Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-14
Old CRIME RECALLED
Notice of Intention to Apply
For Pardon For Frank
Rainsbarger Filed
N PENITENTIARY 25 YEARS
Rainsbarser's Conviction Was for the
Murder Of Man Who Had Given
Evidence Against Him in Various
Trials for Horse Thisvins - otns.
Life Termer. to Apply.
Special to Times-Republican

Special to Times-Republican
Des Moines, Nov. 1.-THE state leg
dslature of Iowa at it's session which
win commence January IL next will
have before it the applications of about
dozen life term prisoners for author
ity for the governor to pardon them,
but the case that will attract greatest
attention Is that of Frank Rainsbarger,
OF Hardin couny. Notice of intention
to apply for pardon for Rainsbarger
has just been filed. The presentation
OF the matter to the legislature will un-
doubtedly result in public discussion
OF a criminal case noted in Iowa annals
but now almost forgotten. Ratnsbar-
ger has been in the penitentiary now
about IS years. on conviction of mur-
der in the first degree. He killed a
man who had given evidence against
him in various cases and with whom he
had been in perpetual feud for num-
Der Of years. The murder was the re-
suit OF troubles over a long series OF
crimes in Hardin county we'll remem-
bered by al the older residents OF the
state. The Rainsberger gang of horse
thieves and feudists operated for many
years in Iowa and in Minnesota and
Missouri. but the headquarters were in
Hardin county. The gang made 1t i
business to steal horses in one state
and run them OF to another for sale.
There were stations along the line
where the men who run the horses
thru could stay in the day time. A
horse would be stolen In Missouri and
would be offered for sale in Minnesota
or Wisconsin. and 1t was impossible
to trace the thieves. One of the gang.
man who was only incidentally con-
nected with the Rainsbargers. stated
a few years ago after he had been
sentenced for stealing a COW. that he
had been concerned In tbs theft Of over
200 horses and was never caught for
horse stealing. The ground for asking
clemency for Frank Rainsbarger, the
last of the gang known to exist. Is that
he is now old and feeble and harmless
and that the ends OF justice have been
fully met.
Over half Of the soldiers or ex-sol
diers eligible to membership in the g.
A. r. resident in Iowa. are not members
OF the order. This state OF affairs Is
causing some worry to the department
officials and a strong effort is to be
made by Commander Raymond to in
crease the membership and get into the
order practically all the persons who
are eligible The number of eligfbles
is rapidly decreasing and unless those
who can become members take an In
terest the number OF posts maintained
In the state will be greatly diminished
in a few years. The membership will
probably never again equal what it was
a few years ago.
There will be no lobbying by the Of
1cials of the State College" said one
of the trustees of the college after re-
turning from the meeting at Ames this
week. THE policy we have decided
upon is just what ought to be followed
by every state institution. We vii!
present to the legislature thru the gov
SI!iOI q pldlA oldsCiiiCht VI tAiC Soiioi~
tion of the Stata College. its growth,
its teaching force. It's students. tina
need of equipment, tine possibilities for
the college and what is actually needed
for support and development. We Will
send a legislative committee of the
trustees to the legislature to explain
the whole matter and they will appear
before the appropriations COMMITTEES
and state their case. That will be all.
Neither the president nor the secre-
tary nor members OF the faculty nor
trustees will do any lobbying. If the
le gislature or any committee OF the
legislature desires further information
the trustees will be prepared to fur
nish it. But the college will maintain
a dignifled attitude. ask nothing. but
state the matter plainly and leave IL,
with the Legislators"
The next member OF the state board
CT health will be appointed from either
the Council Bluffs district or the Keo-
kuk district. The term Of oflce Of DIR.
Charles B. Adams. of Sac City, ex-
pires the last day of mex. January. He
is from the northwestern Iowa district.
which district has two members. DR..
Commit. OF Sioux City. being the other
member. The law now provides for
one member from district. but the
two were from that district when the
law was passed and were not disturbed.
There are two homeopa.hs and one
regular on the board. SO that the sue
cessor to DIR. Adams may be regular
or a homeopath, according to the
choice of the governor The state board
OF examiners Is engaged in consider
ing the matter of laws providing for
In the recognition of certifi
Gates from other states. Some amend
ment of the Iowa laws Will be necessa
ry before Iowa can get in on this
proposal. 1t is hoped by the doctors
to secure laws that will permit greater
freedom in moving from one state to-
another.
1t is probable that the smallpox de-
cision in Lucas county. in which 1t was
decided that the state board Of health
has not the right under Iowa laws As
they exist to provide for compulsory
vaccinatin ,.nlaSa IN the face of act.