The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-01-21
WHY BOND is GRANTED
The Showing Made on Behalf of
Charles Woodard Who Was Re-
leased on $4,000 Bonds.


Charles Woodland Who Was Re-
leased on $40, 900 Bonds.
There has been some talk indulged in
as to why Judge Miller admitted
Charles Woodard, who was indicted for
the murder of his wife, to bail, great
many people having the erroneous inn
preston that when q person is indicted
Tor murder in the first degree they can
not be admitted to bail. The law is
that after a person has been convicted
of murder in the first degree he can not
be admitted to bail pending an appeal
to the supreme court, but after indict-
ment and before the defendant has been
tried, where the presumption of guilt is
not too great it is within the discretion
of the court to remand the defend
ant to Jail without bond or to admit him
to bail. For the benefit of the public
we give the court record of the applica-
tion of Charles Woodland to be admitted
to bail.
G. W. Hoffman, one of the defendants
attorneys, being duly sworn, made the
following statement to the court:
will state to the court that this
woman died on the 18th day of Decem-
Der, 1908; that the defendant from
that day until the 9th of Decem-
her, 1908, that the coroners iaquest was
held, believe, the 10th day of Deceun-
ber, 1908, was at large with knowledge
of this investigation. That ON the 9th,
being the day the preliminary infcrna-
tion was filed before Justice OF the
Peace, he was phoned- defendant
living about eight miaes from. Leon,
three miles and a half saorth Of Decatur
City in said county-tD come to Leon.
He came and surrendered himself to the
sheriff. The preliminary Investigation
was continued and the defendant was
admitted to bail in the sum 'of ten thou
sand dollars, and has been out upon said
bail until to-day when he was phoned to
appear in this coart, and voluntarily
appeared. He lives ON farm, has three
children q boy Of fifteen, "a girl alaout
twelve aud another child about eight
and he has the sole care of the children.
In connection with my 'testimony, we
will offer the evidence as taken before
the grand jury, which we think wsssla
not make such case as would prevent
this man from being admitted to BAIL.
/ The Court.-Is there anything you
desire to say IN regard ITO the matter,
Mr. County Attorney2
Mr. Olsen.-All 1 have to say is this:
that this matter, as the court knows, is
entirely discretionary with the court,
as to whether or not the defendant
shall he admitted ito bail. The inquiry
before the grand jury seems TO have
been full and it rs made a part of the
records Of this case SO far as ttiis omes-
tion of being perMItted to give bail is
concerned, and ] tanink the Court in the
examination Of THAT, can determine this
question. OF course 80 far as the estate
is concerned, we ane content with WHAT
ever the Court feels to be his duty in
the premises.
Mr.. Hoffman, might add to my
statement that the Testimony is practi
cally circumstantiaa. 1t shows for it
self.
The Court--On consideration and
agreement of PARTIES as to the amount,
the defendant is admitted to bail in the
sum of s20,0OO, aud i'm default thereof is
remanded to Jail in Decatur county
until legally discharged