Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-19
WANT IO KNOW
Hardin County Papers Demand
Investigation of soule's
Light Sentence
BANK OFFICIALS DENY RECORDS
Attorney Nase's Statement Filed In
Court To Effect That The Bank Ask
ed For Leniency Is Denied In Iowa
Falls Paper by The Bank Directors
Many Contradictory Statements.
Special to Times-Republican,

Special to Times Republican,.
Iowa Falls, Sept. 19.-With possibly
one or two exceptions, the press of
Hardin county is demanding that the
public be appraised of the "eXtenuatinS
circumstances" which influenced Judge
Evans in the sentence OF Soule, the
embezzling bank cashier, to eighteen
months in the penitentiary In pro-
nouncing the sentence, Judge Evans is
said to have made the statement that
the Home Savings bank, which Soule
Quilted. had asked that leniency be
shown in view of the fact that there
were extenuating circumstances. 1t is
denied by the directors and some Of
the officials of the bank that the lnsti-
tuition ever petitioned the court for
clemency.
Basing the statement on the claims
of the directors of the bank, the SEN
tinel, of this city, denied that the IN
stitution sought to shield soule' De
lieving that the men identlhed with
the institution desired that Soule be
given the full penalty for his crimes.
But the Eldora Herald calls down this
statement, and in REPUTATION thereof
publishes the following from the rec
ords of the case. 1t is signed by G. M.
Nagle, Of Clarion, who was one of the
attorneys in the employee of the bank:
District Court of Hardin County.
State of Iowa VS.. E. O. Soule: Comes
now the Home Savings bank OF Iowa
Falls by c.. M. Nagle, it's attorney,
and represents to the court that 1t Is
the bank referred to in the indictment
in the above case. That since the COM
mission OF the crime charged In the
indictment, the defendant conveyed ana
transferred to the bank his homestead
and personal property to be applled TO-
ward the payment Of his Indebtedness
created by the defalcation, and he and
his friends have settled and adjusted
the amount due on the bond given by
the defendant to secure the perform
ance of his duties as cashier OF SAID
bank, and has made restitution In SO
far as he has been able to, and these
matters it asks may be taken into con-
sideration in fixing the amount or
length OF the term Of Imprisonment as
we'll as such other matters as the court
may think proper to consider. (Slgn-
ed c.. M. Nagle, attorney for said
bank
In view Of this statement, an inter
view with several directors of the
bank. as we'll as with the vice presl-
dent. was made by the editor of the
Sentinel, the president being out OF
the city, and in reply his paper will
say in tomorrow's issue:
"They all say most emphatically that
the Home Savings bank did not take
any action at any time, either by Pc
tition or written request, asking Judge
Evans to show mercy In sentencing
Soule. If private individual or two
plead for mercy in behalf OF Soule.
this cannot be construed as coming
from the bank; neither will the bank
stand, as corporate body, Tor such
a false and eliminate attempt to seas
on Justice. We are all aware that pri-
vate parties for many months have
been pleading for a minimum sentence,
if any sentence at all, but this cannot
implicate the bank, neither should It
have any influence with any judge.
Now the public will reconcile these
two positions and the conflicting state
ments is a matter of conjecture, but IT
is certain that there rem aims some
things in this case that has not been
made public, and until it is cleared up.
the public will hold to the opinion
and rightfully, that attempts have
been made to tamper with Justice.
Whether successfully or not, is for pub
lie opinion to determine.
The Alden times in its current issue
demands a full and complete explana-
ton of all the elements entering into
the sentence. In making the indict-
mert the editor of the Times says:
"While the air is full OF abuse OF
Judge Evans for the light sentence
given Soule, the question OF how II
came about that the clemency OF the
court was asked for, is a most natur-
al one. You can stick a pin here gen.
tlemen. that the whole blame for the
light sentence does not rest with Judge
Evans. The attention of the jury is
also called to the fact that appearances
call for an investigation without
gloves. The ugly rumor said to have
been made by Soule that If the prose-
cution went thru he would have COM
pany. also continues. If, now, we have
a grand jury with man-sized spinal
columns, let this burning disgrace
which has been put upon Hardin coun-
ty be probed to the bottom: Let light
shine in dark places. Let those whose
money has been stolen know where IT
went and who got it, and finally, let
it be known by what philosophy men
who became enraged enough to swear
out information because they have been
robbed of $4,000, suddenly calm down
and Mead clemency when they find
they have been robbed of $4,000"
It is evident the press of Hardin
county demands that the searchlight
of investigation be turned on this mat
fer and the public awaits the result.
CUTTING is AGGRIEvED.