Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-14
LOCAL COMMENT.


THIS does not nave depressing effect on
the values of farm lands. Recently sew
eral Illinois farmers have been in this
county seeking farms, and they had the |
cash and We're ready to pay good prices.
One farmer residing a few miles north |
of the city was offered $S5 per acre for
an eighty acre farm that cost him $50 a !
few years ago. This would have netted
him clean profit of $4,000 on his in
svestment, above the returns he had re-
ceived from the land during his owner
ship, but the offer was refused. The
same party made the same offer to an
adjoining farmer for land not con-
sidered so good, and this was also re-
fused. The Illinois men had sold their
land for fancy prices, and when they
came to Iowa to investigate they found
the crops in Marshall county in such
splendid condition that they desired to
locate here.
General regret is expressed by the
county officials because Harry Flint. the |
runaway witness in the Gray murder
case, could not receive a more severe
sentence than one day N jail and fifteen
days in addition thereto 10 serve out his
$50 fine. His arrest and sentence after
eight months ought to be lesson to
others that it doesn't pay to run away
from a court of justice. even If only q
witness therein. Had Flint remained in
the city and testified during the trial 1t
is probable Marshall county would have
been saved hundreds Of dollars. There
Is fair prospect that Gray VIII be
granted new trial by the supreme
court, while had Flint's testimony been
presented the states case would have
been so strengthened that no appeal
| would have been taken by the defense.
Since Messrs. Harris and MCGUIRE
| ceased TO pull together on the Council!
they have been pulling hard in opposite
| directions, and when the fight for and
against the creation OF q fifth ward came
| on both sides claimed there was politics
| in the other fellows actions. Be that
as 1t may, the city was bound to have
| an additional ward in the near future,
because there is now more or less ne
| cessity for it. and its establishment now
lis reasonable and just. The people on
| the south side demanded 1t and their
1 demands are entitled to consideration
| and approval. The item of additional.
expense is not great IL the people are
careful in selecting men OF good bust
ness qualifications for the council. The
added expense for one more election
board and ore registration board Will
not amount to 5000 per year. and both
the voting and the counting of votes
4 will be facilitated. The division VIII
1 give the diversified interests of the big
| Fourth ward a better opportunity for
equal representation on the city council.
| AS for the Third ward. 1t would nave
been better if more territory could have
| been subtracted therefrom and added
4 to the new ward. AS it is a demand VIII
come some day for sixth ward over in
the western part of the city, unless the
residents of the recently annexed terri
tory succeed In their efforts to secure
divorce from the city.
This is the way the Oskaloosa Her
| aids funny man views the action of
the council in establishing a fifth ward:
..Marshalltown has finally reached the
stake Oskaloosa set fifteen years ago.
She has just divided the city into five
wards. Oskaloosa people have long
been considering the advisabilty of es-
| tablishing sixth ward, but they did
not want to leave Marshalltown too far
behind. The action will now be in
order"
The outcome of the suit brought
against DIR. Devine by one Shultz In
being dismissed without trial and
plaintiff Shultz paying the costs, altho
4 expected by everyone acquainted with
the parties implicated, demonstrates
the ease with which the American
court can be used for wrongful pur-
poses. In this case the complaining
patient had been examined by other
surgeons who were ready to testify to
DR.. Devine's skillful treatment and the
doctor was determined to push the
1 case to trial. Upon visit to the pa
tents house, however, a member of the
family said to the doctor: Why!
didn't Bradford see you? He said he
would and try to get some kind of a
settlement In u few days the plain
tiff's attorney, I. Bradford, dismissed
the case and his client paid the costs.
The nature of the suit, the careless
remark of the patients father and
i the final outcome all supported the
doctors conviction that an attempt was
being made by an interruptions lawyer
to hold him up. Most any physician
i would De scared III Tic prospect VI Il
damage suit, but DR.. Devine was Of the
fighting kind. It's unfortunate that
suits can be recklessly brought by
lawyers of this color. with no attendant
I punishment for the mischief maker
other than the payment of, few costs
which probably come out Of the pock-
cts Of his tool of client.
The articles Of Incorporation for the
Lady Calhoun Mining Company re-
Gently flied in this county include the
names OF several of Marshalltown's
most reputable business men. The
majority Of these men are conducting
. successful business enterprises in this
city today and II collectively they fol-
low as wise a course as most OF them
! have individually the Lady Calhoun
mining venture ought 70 tiss 70 success.