Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-29

brought no indictment against the re-
publican party or republican president.
LET M'MiLLAM CLEAR HIS SKIRTS.
The story told by Sherman Morris,
otherwise Frank Shercliffe, the dia-
mond robber, in an interview follows
ing his release from the penitentiary
at Ft. Madison has, if it is true Cana
it has not been denied to the know
ledge of this paper) an important
bearing upon official ethics Sher-
cliffe's story is to the effect that
knowing that his brother intended
visiting him at the penitentiary one H.
6. Mcmillan of Cedar Rapids wrote to
the brother requesting that he come
via Cedar Rapids as he, Mcmillan, de-
sired to see him previous to the con-
templated visit. MY brother granted
the request continues Shercliffe,
when Mcmillan gave him to under>
stand would be arrested at the pris>
Fairfield to answer to the charge Of
robbery, and intimated that he could
pull off the officials by using his irf1u>
ence providing 1 would not testify
against Dennison."
There was considerable question a.
mong those who knew much Of the
Shercliffe parole case as to why off,
GERS from Fairfield should be especi-
ally anxious for Shercliffe upon his re-
lease OF course there were the rea>
sons given by the authors of the press
dispatch, but those familiar with the
situation looked beyond for the
real reason. Shercliffes story seems
explanatory of the whole business.
Dennison's expense account contained
an item gave Mcmillan $500 cash..
Mcmillan has since explained that al
tho he was United States district at
torney he received the money MS at
papers. But as there were items OF
expense for voting niggers in Council
Bluffs to get Blythe's influence it has
never been made clear whether the no.
| torious Dennison paid his money to the
United States attorney to get his in
fluence or his legal knowledge Hence
there is nothing incredible in the i'm
piled allegation of Shercliffe's brother
that the United States district attor-
ney is still connected with the Dem
! nison end Of the case.
But why threaten Shercliffe with
Jefferson county Justice? Jefferson
county is not only in the Reservation
but in the first District where it is
said, public officers down even to
township trustees, get their inspiration
and orders from Burlington. DID Dens
nison's little item about running mig
gers into Council Bluffs to vote for
Gear to get Blythe's influence with the
governor" have anything to do with
it?
SSASNA
manner as to force the conviction
that Shercliffe's brother told the truth
about McMillan's threats unless Me-
MILAN himself makes convincing de-
NAL.
Here's where the question of ethics
arises over the propriety Of a United
States district attorney, attempting to
undermine justice to shield notori-
Gus criminal. If the allegations Of
the Morrises are true Mcmillan, sworn
to uphold the laws of his government.
and paid $4,000 a year to prosecute
its violators has been attempting to
suppress testimony by threats Of US
ing his pull 1t could be nothing less
than gross dereliction of duty to the
law, unprofessional in an attorney and
a crime against common respectable
ity If Mcmillan did this he is unfit
to hold an Office of trust under the
Roosevelt administration or any other.
1t would not be fair to accuse Me-
MILAN of these things until the chare-
es made by the Morrises are known
to be facts, but at present the story
looks plausible. History of the case
contains SO many circumstances that
give credibility to the charge that It
will not do for Mcmillan to sit stih
under the Indictment. He is a. public
officer sworn to serve the people, and
the public has right to know whether
he did these things. 1t is up to Nc
MILAN to clear himself of the charges
and suspicious that hang over him or
lay down his public office. The thing
has grown to be a scandal and dis
grace 10 Iowa. 1t is bad enough to
hear OF notorious gamblers paying a
district attorney $4,000 to secure the
parole of diamond robber, but 1t is
shocking to oe left to believe that a
United States district attorney is try