Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-11
MORALS IMPROVING
Lncas County is Getting to be Very
Good.
COURT DOCKET PROVES ASSERTION

0ol 0SvST SFtmtndt Eases TOT rial
This Term-Farmers Start Move for
Rural TeIephone-church at Russell
Is Dedicated.
Charlton, Feb. 10.-The moral char
acter of Lucas county seems to be
growing much better if the criminal
records and the court calendar may be
taken as an Indication. There are
but seven criminal cases on the court
calendar for this term of court and
none Of them will COME to trial, while
there is not single case on the dock
cts of the justices courts which will
require the attention Of the grand jury
none being bound ove1, and unless they
take up the liquor cA.ses there will be
no business for them this term. The
county jail was empty of prisoners Sat
uYday, evening for the first time in
many years and but for the reception
of two Weary WiAiies Sunday evening
it would still be empty, the last pris-
oner who was serving q twenty days
sentence being released on Friday
There have been fewer arrests the
past month than for the same length
of time in rAany years and most of
them have been for slight offenses
which email fine settled. There is
nothing TO come up this term Of court
and thgS attorneys of the county are
thinking seriously of looking up other
locations for lack of business here.
Rural Telephones.
The rural telephone companies of
lucas county are endeavoring to get
together and form farmers exchange
for the benefit of their members. LII
cas- county is perhaps better supplied
with telephones than any other county
in the state. There are fourteen rural
lines besides the Charlton Telephone
Co. Heretofore they have all run into
Charlton and secured connections with
each other and other cities through the
central office Of the Charlton Tele-
phone Co., which has charged them a
small toll fee for the privilege. They
are now endeavoring to establish a
central Office Of their own and with
that object in view have perfected an
organization with o. f. Brownlee of
English, as president and c. c. Burr
OF Harmony, as secretary. There was
an executive committee of one from
each of the fourteen lines appointed
and they met in Charlton on Saturday.
Plans were discussed for the better
ment Of their condition and though no
definite agreement was reached as to
the establishment of farmers central
Office it is understood that they sue
ceeded in securing free exchange
among themselves and that the ques-
ton of putting in a central Office will
be discussed later. It is very probable
however, that they will secure further
concessions from the Charlton central
Office which will obviate the necessity
of such a movement.
Church Dedicated.
The new $4,000 Christian church of
Russell, which was to have been dedi-
Gated some weeks ago but which was
postponedts,pn account or the smallpox
scare, was dedicated Sunday by Rev.
A. M. Haggard, of Des Moines, assist
ed by Rev. w. J. Hastie, of Charlton,
and Rev. ]. L. Johnson, the pastor The
dedicatory services lasted all day and
were we'll attended by the people of
Russell and vicinity. The church is a
handsome and modern frame building
and Rev. Johnson deserves much cred
1t for his work and he is able to dedi-
cate 1t with the entire Indebtedness
provided for. Quite number of the
Charlton congregation, with most of
the church choir, drove down in bob
sleds and sleighs and assisted in the
exercises which were interesting and
impressive. Though less than 1000
Inhabitants the little town of Russell
can now boast of one of the finest
church buildings in the state. Rev.
Haggard's dedicatory sermon was a
most eloquent and scholarly discourse
and made deep impression on the
minds and hearts of his hearers. The
other churches of the town united with
them and helped make most success
full meeting.
Des Moines Divine breaches.
Rev. G. s. Denny, of Des Moines, was
spending the day with Charlton friends
on Sunday, and in the absence of Rev.
HASTE he filled the pulpit at the Chris
tian church Sunday morning. Rev.
Denny is a most pleasing and facinat-
ing talker and his talk was greatly APP
preciated by those present who were
both entertained and enlightened by
his clear, able explanation of the Cos
pSi' i1SoioOo pCll6 q S3OOb teiLhSi WV
Denny is most pleasing singer and
he favored the congregation with a
solo at both the morning and evening
services. His rich baritone voice is
under perfect command and the songs
did much toward increasing the inter
est of his talk.
Special Services.
Wednesday. Feb. -, is Ash Wednes-
day, or the beginning of Lent and
there will be special services com
memorating our Saviours forty days
in the wilderness at the Episcopal
church both morning and evening.
Other services of the Lenten season
will beSsannounced by the pastor at
these ices Wednesday.
.ngent Smallpox Measures.
is. ]. A. McKlreene, Chariton's
member of the state board of health,
has returned from a recent meeting of
1,-s -,