Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-01-30
SEIZE COAL N TRANSIT.
Railroads Have a Right to Do So
When the Object Is to Keep
the Trains Running.
THE RAILWAY COMPASSION 50 DECIDES.

Especial Correspondence

u -
railroad commission has been inyesti-
eating the coal situation with view
to discriminating whether the rail-
roads have the right to seize coal in
transit and divert it to their own use.
Mr.. Z. A. Dawson, the lawyer of the
commission, after thoroughly invests
eating the subject decided that the
roads had the right to do this If the
object was to move trains. The popu-
lar rights as to transportation are
greater than those of the individual
dealers in or consumers of coal. The
commission also made a finding to the
effect that the railroads, which took
off a large number of trains the past
week, did it not to decrease the coal
supply, but for the purpose of enabling
their lines to run. 1t was found that
some of the big systems have gone
through the coal famine with not to
exceed six days of fuel on hand.
Not Well Founded.
It has developed that the theory that
the legislature elected this year will
elect a United States senator to sue
coed Senator Dolliver, in 1906, If the
biennial elections amendment carries,
is not we'll founded. II that amend
ment goes through the legislature OF
19O4-the one now about to be elected
1t will be voted on at the election
in the fall of 1904. II carried it will
abolish the election of 1905, SO that
the legislature which would be elected
in 1905, ordinarily will not be chosen,
but it will be necessary for the COVER
nor to convene the legislature elected
this fall to meet in the winter of 1906.
But it will not vote on the succession
to Dolliver at that extra session, for
the legislature which will be elected
at the first biennial election, in 1906,
will convene in January, 1907, and will
then elect Mr.. Delivers successor, his
term expiring on March 3 of that year.
It is the common belief that the bien-
NAL elections amendment will go
through the assembly of next winter
without opposition and that it will be
carried by the people at the succeed
ing election. 1t provides for the cleo
ton of all officers every two years
only. This means that all county Off
GERS, too, will be elected only every
two years, instead Of half one year and
half the next.
A Peculiar Case.
The case OF the state against jerome
Hoot, from Blackhawk county, is to
be submitted to the supreme court at
this session Of that body. This is one
Of the most peculiar cases in the his
tory Of the state. Hoot and his wife
were divorced and he became con-
yinced that she was interfering with
his mail. He was charged with writ
ing q missiYe to himself which, if she
saw it, would arouse her interest to
a high pitch. Then it is charged that
he mailed himself an internal machine
calculating that if Mrs. Hoot opened
1t it would explode and she would be
injured or killed. Hoot denies this and
his attorneys are fighting his case on
the theory that even if he did send the
box through the mail, it was sent to
himself and Mrs. Hoot would have no
business meddling with it. The woman b.
started to open the box, got scared,
called q policeman and he opened it
on the river bank. An explosion fol-
lowed. This would have been fatal to
the woman had she opened the box. He
vas convicted of attempt to kill, was
sentenced to seven years in prison and
now appeals.
Long . Mystery.
The famous Richardson case has
come to the supreme court from Shell
by county. 1t involves mystery Of
20 years standing. Frank Richard
son had lived in the county for quar-
ter Of q century. He owned I, 900 acres
OF land. One piece OF. it he foreclosed
on mortgage held by him and the
heirs Of the mortgagor now claim title
to 1t, alleging irregular proceeding on
the part Of Richardson. This recalls
the mystery Of his disappearance. 1t
was about the year 1850 when he
dropped out Of sight. No trace ever
has been found Of him. He was said
to have been worth $3.50, 900. He had
spent all the years Of his life without
giving his confidence to q single man.
His wife got divorce from him about
1875 and he then boarded among the
farmers. His business was Lending
money at a high rate Of interest. He
always had money, but did not patron
ize the banks. This leads to the belief
that he was murdered for what money.
he had on him.
Too solemn for Him.
Judge ]. F. Oliver, OF Onawa, 1
judge in the Fourth district in this
state, is the only occupant Of seat
on the bench in Iowa who refuses to