Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-06
Fewer Prisoners In the Peni-
Tertiary and More Criminal
Business In the Courts
THAT is SITUATION IN IOWA
Appeals to the Court Are
oftener Taken and Seem to be Of
tener Successful = Past Biennial
Period Has Been Prolific in Murder
Gases - Strange Insanity Case.
special to Times Repub,lcan.

Special to Times Republican,.
Des Moines, July 6.-While the num-
Der of prisoners confined in the two
Iowa state penitentiaries has been de-
creasing for a number of years. the
criminal business which comes to the
court of the state has been on the in
crease. According to the records, APP
peals are oftener taken and the appel
lants are apparently successful in a
sufficient number Of cases to materially
affect the attendance at the prison
schools. Attorney General Mullan calls
attention in his report just printed, the
report for the biennial period ended
Jan. /, to the fact that the criminal
business coming to his Office Is still in
creasing. Two years ago he made a
report in which he referred to the large
number OF murder cases which had
been appealed in the previous two
years, and In his report he suggested
that this was temporary increase and
due to accidental causes. But much to
his surprise the past biennial period
has been still more prolific in murder
cases appealed to the supreme court. In
the biennial period there were 33 OF
these murder cases. While 1t Is impos-
sible to show from the records the fact,
yet 1t is probable that practically all
the murder convictions are appealed to
the supreme court, as in such cases the
defendant has the right to have his
case reviewed even to a. mere review
of the testimony, and this even tho he
is unable to hire a lawyer or pay for
printing q. brief of the evidence.
In his report Attorney General Null
Ian calls special attention to the fate
of the State VS.. James II. Easton, long
pending in the courts, which was final
~ taken to the United States supreme
court and reversed. BY this decision
of the higher court the Iowa law reg
ulating the receiving of deposits by
banks and making bank officers Grim
inally liable under certain conditions is
voided as it relates to national banks.
The attorney general states that the
law as to collateral inheritance taxes
is now much better understood since
the courts have decided many ques-
tions, and the opposition which for
merly existed to the payment of this
tax has ceased. The attorney general
discusses in his report ut some length
the laws of the state In regard to in
corporations. and points, out that the
Iowa law is greatly In need OF i'm
proyement. Attorney General Mullan
believes that there should be COM
mission, OF which the attorney general
would be member. to pass on all arti-
cles of incorporation offered and to
have the power to inquire into the ma
ture of the corporation and put a veto
on such as are against public policy.
The supreme court will be called
upon at its next term to decide some
what remarkable case. involving
question as to the sanity or otherwise
OF a, man making a deed. John Reis-
tema owned 400 acres of land in Wright
county and sold 240 acres at SIS an
acre Within a week thereafter he was
sent to the insane hospital raving
maniac. and has remained there ever
since. Ills relatives had guardian
appointed and sued to recover possess
sion of the land or judgment for ad-
ditional value, on the theory that the
land was sold for about two-thirds OF
It's actual value. The lower court In
Wright county decided chat altho Reit-
soma was declared insane within a
week after the sale, yet the transaction
was good and binding. The appeal is
taken and the heirs will undertake to
show to the supreme court that Reit-
soma was In fact insane for a long time
before the sale of the land.
The Midland chautauqua for 1904. To-
Gated In Des Moines, in beautiful
grove In the north part OF the city, be-
gins on Thursday of this week, and
lasts for ten days. the feature of great
est public interest being a plan for a
Joint debate on the political issues be-
tween Judge NJ. j. Wade, Of Iowa City,
democratic member of congress, and j.
Adam Bede, of Minnesota, republican
member CT congress. Judge Wade mas
long beer a popular lecturer In Iowa
and is regarded as one of the ablest
men of the democratic party in Iowa.
Congressman Bede Is a former 1owan,
educated In this state and frequent
visitor, and famous for his humorous
oratory. The debate will be on the
afternoon Of July IL. DR.. Thomas Il.
Green, Of Cedar Rapids, has been Sc
cured az the orator for recognition day
at this chautauqua.
Irving ID. Richman. OF Muscatine, has
been given the degree of Ii. d. by
Brown University, at Providence, in
recognition of his work as historian
of Rhode Island. He is native of
Iowa and a graduate of the State Uni
versity, the author Of a number of
books including one or John Brown in
Iowa.
A strange and sad case of insanity is
reported from Marion county, Iowa.
Sheriff Bybee. OF Knoxville, passed
thru the city having I'm charge two in
sane persons he was taking to Wyom-
ing. The men were father and son.
Thomas j. Reed and his son, Delbert
Reed. Both went insane while visiting
relatives in Iowa. They lived in Ma
trona county, Wyo. on ranch and the
son had been living a somewhat soil
tary life as a sheep herder. 1t was re-
ported that the father had shown signs
If mental weakness before coming to
Iowa To, visit, but q few weeks ago the
son became deranged over religious
matters. and this fact preyed upon the
mind OF the father until both became
A gt@v.. =