Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-12-18

spent In maintaining roads and streets
within the city limits. 1t Is claimed
by the city that inasmuch as the city
pays road taxes to the county the
county should expend those taxes on
the city roads. This the county has
refused to do however. The result of
the suit is awaited with much interest.
w. T. Wood, a Des Moines grocer,
has commenced action In the district
court against the Retail Growers as
ISOLATION for $4,000. He alleges ma
licious persecution. The Des MOines
Retail Growers association caused the
arrest Of Wood number of times for
an alleged violation of the Sunday
laws. In his original notice he de-
clares he was acquitted each time and
that the action of the association has
been In the nature Of persecution.
Harry Mayme, cashier Of the Farm
ers' and Merchants bank at Linn
Grove, shot himself through the heart
while in bed at his home. It was not
discovered till morning. He leaves a
wife and five children. The bank is
In bad shape and 1t Is believed Wayne
has been specializing on the hoard of
trade. The institution is private. 1t
is claimed the deposits OF 100000
were controlled by the First National
Of Storm Lake. The bank is closed.
Fire. the origin of which Is not en-
actly known, threatened for a time
few days ago to consume the resi-
dence Of Commandant c. c. Horton,
at the Soldiers Home. BY the aid of
the home fire department and the
uptown crews, the blaze vas extin-
guished before any great Roadway
had been gained, although the upper
story Of the house was badly soaked
with water. The extent of the dam
age could, not be learned, but was
estimated to be less than $500, most
ly due to water.
Three small children of August
Batten, farmer near New Albin, ALI
amakee county, were burned to death
a few nights ago in q fire which de-
stroyed the home while the parents
were absent. The five children were
In bed when the fire broke out, but
only the two eldest, cripple girl aged
eleven and boy aged nine years,
we're able to make their escape. The
eldest boy helped his sister out Of the
second-story window to the ground
and returned to the house to get the
three younger, but the room In which
they were was all ablaze, the heat
and flames driving him back. He was
badly burned. The parents knew
nothing of the holocaust until their
return. - &c.
w. L. Moore, street commissioner
Of Cedar Rapids, was indicted by the
Linn county grand jury for embezzle-
ment, the grand jury finding that
for period of several months he
drew the pay Of one William Martin,
when no such man existed. Several
witnesses testified that there was no
such man as Martin-that he was a
straw man." The investigation was
instigated by Alderman Hughes Of the
First ward. Several months ago he
preferred charges in open council
meeting. A "Lexow" committee was
appointed and 1t exonerated Moore.
Alderman Hughes then laid the, mot
ter before the grand jury. Moore and
his friends say the streets and walks
committee of the council knew what
he was doing.
To heal her broken heart, caused
by the failure Of her sweetheart to full
fill his promise Of marriage to her,
Miss Blanche r. Campbell, daughter
of George G. Campbell, q travelling
man. was awarded judgment of
t. ~ ckNS1 az
City, the defendant in the case being
George j. Staley of Beloit, Wis, a
young contractor who spent several
months in Sioux City in 1901. Endear-
ing letters in which Staley referred
to Miss Campbell as his dear, little
future wife," we're introduced and al
80. the final letter in which he said he
had changed his mind about getting
married. Staley tried to settle the
suit for $500 and, failing. he defaulted
and permitted judgment to be en-
tered against him. The girl demand
ed $4,000, but was awarded one-half
that sum. The wedding day set was
June z. 1902.
The Garden City bank, owned by r.
B. Ballard, son Of H. D. Ballard of
Webster City, and A. N. Drake of
hadcliffe, was looted by robbers a
few nights ago. The safe was blown
open and about $500 cash was secured.
Two explosions were necessary to
crack the safe 80 that the robbers
could get at the contents. The whole
front of the safe was torn of and the
bank counter was badly wrecked.
The robbers were seen while at their
work by man living just across the
street. He was awakened by the first
He arose, looked out OF the
window and saw two men standing in
front of the bank building. He won
dered what they were doing, when
suddenly the second explosion came.
The man did not raise an alarm at
once. Shortly after, however, the
town was aroused and the owners of
the bank, ..a6' Radcliffe, were notified.
H. D. Ballard of Webster City was al.
SO ats Radcliffe and took steps at once
to-, notify the surrounding towns.
Watch was kept at the various de-
pots in the hope that the robbers
would board a train at one of the not
towns. No suspicious char
acters, however, were seen to board
trains at any of the surrounding
towns.
The Marshalltown bigamist who
married Emma Mitchell in Webster
City last July, was sentenced to four
years in the state penitentiary by
Judge Whitaker. A long petition from
Marshalltown people was presented
asking for leniency.a
John Willis. a well to do Young
man Of Salem, was accidentally shot
to death by a companion, William
Bates, while out hunting. A load Of
bird shot entered his abdomen,
frightfully tearing his body. He stated
before he died that Bates was limo