Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-19
SIGNS THE ELKTNS PAROLE
Boy Murderer from Clayton County Will
Leave Penitentiary Saturday.
TRACING CLUES N PETERSON MURDER
Nebraska state Auditor Seeking
Figures on Iowa Railroad Valua-
ton for Use I'm Making Ne
braska Assessments.
cFrom a stan correspondent

(Erom a Stan correspondent
DIES MONIES, April 1s.-(special)-
Governor Cummins today signed the parole
papers which will give Wesley Elkins. the
boy murderer OF Clayton county. his free
dom next Saturday. The legislature had
recommended the parole and partially
fixed the conditions on which 1t shall be
granted. He is to remain on parole ten
years before he can be granted a full
pardon. The governor has provided also
that he shall not at any time return 10
visit either Clayton county, where his
crime was committed, or any of the ad-
joining counties. Elkins, when he was IL
years old. murdered his father and step
mother, after planning for 1t some time,
and for some time concealed the fact. but
finally confessed. He has served twelve
years in prison and has become a we'll ed
ucated young man of brilliant intellectual
~attainments Prof. Harlan of Cornell col
lege, Mt. Vernon, has agreed that he shall
go into the college and complete his
studies, and a group Of men interested In
him has entered into an agreement to look
after him for the period Of his parole.
The governor will also issue the paroles
for Otto often of Pocahontas county, and
John Ballew of Webster county next Sat-
urday. often has learned a good trade and
viii tLudiu n OIhHd IL Oub d Lut ldCN-
cries at Fort Madison. while Ballew Will
go to Sioux City, where he is promised
employment. The other paroles recon-
mended by the legislature have not yet
been issued, but will be as soon as the
papers can be prepared.
Judge Wolfe, in district court at Dav-
IMPORT, has Just sentenced to imprison-
ment for seventeen years one who is known
to have been concerned in something like
a dozen forgeries the past twenty years
on which he had secured manv thousand
dollars. He operated chiefly in Indiana.
where he was known as DR.. jackson B.
Thomas, but his real name appears to be
s. r. Beasley. In all his forgeries he had
never been convicted but twice. He is now
IS years old.
Clues I'm Peterson Case.
veloped in regard to the Peterson murders
today. but this evening the detectives at
work on the case-profess to be greatly en-
couraged by several minor clues which thew
have worked out. They are engaged In
tracing the whereabouts Of all persons who
have left the city this week and especially
three who have left Highland Park.
Securing Comparative Statistics.
G. D. Bennett, revenue clerk in the office
Of the state auditor OF Nebraska, spent the
day in Des Moines making investigation of
the reports Of the railroads with reference
to value Of property in Iowa and other
states for the use of the state board in
making the annual assessment in Nebraska.
Not all of the railroad reports have yet
been received in Iowa, as the law was
changed so that ne assessment is made in
July instead OF in March, as heretofore.
Iowa Grain Dealers.
Preparations are being made for the an
nual convention of the Iowa grain dealers
In this city, April 24-5. The state associa-
tion has been in existence only a few years,
but is quite strong and active. Among the
papers to be presented are History of
Weights" II. A.. Foss, chief weighmaster,
Chicago; Terminal Methods George A.
Stebbins, secretary national association; the
reports OF President j. A. King and Secre-
tary @. A. Wells, and there will be an ad-
dress by Mayor Brenton. The Des Moines
| Cereal club will furnish the entertainment.
Relieved of Taxes.
The Board of Supervisors Of Dallas county
= has just issued an order relieving from
taxes a quarter section of valuable farm
land in Dallas county which belongs TO the
Christian Orphans Home of Council Bluffs.
The land was left by will of Abraham
Bonner Of Dallas county to the home so
long as 1t shall remain a non-sectarian in
stitution. The board was asked to relieve
the land Of taxes, and a committee was ap-
pointed to investigate the Council Bluffs
institution and on a favorable report the
board made the order indicated above,
Appealed Election Case.
An interesting election case has been APP
pealed to the supreme court from Johnson
county. though there is no title to an once
involved in the case. The republican county
committee forgot to file the nomination pa
pers In the time specified by law and at
tempted twice to file them afterwards, but
the county auditor, being a democrat, they
were refused. Finally the district court heard