Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
TEACHERS FLOCK TO CAPITAL
Some Dissatisfaction Expressed Over made
quate Meeting Places.
DECISION ON MUTUAL INSURANCE
Lewis smith, Convicted at AvOcR on
Murder Charge, Ap~peals-stste
Institutions short of
Coal.
From a STAN Correspondent)

(FTom a Stan Correspondent
DIES MONIES, Ia, Dec. 30.-(Special.)-
The annual state convention OF the teachers
of Iowa commenced today. The first ses-
sion was a business, meeting of the educa-
tional council to arrange details for the
meeting tomorrow, when the council will
take up two leading subjects to prepare a
report for presentation TO the state asso-
citation. The first meeting Of the ~associa-
tion proper will be held tomorrow evening.
1t is expected that James T. Gray, county
superintendent Of Grundy county, will be
made president OF the association. Some
effort is being made to have the next meet
ing Of the association taken to some other
city next year owing to the fact that the
association is compelled to meet this year
in the churches OF Des Moines. A meeting
OF the Iowa Academy Of Science was begun
this afternoon in the offices Of the State
Geological society in the state capitol and
various papers were read.
A banquet and reunion Of the alumni of
Iowa college was held this evening in
Plymouth church.
1t is expected that about 1000 teachers
will attend the meetings during the week,
and the enrolment started off we'll today.
Decision on Insurance.
Attorney General Mullan rendered an
opinion this afternoon to the state auditor
in the matter of the fees and charged
which may be imposed on applicants for in
surance from mutual insurance associa-
lions organized under the Iowa laws. He
decides that the law permits changes TO
be made for policy and survey fees and for
no others; that the custom Of some of the
companies Of making various other charges
which the applicants for insurance are re,
CURED to pay is illegal in Iowa. This de,
cision affects several companies doing bust
ness here.
Murder Case Appealed.
Lewis Smith OF Avoca, who last Septem>
Der shot and killed Charles Edwards in
a quarrel following a game Of craps at the
Depot at Avoca, has appealed to the SUI
preme court for another trial. Both men
were colored and they were with an I'm,
Identified white man. No one was present
when the shot was fred which caused
death, but there was an abundance Of cir.
cumstantial evidence. Smith was sentenced
to fifteen years for murder in the first de.
gree, and the supreme court is asked TO
declare that there was at least not sum-
cient evidence to convict of murder in the
first degree. =
N. J. Higgins, who was convicted at
council Bluffs Of adultery. has also APP
pealed to the supreme court, and in this
case arises a question of jurisdiction Of the
courts at Avoca and Council Bluffs.
,, Big Suit for DsmaEes.
Suit was commenced In the district court
today for $4,000 damages by the Welsbsch
Light company against the Capitol ManteI
company for infringement Of the Welsbach
patents in the making of gas manteis. The
capitol company has recently acquired the
business being run by a small concern
mere at the head OF which is a man who
Grains tnat he has been making gas mantels
since long before the Welsbach patents
were issued. The method of manufacture
is the same. but he makes a claim which
II sustained, will practically annul the
Welsbach patents.
Coal mt State Institutions,
There has been some trouble over secur-
Ing coal at the various state institutions
but Judges Robinson and Kinne returned
today from Cherokee, independence. Glen
WOOD and Clarinda and reported that ar
rangements had been made by which coal
VIII be furnished promptly to those insti-
tutlons' AT the Soldiers home at Mar
shalltown there has been trouble, owing TO
the railroad strike. The dipsomaniac COLONY
S-ANAcN ohu OIutTly anu no 6S-
capes are reported. There were sixty-two
In the ward at the time of the visit of
Judge Robinson.
Honor. n Retiring Judge.
A banquet and reception were rendered
Judge A. w. Wilkinson at winterset this
evening, attorneys and others attending
from other parts Of the Fifth judicial dis
trict. Judge Nichols. who is to succeed
Judge Wilkinson, attended. He begins his
first term of court at Greenfield next Mon
day.
Governor Cummins has not yet appointed
a judge Of the district court in this county
to succeed the late C. p. Holmes. The
contest is simmering down to three or four
persons. but the governor is having a hard
time making a selection.
Reduced Walkers Bonds.
Judge Prouty in the district court today
reduced the bonds Of John Walker, col
ored, from $1,000 to $1,000. Walker has
been held in jail six months for trial in a
small. damp cell and his health is i'm I
paired. He was indicted with Harry Le-
vich for the murder OF Isaac FinkeIsteip.
Levieh was acquitted and Walker has been
held awaiting some new evidence. He will
be able to secure the bond required and
will be released from custody.
AnnEAI n nAnE nE ONn--.--i