Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-17

CASES AFFECT CHARTER CITIES
Railroad Assessment Actions Were Ad-
vanced for Submission at Previous
Period of Court Much Accom-
plished in the Two Terms Covering
the First Halt Of the Year,
to Times Republican.

Des Moines, June 17.-The supreme
court of Iowa accomplished great
deal during the two terms, or six per-
iods" of the court, which just closed
covering the first half of the year
There will be no more open sessions
of court until in September. But the
court will not be without something
to do. In fact the members OF the
court have before them all the work
they can very we'll do UP to the time
of the meeting OF the court again. A
good many cases We're submitted at the
last period, and the judges have IN
their hands a number Of important
cases that were not determined before.
Fer instance. the Cedar Rapids and
Davenport railroad assessment cases,
were not disposed of at this term.
They were advanced for the submits
sion at the previous period of court
and it was hoped by the persons most
interested that the court would decide
before the summer vacation. The.
haste was IN the fact that another
assessing period comes on soon. These
cases affect charter CITIES only. where
it was sought to assess railroad prop
erty within these charter cities at full
valuation instead Of at one-fourth vai-
untton, as provided by the general state
law for all property. But the lower
court held that the cities were in the
wrong and there can be no harm done
while waiting for the court to definitely.
decide the matter.
$50
Another case which was expected
at this term was the Busse murder
case, wherein man under sentence of
death for killing his wife seeks to
have the case reversed and a new trial
because of the claim that even at worst
the evidence showed less than a MUIR
der In first degree. The question of
is in the case. 1t Is evil
dent, from the fact that the court is
holding off so long. that there are some
kia,otty problems in the case.
Another case which might have been
decided at this term was the Greenland
,stse from Decatur county. If he IS
sent to the penstentiary 1t viii break
Up a peculiar gang operating in the
part of the state. Greenland
Ives near Grand river on a fine. large
arm. He has been maker of trouble
III that section by himself and others
he has drawn around him. He was
sentenced to three years in the peni-
.,antiary for stealing cattle from jerry
Moran. The cattle In question were
taken from a pasture, driven over to
Van Vert and sent to Chicago and
sold. They We're sent in Greenland's
lame. Two of the animals were found
II Indiana and recovered. Richard
fray was Indicted at the same time
,ut was acquitted. and on Greenland's
rial told how he helped drive the cat
lie away. Pray was afterwards con-
icted of setting fire to a barn in
trand River, the barn being owned |
" his rival in business, and Greenland |
eiig his hacker. His sentence OF q |
ear was affirmed at the term of court |
ist adjourned. Greenland. on his trial,
sstifled that he owned over 1000 acres
{ Iowa land and had over 500 head
his own cattle. He hired the best
T lawyers and is making a hard fight
, escape the prison.
50
Warden Jones, of the Fort Madison
says that Marshall coun-
Z beats all others for short time pris-
ners at his establishment. He as
gned no reason for 1t.
It is learned that Harry HOFFMAN, of
herokee, who was at one time under
entence of death and who remains at
lie penitentiary at Anamosa pending
new trial. is model prisoner. He
employed on the prison paper.
Polk county claims credit for having
mt large number Of criminals to-
lie penitentiary this year. The total
date is over sixty, and the year not
alf done. The fact is that the judges
I've been watching matters very close
!, and the county attorney has been
pecially vigilant, and as result the |
unity is being cleared of its criminal I
Most of them received short
rms. But If there is an accumulation
these short terms the habitual GRIM (,
al act will begin to tell on them after
lille.