Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-21
Western Union Refuses to Pay It's
Taxes.
CLAIMS BURLINGTON OWNS THE LINE
Sheriff Serves Execution on Latter
and Case Will Be Decided in Dis
trict Court-Conductor Falls From
Train and Is Injured.


years taxes from the Western Union
company. The companys |
taxes as assessed by the county
amounted to about $137.6O and they
have not yet been paid County Treas
urer Culbertson, who is anxious to col
lect all the taxes due the comfy so as
as possible to his successor, gave the
sheriff tax execution to levy upon the |
property of the company in the county.
He proceeded to the Office of the West
ern Union Telegraph Office at the de-
pot and the manager of the office there
informed him that the company had
no property in Lucas county and that
the poles, wires and instruments We're
owned by the c., B. & @. R. R. COM
pany. The sheriff went to the agent
for the railroad company here who adj
mitted that the line was owned by the
c., B. G O., but the company claimed
the taxes were included by the exc
cutive council in their value per mile.
The county treasurer wrote to the gov
ernor who informed him that this was
a mistake. The sheriff was then given
an execution and he garnisheed the
agent of the railroad company as sup
posed debtors Of the Western Union
Telegraph company. The case will
probably come up in the December
term OF court when it will be decided
whether the county is entitled to any
taxes or not. The telegraph company
claims that having no realty in the
county they are not liable to taxation
while the county claims they are liable
for taxation on their business transact
ed the same as the Adams Express
company, which is assessed at a given
amount per mile. So far as known
this is the first case ever begun against
the telegraph company for the collec-
ton of taxes and will probably be TAX
en- through all the courts as a test
case. The county claims that it will
collect the taxes in any event. If
the telegraph company is not liable
then they will attempt to collect the
$137.60 from the c., B. & @. company.
Conductor Injured.
George R. Bryan, conductor on the
Charlton and Indianola passenger is
cident on Wednesday. He was COM
ing down from Indianola on his regular
run, when near Lacona he went out on
IluG W De ISduy W dIISHu W
his work at the station and when
rounding a turn in the road his foot
slipped and threw him off the train
which was running about twenty-five
miles an hour He lit on his side and
his shoulder was dislocated, his arm
broken, and he was bruised up in 9th
er parts of the body. He is getting
along as well as could be expected.
Odd Fellows at Osceola.
About twenty-five of the local Odd
Fellows, including the second degree
team, went down to Osceola on Tues,
day to attend the dedication of the new
Odd Fellows hall at that place. There
were Odd Fellows from all parts of the
state present and several lodges were
picked out to eXemplify the secret
work of the order after the exercises
: The Charlton lodge was assigned the
second degree work and had been drill
ing for three weeks to make present
able appearance and judging from re
ports they We're eminently successful
as words of praise were heard on al
sides for their excellent work. All the
;. members of the Charlton lodge report
most enjoyable time both at the dedi
cation and at the banquet following.
An Active Candidate.
Lucas county has an active candidate
for the position of chief clerk in thu
house of Representatives of the mex
) state legislature, in the person of
C. Seward of Charlton. Mr.. Seward
was defeated for the nomination b.
only a small majority in count.
where third terms are very unpopular
He has attended all the state con
ventions for the past few years ant
has a large acquaintance among tn
republicans of the state. He has re
ceived encouraging letters from man.
representatives elect and will be
FORMIDABLE candidate when the legislat
: ure meets.
Last Day for Filing.
, The December term of district cour
: will convene here Monday, Decembe
, .. Today, November 81, is the las
: day for filing notices for this term an
! unless many new cases develop ther
:, will not be an unusually large docke
:, and not anything of particular inter
;, est aside from the murder case. TIL
: trial Jurors drawn are Ed Stuart Ell
!, glish township; Mike Carmody, Wasl
: ington; j. D. Clarke, Jackson; S. 4
: Bingmen, Pleasant; w. J. Burgett, L
= berty; Gus Johnson, Whitebreast; /
r.. Amberbling, Benton; E. C. Mu
= ray, Jackson; e. II. Badger, Lincoln
y H. H. Wishart, Pleasant; Zack Curtis
u Otter Creek; w. A. Wilson, Pleasant
IC. L. Drake, Cedar; H. B. Blanchard
Charlton; E. R. Nickel, Chariton v
J. Marshall, Washington; e. D. Vier
:. Charlton; Ed. Perry, Charlton; M. \
!" Prather, Cedar, and A. d. Mitchell
Jackson.
r Other Happenings.
le Tuesday was pay day on the Blu
al lington road at Charlton and the raj
" road boys especially the trainme
j. were made happy by the size of the
at checks, which were somewhat large
ip than usual on account of the heay
~ business.
lie Hon. j. c. Mitchell, of Ottumwa, 70
is merly a resident of this place, w;
is shaking hands with some of his o
v. friends in Charlton on Wednesday.
es Rev. w. w. Written, of the st. A
TX drews Episcopal church of this plac
d. has returned from a few days Wis
IN with friends in OttImWa