Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-12


which had carried a general stock of
dry goods. groceries, boots and shoes,
and articles OF that nature, but the
firm had ceased to do business a year
before the inquiry was made. No reg
istered letter had been sent by that firm
during the two years specified. The po-
liceman examined had been member
of the police force for four years, and
during that time had been employed
somewhat in detective work. He had
made Investigations, lasting a week,
thru the postotfice, mail carriers, the
freight and express Offices and mem
bers Of the police department, and had
Investigated all junk dealing and up
holstering shops and all places where
purchases Of sole leather, hair rope or
sand paper would be apt to be made,
but without finding any trace OF any
shipment made by Stone to Burlington.
Our Investigations were pursued
wherever 1t seemed proha Bile that infor-
matter relevant to the subject Of In
hquiry might be obtained and were as
exhaustive as they could reasonably be
made.
The charges Of the News. except as
ito the admitted shipment of leather and
hair to Des Moines, rest almost wholly
on the statements of Valid. He states
that he was sent to the hospital at
| Mount Pleasant to be cured of the
opium hal bit. His testimony is in many
respects self-ccntradictory and unrea-
sonable and Is contradicted in many inn
5portant particulars by numerous credi-
BILE witnesses. There can be no rea SON
ss able doGbt that when his testimony is
not corroborated by other evidence it is
without any value whatev "a
In our opinion the first wrong com
nitted by Stone in the matter invssti-
gated was in listening and agreeing to
f the propositions of Naid to enter into
4 an agreement for appropriating prop
;. erty Of the state for their own benefit,
4 and that his second wrong was his at
1 tempt to carry out the agreement. We
do not find any evidence which shows
H or tends to show any conspiracy to
D jWrcngfully appropriate the property of
1.-THE state except the suspected conspir-
L acy of 1895, nor that any property had
been so appropriated except that sent
3 by Stone to Vaid as stated.
THE apparent shortage of about ten
I, pounds of leather and four pounds of
q hair rope may not have existed in fact
II for the reason that the quantity o!
leather used for making and repairing
shoes and the quantity OF. hair used fol
making and repairing mattresses an6
1.-THE unavoida Bile wastage could be de-
II termined only with approximate accu-
81 racy.
n The evidence fails to show that tht
. fire which destroyed the industria
y, building was of incenalary origin and il
ii was incendiary no reason is showr
flor concluding that it was caused BY
Stone.
= The property sent by Stone to Nait
aiihas been returned to the state, as al
: ready stated, and 50 far as We ars abl
T to determine the pecuniary injury t,
e the state due to Stones wrongful acts
exclusive of the time of officers ans
4 employees required by the investigation
consists of the expense of the investiga
!. ton and the cost Of reclaiming tn
s property, or total of about $40.
: 1T is proper to add that we hav
caused copy of the testimony .
III Hamilton, Hardin and Vaid to be fur
: Il nished the county attorney of Henr.
8 county and have fully Informed him 0
the wrongful acts of Stone. so far a
: they are known to US. and have direct
!, ed superintendent Hoyt to furnish hin
all information within his power in re
:. gard to such acts. The testimony of al
!, !. witnesses was given under oath an
:. was taken down in shorthand by re
porters, who We're first sworn to tax
down and transcribe correctly the tes
sI timony which should be given. TIL
Z shorthand notes and certified transla
ton of them are now on file in the OF
+ flee Of the secretary Of this board Th
: letters OF Stone to Vaid We're delivere
by Mr.. Cownie to the grand jury 6
4 i Henry county.
4 And on this 11th day of October. I
4 / D. 1900, the board of control of state IN
Z stitutions directs that this be signed b
e its chairman and attached by its SCI
4 retary with its seal affixed and file
It with the governor OF the state as its n
& port to him OF the investigation Of tt
e charges to which reference is therei
I, made. All Of which Is accordingl
n done.
o tine Board Of Control Of State Inst
" tutions by
;e 81. q. KINNE. chairmaa.
q Attest: =. 9. Treat. seczetary.