fort Madison Penitentiary.
By good behavior his sentence was
reduced twenty-one months and he
reSained his liberty on Sunday, De
cenber 4th, only to be re-arrested
at the prison doors, under indict-
ments for embezzeling, which have
been found against him since he
had been inprison.
Mr.. Dickerson, at this time, has
no definite plans for the future.
His wife, who has stood by him
during all his troubles, is almost
nervous wreck, and Mr.. Dickerson's
first consideration will be the care
of her health. 1t is understood that
the indictments against Mr.. Isaac
Dickerson, father of A. w. Dicker-
son, will be dismissed.
Following is the ruling of Judge
N W. Macy on the last two indict-
ments in granting the petition of A.
w. Dickerson to have the remaining
indictments against him dismissed:
FIRST. The Indictment herein
was returned into court on the 18th
day of December, 1885, but was not
docketed until the order of the
court. in December, 1898, and was
docketed upon the defendants mo-
ton and against the resistance and
objection of the State. A warrant
was not issued herein until the LIST
day Of December, 1898, and thereun-
der the defendant was arrested on
the 4th day of December, 1885, and
is now held in custody hereunder.
1t is, therefore, held by the Court
that such acts. failures and delay
on the part Of the State amount to
an abandonment of this prosecu-
ton and estop the State from pros
ecuting further therein; and
SECOND. 1t appears that before
the plea of guilty was entered in the
case No, transferred to Shelby
county. it was understood between
PENDANT that such plea should be
made and that sentence of five
wears would be accepted by the
State, and that such action would,
probably, work discontinuance of
further prosecution against the
defendant for his connection with
the Cass County Bank failure. 1t
further appears that it was repre-
sented to the defendant by his coun-
sci that if he would enter such a
plea there would be no further pros
ecutions against him. 1t also APP
pears that the court refused to ac.
cept and pronounce sentence OF
five years, but stated that in fixing
sentence he should consider all tea.
lures Of the bank failure. it's extent
the confidence and trust imposed
in its officers, the abuse Thereof, the
hurry and suffering wrought there.
by, and that the sentence should
not be less than six years. 1t also
appears that the sentence was sc
fixed by the court and that the de
tendant was led to believe, and did
believe that such action terminated
further proceedings against him
and that it was not expected by
counsel for the State and defendan
nor by the court at that time, tina
further proceedings would be de
manded, but it was believed tina
such sentence was sufficient unde1
all the circumstances.