Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-07
RESUME OF WORK.
Judge Roberts on the Bench-He
Kept Matters Moving.
MANY INDICTMENTS ARE WORTHLESS
Error in Drawing the Grand Jury
Causes Much Confusion and NulIify's
Work of That Body-But Few Jury
Trials During the Term.

iTais Dur,ng the Term.
The January term of the Wapello
county district court transacted vast
amount of business. Judge NJ A.
Roberts was on the bench, and it was
thru his energy that so many cases
were disposed of. The court opened
January Z and continued until Satur.
day, March 2, when it was dismissed
for the term
The grand and petit Jurors reported
January Ia. A large number of in.
dictments were returned by the grand
jury, of which number, however, near
ly all were found to be worthless on
account of an unfortunate error in Sc
lecting the jury. Below is found a
resume of business transacted on the
law, state, and chancery dockets dur
Ing the term. This does not include
the probate business of which a great
many cases were disposed of, and in
fact the Comstock will case, which is
under this head, took up the greater
portion of the courts time for the en-
tire term.
State Cases.
State Of Iowa VS.. Van Ross, indicted
on the charge of assault with intent
to inflict great bodily injury. January
81 arraigned B. w. Scott, appointed
by the court to defend. January 90
pleaded not guilty. February IA
withdraws plea of not guilty and
pleaded guilty. Defendant released on
mis- own bond.
state OF Iowa VS.. j, A. Billings, in.
aicted on the charge of assault with
intent to infiict great bodily injury
{ January 81 arraigned. W. W. Epps
appointed to defend. January rs de.
fendent pleaded not guilty. February
20 case was dismissed by county at.
torney.
State of Iowa VS.. James Mcclure
John Clark and John Connors, indict.
ed on the charge of larceny from a
store. January 81 arraigned. Captain
w. H. G. jacques appointed to defend
Defendants plead not guilty Febru
ary IA Mcguire withdrew plea of not
guilty and pleaded guilty and sentenc.
ed to so days in the county Jail. The
cases against Clark and Connors were
dismissed by the county attorney.
State of Iowa VS.. VIM. Russell and
IhhShOhy " iHllCISu vi Liz
charge of robbery January q ar
. raigned. January 90 pleaded not gull
ty. February Is, jury empaneled
February 20 jury returned verdict OF
not guilty and defendant discharged
State of Iowa VS.. P. F. Kriedler, in.
dicted on the charge of larceny from
a building. January %, defendant ar
raighed. c. W. Whitmore appointed
to defend. January 26, pleaded not
guilty. January % sentenced to SO
days in county jail
State of Iowa VS.. Robert Thomas, in
dicted on the charge of keeping q
gambling house. January %, arraign
ed. January 80 pleaded guilty, and
fined $3.50 or SO days in county Jail
February rs fine reduced to $40
State of Iowa VS.. Vim. Maring, in
dicted on the charge of assault with
intent to inflict great bodily injury
January 28, waived examination. Feb
ruary z, pleaded not guilty. Febru
airy 90, Jury empaneled. February 81
jury returned verdict of not guilty and
defendant discharged
State of Iowa VS.. Phillip Beehler, in
dicted on the charge of aiding prison
ers to escape from the Eddyyille Jail
!, January 20, waived examination. Feb
ruary 2 pleaded guilty, fined $40 ant
costs or six days in Jail.
State of Iowa VS.. James Morgan, in
: dicted on the charge of passing a forg
ed check; January 80 arraigned; c
w. Whitmore appointed to defend
January 81 pleaded not guilty. Febru
airy IL withdrew plea of not guilty an6
entered plea of guilty. February IL
!. sentenced to three years in the peni
! Tertiary.
State of Iowa VS.. Fritz Beck, indict
+, ed on charge of larceny from 6
building. January 80 arraigned, L.. c
Hendershott appointed to defend; Jan
uary 81 pleaded not guilty; Februar,
20 after jury had been empaneled de
PENDANT withdrew plea of not guilty
and entered plea of guilty, and sen
fenced to 80 days in the county Jail.
State of Iowa VS.. Sam King indict
ed on the charge of burglary. Janu
airy 81, arraigned: |. H. TomlinsoI
appointed to defend February /
pleaded not guilty. February Ia with
drew pea of not guilty and entered
plea of guilty. Sentenced to two
years in the penitentiary. February
IS, second charge of burglary dis
missed,
State of Iowa VS.. Iowa, ex rel, Mosei
O'Connor VS., Ollie O'Connor, applica
ton to send defendant to reform
school. February the court find!
that the allegations in information
that Ollie O'Connor stole harness il
true and ordered that he be sent tt
the reform school at Eldora.
State of Iowa VS.. DR.. Levi ,Loar, in
dicted on the charge Of murder in thu
second degree. February IL defend
ant arraigned. February IA, pleade,
5 not guilty. February Is, bond reduc
ed to $4,000.
State of Iowa VS.. John r. Kane, in
dicted on the charge Of perjury Feb
ruary 10, defendant aTaigned Feb
rnaly Is, pleaded not gui ty
State Of Iowa VS., Fred CRUDE, iudict