Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-24
Ed. Dawson Stands Convicted OF
Assault on Little Girl.
SCHWARTZ CASE TAKEN FROM JURY
Carrie Mincks Co-Defendant With
Schwartz IN Lewdness Case, Is Free
-Ex-Policeman Will Answer to
Adultery Charge Next Term of Court

Edward Dawson, of Pekay, has been
found guilty by jury in the Wapello
county district court of assault
with intent to commit rape.
The arguments of the attorneys
in the case were concluded about 4
O'Clock yesterday afternoon and the
jury Immediately retired. About 9
O'Clock it arrived at verdict declar-
ing the defendant guilty as charged in
the indictment, and the verdict was so
reported to Judge Vermillion. Carrie
Mincks, the woman indicted together
with ex-Policeman Frank Schwartz on
the charge of lewdness, is now free,
the case having been taken from the
jury by Judge Vermillion. Schwartz
is held for trial on the charge of adul-
terry, but his case is continued till next
term.
May Get Twenty Years.
The Iowa laws provide that anyone
found guilty of the crime of which
Dawson has been convicted may be
imprisoned in the penitentiary not to
exceed twenty years. Judge Vermil-
| lion will sentence Dawson next Tues
day morning, and there is consider
able speculation among people who
have watched the Dawson case, as to
what the length of the sentence i'm
posed by Judge Vermillion will be, and
his announcement in the case will be
| listened to with interest.
| The Crime.
| The crime with which Dawson is
charged was mot revolving one. 1t
| is alleged that in tie month of Febru-
airy he assaulted Katie Gallagher, a
little girl - years of age, whom he
had offered ride in his buggy on the
way to her home near Eddyville. The
| state alleged that the man assaulted
| her after insulting her. and produced
| testimony to support this position.
Dawson denied any knowledge of the
crime or connection with it, but the
evidence evidently did not satisfy the
| jury of the innocence of the defend
and, and he was accordingly found
guilty.
Schwartz Case Ends Suddenly.
Judge vermillion this morning sus-
tanned motion of the defense and
Schwartz and Carrie Mincks charged
! Will leWuH6SS, lHLO Ills ONu HduuS
and instructed the jury to return
a verdict for the defendants, giving as
his reason that, as set forth in mo-
ton introduced by Attorney Charles
Hall for the defense Immediately al
ter the state had rested its case, the
evidence dos not show that tn crime
, as charged in the indictment has beer
committed The provisions of the
Iowa law are peculiar with regard tc
this crime, and in Judge Vermillion's
opinion the statement made in the in
4 dictment was not borne out by thu
testimony in the case.
Adultery Case Continued.
The case of the State VS.. Franz
Schwartz, charged with adultery, will
not be tried during the present tern
Of court. Judge Vermillion announc
ed this morning that this case will b.
continued, as it could not be tried nov
without special venire of jurymen
The reason for this is that nearly al
the jurymen heard the testimony il
the case this morning and would no
be qualified to sit in the adultery cas-
as the testimony in that case will b
: nearly the same. Meanwhile, unles
he can furnish bail, Schwartz will re
main in thee county Jail, awaiting tn
further action of the court. TIL
amount c. bail required has been re
duced to 5000.