Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-01
LOCAL COMMENT
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If the olden signs are to be depended
upon, the autumn this year is decreed
to be the ideal sort that Lowell de-
scribes. Old weather prophets, who
have been observant of the coming and
going of the equinox, say that thunder
after the equinox insures fine weather
during an Indian summer OF six
weeks.
Superintendent Elijah Brown Jones,
of the Marshalltown chautauqua, is
evidently going to lay the foundation
work for next years assembly before
every chautauqua manager in the
state gets in ahead of him. Mr.. Jones
has already decided upon the dates for
next year, and has secured the promise
Of Sam Jones as one of the prominent
attractions. Marshalltown's chau-
tauqua next year should be success,
with the experience of the past season
to assist in the plans for the next, and
the business men interested will work
together with the manager, with view
of SURPRISING last years record. A
change in the guaranty system Tor next
year will bring all guarantors as share
holders, and trustees Of the profits.
sea
It may not have been realized by the
general public, but 1t is nevertheless a
fact that Marshall county has sent to
the penitentiary during the present
term of the district court more darger-
Gus criminals than have ever been as
sembled together in the Jail at any one
time in years. 1t appears to have been
the lot of this county to assume the
responsibility of conviction and SEN
tence, and Judge Caswell has looked
after the sentence part admirably.
Fortunately for the county the expense
has been comparatively light, as far
as the exhaustive criminal docket mas
been concerned, because so many OF
the defendants have entered pleas OF
guilty. Judge Caswell has not been In
clined to show leniency with these
prisoners whom he believes are dan
rerous. and has imposed sentences
that will keep them where they can at
least mediate for a while. The court
has been criticized. as is always to pe
expected. He would be censured by
some if he was not severe, ana py
others who might consider him too Sc
we're. For the most part, however, tne
public considers that the judge mas
done clearly what he believed to De
his duty. He has imposed stir SEN
fences where he believed the criminal
character Of the prisoner was estap-
lished with little hope OF REFORM ny
reason Of mercy.
References to criminal business pe-
fore the district court by this news
paper has called forth a private CRUZ
cism on the part Of County Attorney
Northup, who has registered an ooJec-
ton to what he terms trying the cases
in the newspapers" The only opJec-
ton that the prosecuting attorney
makes is that the newspaper staeeo
that the states case was weak, In re
ferring to two criminal actions. Inc
result of the jury's action proved the
statement true, for in one the jury
disagreed, with vote OF ten to two
for acauittal. and in the other YER
dict Of assault and battery was re-
turned, when assault with IN
tent to commit murder was
and where the jury
stood eight to four for acqulttal.
It is not the intention of the Times
to try criminal cases III us
columns, but it is the intention OF the
paper to give the public an idea OF
what Is going on in court, and the stat
us Of the cases on trial. That IS WIN
In the legitimate province OF any news
paper. The county attorney claims that
the newspaper Influenced the jury.
This should not be true, ii 1T is, FOR
Juror is under oath when he sits on the
case to have no opinions, or form none
or that he will not read newspaper ac-
counts Of the cases under consloefa-
Ion.
Improvements to the pottery plant.
With view of increasing the Capacity
IF the institution so per cent nave
been announced and are under way OF
Business men who hao
faith In the pottery venture and sun
maintain that It was a good invest