Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-06
.PAI GROVE IN IOWA.
Circumstances Indicate That the
Notorious Criminal is Really
In This State.
Believed to Have Been Con-
nected With the Manila Ex-
press Robbery.
Workings Of the Parole System
Among Convicts--Letter from
Gen. Prime.
pecial to Times Ren,bliran


Special to Times Republican.
Des Mcines. March 6.-The fact that
the Omaha authorities have received an
authentic letter from Pat Grove, which
was mailed in Denison, Iowa, on the
ID of this month. which letter has been
fully identified az in the handwriting of
Grove, again creates some interest in
the Omaha kidnapping ard the connec-
ton OF Pat Grove and his gang of crim-
inal associates herewith. There has
rot before been any positive evidence
that Pat Grove has beer in Iowa since
the Kidnapping incident Since the w a.
terioo fake story there has been less in
terest in the matter The Des Moines
authorities have been keeping track of
the Grove matter as far as iI,ossi bic, bur
have had nothing OF interest. 1t is now
we'll known that Grove was connected
with large gang of thieves and rob
lpers who operated in eastern Nebra aka
and western Iowa in several counties
along the Missouri river There has new
er been produced any positive evidence
that Grove had anything 10 do with
tht. Cudahy case. but there IS known 10
be evidence that he was connected with
the gang that had a hand in it. The
fact that Crows was in Crawford coun-
ty this month leads some persons TO be-
.leve lie has been in that part OF the
state for some time and it raises a sus-
picion that he was connected also with
the gang that stole the express box al
Manila and made use of the cash con-
stained therein.
The newspapers Of the state have re-
Gently contained news items relating 10
the escape Of prisoners from Jail or
from tie custody of officials, and !, is "a
ianentable fact that very year there
are anumber a nf persons in the state.
Who thus escape punishment. NJ s.
Richards pardon clerk in The state ex-
|ecutive Office, has theory in regard to
this matter which has merits. He would
have, especially in the larger ceun ties
fof the state, two sheriffss elected by the
ipeople, one to attend to the ciyil busi-
ness and the other to give attention ex-
cluSively to the criminal business II
IS my observations he aid That
sheriff will usually turn his aitent.fr 10
one or the other branches II his ,usi-
mes and become especially good in the
enc while 70 senle extent negl-ctfng the
othr. It israre 10 find sheriff who iss
good in both the criminal and eiyiI
branches Of his business and WHO gives
both the Very best attention There are
such and they ought 10 be kept in office
but usually. as 7 have said, a sheriff
turns 70 one or the other. In the larger
counties. where there are large cities
the criminal business alone is enough To-
keep one man busy all the time. He
should be selected With A view TO hand
ling the criminal business and he should
be given 70 understand that he is re-
ronsib.e for that and nothing else. The
civil business is what pays the best, and
in the large counties the sheriffsaare too
apt to give their attention almost ex-
clusively 10 that and neglect the Grim
inal work
The capsureaof i Woodbury. county
man who had violated his pnrole and
escapet; from the sheriff after he had
been arrested to serve out his time, IL
Illustrates i, workings of the parole sys-
tenn. This man was hard character
and his parole Nas in fact, not de-
served. but II was granted on the rec
concentration Of most OF the good citi-
zens Of Smithand. the town where he
committed his crime He Mas NOT par
doned, but let out On parole He lived
up to he requirements fer some months
and thsn commenced to drink and car
ouse and TO make himself obnoxieus He
was ORC cred sent back and al the time
he was arrested he Ms trying tossecure
signatures 10 a petition for ,irlsondi-
tional pardon. Now he will serve cut
his time. There are 4 great many par
oled persans in the state Who make
regular reports TO the governor. Some
of them have been making such reports
a long time. Usually. after one has re- 4
ported some time ard has demonstrated
his ability TO live an upright life a par
don is granted. The other day a pardon
was granted man who is now holding
the position of assistant attorney in an
eastern city and who was out on pa
role. He has abundanty proved his
right to pardon The parole system.
a.tho not a part Of the system author
lied by law originally in Iowa has long
been in vogue. Governor Kirk wood was
first to try it. He issued parole 10 a
certain Dick Arthur from Fayette coun-
~ who subsequently, went wrong.
Fayette county people complained that
it had cost them u good deal to get him
into the pcnitentiary and that ii would
cost more Ia get him back again. Gov
ernor Nrkweod assured them 1t
cost anything. Heordered the
ran arrested He was arrested and
judge promptly released him on habeas
corpus proceedings on the theory that
70 person could be sent to the peniten-
tiary under the Iowa constitution save
upon Indictment by a grand jury and
conviction in court. In the meantime
Newbold had become governor of Iowa.
He ordered the attorney general to ap-
peal the case and the Iowa supreme
court decided in favor Of the governor.
From that time on Iowa governors have
exercised the right to give conditionali
release from prison as well as to make
rardons The parole system works well,
ir general. tho of course there are ex-
ceptions.
Soon after the election" writes Gen.
John r. Prime from Pasig, P. l., there
vas considerable activity in the field
over here, but there has been very little