Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-24
Prisoner in Poweshiek County
Court Makes a Dramatic
Speech
THE JUDGE AND JURY IN TEARS
Il. o. Tower Convicted Of Horse Steal
ing Sentenced to Two and Half Years
in the Penetentiary-Makes Touch
ing Talk Before Hearing His Doom
Probably Confidence Man.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Montezuma, Sept. 24.-At $3.50 o'clock
this morning Judge Dewey sentenced
H. O. Tower, the horse thief to two and
a half years in the Anamosa peniten-
tiary. 1t was the climax of one Of the
most dramatic incidents in the history
Of court proceedings in Poweshiek
county. Ingersoll himself could not
have swayed his hearers as Tower did
in a speech to the court in reply to the
judges inquiry whether the prisoner
had anything to say why sentence
should not be pronounced. The dramat-
ic interest was intensified by the fact
that no one believed the orators story.
Notwithstanding this fact scarcely a
dry eye was visible in the court room
while Tower was talking, while stern,
kind old Judge Dewey was conyulsed
with emotion. Towers address was
pronounced the finest ever heard here
and the court said, in speaking of the
incident, that he had never in his eleven
to finer language or more eloquent de-
livery. It would be impossible to por-
tray in dispatch the intensity of the
occasion. Tower was brought into
the court room at 8 o'clock this morn
ing to receive sentence, having pleaded
guilty Saturday of the crime of stealing
a horse and buggy from j. b. Harden. a
liveryman of this city. The court room
was packed, for 1t had been rumored
that the prisoner would have something
important to say before receiving his
sentence. When foyer arose hush
fell over the court hoom that was al
most painful in its Hstensity and every
head was inclined totsatch the words of
the speaker. The prisoner declared his
life had been wrecked by the use of
morphine and that he was glad he had
been apprehended when he was, for he
feared he would soon have been guilty
Of a more serious crime than horse
stealing. He asked that the judge sem
tence him not in q spirit Of anger, but
of mercy. that while apreasing Justice
he might be cured of his terrible dis
ease and emerge from the prison a free
man in mind as well as body. With in
tense feeling he recited the story of his
life, how he had lived for twenty-five
years In one town, where he enjoyed
lucrative practice as a physician;
how his house had burned and Death
had taken his beautiful wife; how he
sought solace by the use of morphine
until 1t had made him its slave. He
declared he had children grown up and
would not tell the name of the town IN
which he resided as he did not wish
them to learn Of his disgrace until he
should regain his lost position In life.
The speech caused a sensation In the
court room and while 1t affected the au-
dience for the time, few persons think
he told the truth. It Is the general be-
lief that Tower is confidence man of
the smoothest type and that II his
whole history was known it would pre-
sent a page Of inky blackness. He could
interpret the character of DR.. Jekyl and
Mr.. Hyde to perfection and his ability
in this direction has no doubt often
kept him out OF trouble.