Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-01
MUST HAVE JUSTICE
kAHokA PEOPLE SAY cLARKs
TRIAL WILL BE FAIR.
VALUE GOOD NAME OF THE COUNTY
1t is Expected by Many That the
Prisoner Will be Condemned to
Death-Great Care to be Exercised
in Selecting Jury.

Kahoka, Mo-, Sept. 25.-As the time
for the trial of Frank Clark, the con-
fessed ravisher of Ollie Hess, grows
nearer, the interest in it becomes
more intense. Not only are the peo-
pie of Clark county, Mo-, interested
in the now famous case, but the eyes
of the people of the surrounding
country will watch the case to it's
close. The kahoka people speak Of
the matter calmly enough. There is
determined feeling that the criminal
shall be accorded a fair trial. The peo-
pie fully realize that violence to Clark
at the hands of mob would be a
dark blot on the county's name. Every
precaution will be taken to prevent
any move made in the way of violence
AS one prominent man of Kahoka
put it.: IF Clark is permitted to have
a fair trial and is legally executed it
will be feather in the cap of Clark
county. 1t will prove to the world
that Missouri is not nearly as bad a
place as some people would paint it.
Everybody here believes that the jury
will find Clark guilty of the crime
charged and that he will be sentenced
to death by hanging. Anything short
of this will be deemed insufficient and
there is no telling what may happen.
The people, especially the neighbors
of the Hess family, might become fren-
zied if Clark should only receive a
penitentiary sentence. and take mat.
tiers into their own hands. if possible. u
Ouacf;on of I,pru
Some difficulty is expected to be ex.
perienced in the selection of a jury
The prosecuting attorney, w. T.
Rutherford, said he did not anticipate
a great deal of trouble in selecting a
jury. The law says there must be
forty qualified jurors. In a case OF
this kind, capital offense, the defend
ant is entitled to twenty peremptory
challenges and the state eight peremp
tory challenges, making twenty-eight
in all. This it will be seen, will leave
the, twelve jurors who will finally be
selected to sit on the famous case.
Care to be Used.
The sheriff will be instructed to
go to those districts of the county ly-
ing farthest away from the scene of
the crime and bring in seventy-fve
men. If the jury cannot be selected
out of this number, the sheriff will
subpoena more men until the jury is
selected.
1t is suspected that the attorneys
for the defendant will make a strong
attempt to secure a change of venue
on the plea that a fair trial cannot be
obtained in Clark county Such an
attempt will be fought vigorously. The
prosecuting attorney claims he is in
a position to Illustrate such a plan
should the attempt be made by the
defense.
Much Interest in Case.
The next term of the circuit court
at Kahoka commences October -,
1908, with Judge Ed Mckee of Mem.
phis on the bench. This case will
come up soon after court convenes.
Judge Mckee stands high in the opin-
ion of the bar in his circuit, compris-
ing four counties He metes out
justice without fear or favor. 1t is
possible that Judge Mckee may not
sit on the Clark case, but it is not
at all probable that he will not Should
the attorney for the defense swear
that Judge Mckee is prejudiced in
this case, he cannot preside, over it.
In such an event, any circuit judge
in Missouri who is idle at the time
may preside.
The eyes of the entire surrounding
country will be upon Kahoka when
Clark's trial commences and the re-
suit will be awaited with great inter