Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-23
DES MONIES RIVER ON AB0OM
1t 10 Rising Rapidly and Flood Threat
ems Iowa's Capital City.
RISE OF THE STREAM RAPID AND STEADY
Movement is on Foot to Abolish the
Office of Labor Commisrioner-
Pnrdoned to Go
Home to Die.
RISE OF THE STREAM RAPID AND STEAD

II MONIES, June 22.-(Special Tele-
gram)-The Des Moines river is on the
boom, is rising rapidly and a big food seems
certain. The news comes from up stream lnat
the river is out of its banks at BooneVllle,
and yesterdays cloudburst at Boone WIFI
probably increase the flood. The rise Is rapid
and steady.
Deputy Labor Commissioner e. A. Wilson
today admitted that there is a movement
on foot to abolish the office of labor COM
missioner, which is now practically vacart
because of the insanity of the commissioner.
1t is understood that the resignation of Com
missioner o'Blenness has been asked for.
Edward Flanagan, a murderer from Page
county serving a twelve-year sentence at
the Fort Madison penitentiary, was pardoned
by the governor that he might go home to
die. Three years ago Flanagan was a
wealthy and highly respected farmer OF rage
county. While collecting rents one day from
a tenant on one of his numerous farms ne
became involved in a quarrel with the ten
ant and his wife over a difference in the
amount due him, which was only a few dol
lars. In the alteration Flanagan drew his
revolver and shot both the man and his
wife. The husband died from the effects Of
the wound, but the woman recovered. Elan
nigan was tried by a jury in Page county
and found guilty and sentenced to the pen
i~tentiary at Fort Madison for a term Of
twelve years at hard labor. He has served
three years of his sentence and during that
time has been slowly dying from cancer in
the face. He presents a horrible appearance,
nearly his entire face being eaten away, SO
that 1t is almost impossible for him to talk.
Influential friends interested themselves in
his behalf and secured his pardon from Gov
ernor Shaw. 1t is hardly thought that he
can live longer than a month and he was
allowed to go home so he might die among
friends.
The executive office was notified Tuesday
OF the fact that George Trout, who was par
doned by the Iowa state Legislature in 1896
while serving a life sentence for murder, Is
serving a sentence for murder in the peni-
Tertiary OF New Mexico. Trout was sent up
from Sioux City in 1886 for the murder of
Ed Hatch, April IS, 1896. The Iowa legisla-
ture to Governor Drake that
the man be pardoned on account of ill
health. He was lost track of then, but when
he left Des Moines after ais release he
swore ne would observe the conditions Of
his pardon. Whether or not he can be
brought back here and reincarcerated ia
not known, as the question has never been
tested.
The State Association OF Opticians adj
journed their annual convention today after
electing the following officers: President,
II. +. Holmes, Des Moines; vice president,
G. A. Cole, Winterset; secretary, ]. C. Clark,
Sioux City; treasurer, Ezra Nukols, Eldora.
The feature of the day was an address bv
DR.. Mccormack of Chicago, who condemned
the attitude taken by physicians toward OBJ
ticians and said that physicians had no bust
ness attempting treatment Of the eye.
The Chicago, Burlington e Quincy and the
keokuk G. Western today completed arrange
ments for running into the union depot and
they Will start to use that station within
the coming month.
S. j. Ellison of this city was today ap-
pointed general passenger agent of the
Great Northern in New York City, and left
for his new post tonight.