Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-22
URGE MAJORITY VERDICTS
Many Members Of Bar Association in Favor
of the Proposed ohangs.
CONDITIONS GOOD FOR FIELD WORN
Contract Let for Railroad to Run
Southwest from Near Des MoInes
Through Iowa Into
Kansas.
tFrom a STAR correspondent.l

movement has been started here for the
/ amendment OF the laws Of Iowa relating
to the question OF unanimous verdicts from
turies. 1t is proposed that the laws shall
be amended so that unanimity shall not be
required in all cases, but a modified form
OF verdict Is possible. II is proposed, for
instance, in criminal matters, that while
a unanimous verdict Is to be required in
all cases where a life sentence or hanging
may be imposed, yet in other cases Of
felony a two-thirds majority OF the jury
may convict and in -misdemeanor cases a
majority may determine the guilt Of the
person. II is asserted that such a law
has been put in force In Missouri and its
constitutionaHty has been upheld by the
supreme court. The same graduation will
be applied in civil cases. a committee Of
attorneys and others interested In the bet
ter enforcement of law and especially in
terested in the enforcement of the liquor
laws Of the state, has taken up the agita-
tion for the modified verdict law and will
present 1t to the legislature next winter.
1t is commended that the supreme and other
courts are not required to md unanimous
decisions and there is NO reason why a
jury of men unlearned in the law and many
of whom are incapable of deciding ques-
lions should be required to nnd a unani-
nous verdict. Members Of the state Bar
association are in favor Of the reform.
Iowa weather and Crops.
The weather and crop report issued today
by Director Sage of the bureau gives the
following information:
The week began and ended with cool.
wet and cloudy weather. The daily average
temperature was from two to four degrees
below normal and on several mornings
the minimum was at the frost line. On the
average the conditions we're favorable for
field work about half the week, and some
progress has been made in seeding and
preparations for planting. The amount OF
rainfall has not been excessive except in
limited portions Of the eastern districts,
but in all sections many fields or parts Of
fields are still too wet for seeding or plow-
ing. The continuation of wet and cloudy
weather will unquestionably tend to reduce
the acreage of cereals to some extent as
compared with recent dry years. In the
northern sections the reports indicate that
seeding is about one-half to two-thirds
completed.
Pasturageg is making early growth. and
farm stock are grazing in many localities.
Fruit buds are showing signs OF early
blooming and the, prospect is good.
would Abandon Branch Line.
Inc ROCK lSlhnO hallTOdu company pros
poses the abandonment ofaone5 branch line
In Iowa and In this will have some OPP
position. This dis the branch from Wilton
north into Cedar county to a limekiln. Tho
branch is six miles long and has been as
sessed at $500 a mile. The company has
reached the conclusion that the branch is
not worth keeping and has issued orders
that the rails be taken up. But Mr.. John
son, the owner Of the limekilu, has applied
to the railroad commissioners to prevent
the taking up OF the track and abandonment
Of the line. He represents that the line
was constructed as the result OF an agree
ment by which he was to invest $50, 900 In
a limokiln, and that he performed his part
Of the contract many years ago. and the
company has therefore no right to tear up
the tracks SO long as he desires to ship
over the same. The branch is not used for
any other purpose than to ship to and from
the limekiln.
State EpwOrth League Assembly.
The program for the state Epworth league
assembly has Just been issued. The as
sembly will be held at Colfax. beginning
July 80. Among the speakers who will be
present are DR. "A. w. Patton. Chicago;
captain Hobson. Alabama; Bishop C. c.
McCabe, Governor LaFollette, L. J. Beau
champ. Alton Packard and w. ]. Bryan.
The officers in charge are superintendent,
]. w. Mahood, Sioux City; president, ]. q.
McClintock. Cherokee; secretary, w. ].
Potter, Bloomfield: treasurer, Z. e. Dotson,
Colfax; editor, F. L. Loveland, Vinton.
Mine Examinations.
The board of examiners for mine foremen
and engineers reports that the following
persons have been granted certificates on
examination Hosting engineer-L. A..
Swanson, Russell; w. NJ. Edwards, Mucha-
KNOCK; c.. L. York, Centerville; r. Craw-
ley, Columbia; B. Knight. What Cheer; L.
S, Bunch. Hamilton; F. d. Crowley, Chari-
ton; G. A. Gardner. Russell. Mine foremen
"A. Dargavel, Centerville; Wallace Con
way, Foster; e. F. Peabody. Centervlllei
E. c. Sineox. Foster.
Another Corner Stone.
The corner stone Of the new conservatory
for the Drake university will be laid to-
morrow morning. The new conservatory
is to be the gift OF General Drake to the
university and work was commenced upon
II some time ago. The corner stone will be
laid by Governor Cummins and there win
be an address by Dean Friedrich Howard
OF the musical department and by President
Bell Of the university. The new building
is located on the campus of the university
near the central building. A new medical
department building is also under con-
struction.
second Trial for Hunter.
The second trial Of H. NJ. Hunter Of Mt.
Ayr. for the murder Of Homer Holland a
year and a half ago. was commenced at
osceola today. Hunter killed Holland In
q quarrel over a gambling row and on trial
was sentenced to life Imprisonment. The
supreme court gave him a second trial on
account OF technicalities and he secured a
change Of venue to Clarke county. 1t is
not anticipated there will be any new evil
dence In the case. He pleads self-defense
aud insists he was attacked and thought
his life was in danger.
Contract Let for Railroad.
The promoters Of the new Des Moines
Southern railroad have let the contract for
the grading 10 the Katz Construction COM
pany OF Omaha. The line is surveyed and
tho right OF way secured from a point on
the Great Western, a short distance south
OF Dies Moines westward TO Winterset and
Greenfield, and this is the contract which
was let today. The line is surveyed and
planned TO run southwest from Greenfield
TO Manchester. Kan, and also a line sur.
veyed to Shenandoah. la. The promoters
fnaHak that a. a. an nnfNralu luAananAanN