Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-22
Court Defends County Attorney
From Criticism of His Prose-
cution of Slifer
DID ONLY HIS PLAIN DUTY
To Have Failed to Bring tho Case to
Trial Would Have Made Him Subject
of Just Censure-Judge Blair Writes
Letter to Grundy County People -
Tho Iowa News.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Grundy Center, Oct. 22.-Judge A. S.
Blair. who presided at the trial Of w.
E. Slifer, for the alleged murder Of his
wife, has taken the unusual course Of
writing a public letter condemning the
criticism Of County Attorney Reisinger
for prosecuting the case, some people
claiming there was not sufficient
ground for bringing the case to a trial
Judge Blair holds that Reisinger did
only what was his plain duty and to
have done less would have subjected
him to severe censure. The judges
letter, while causing some surprise.
is heartily endorsed by the majority Of
the people Of the county. While the
trial was expensive to the taxpayers.
there are few who regret that the case
was tried on Its merits, recognizing
that it was desirable from every stand
point that the guilt or innocence OF the
accused be established.
Judge Blair's letter, which was writ
waterloo, Iowa, October Is, 1904.
To the People OF Grundy County:
my attention has been called to ad-
verse criticism Of the actions OF your
county attorney. n. w. Reisinger. in
the Slifer case recently tried before
me at Grundy Center. hesitate to
interfere In matters of this kind. but
this censuring of Mr.. Reisinger Is 80
unjust that feel it my duty to speak.
"The actions Of the committing mag
istrate in holding the defendant to the
district court, the finding Of an indict-
ment by the grand jury and my own
actions In committing him to jail with
out bonds fully exonerate Mr.. Reising-
er from any blame in bringing the evil
dence to light and causing an invests
cation. Your county attorney did only
what was his duty and any less action
on his part would have been negligence
and cause for severe censure.
"a. S. BLAIR, Judge"
As to Costs.
Since the publication OF statement
in local newspaper that tho costs for
the trial of William Slifer would APP
proximate $500. considerable discus
sion over the accuracy OF this asser-
ton has arisen. The editor of RI
val newspaper has taken exception to
the statement and states that when
anyone comes forth with a guarantee
that he will pay the difference II the
cost is higher than he places It, then
he will be convinced.
County Auditor c. p. Thomas who
furnished the estimate in a signed
statement says In part:
Now I am not Of speculative dis
position, and I would not enter into a
contract Of any nature, unless l was
satisfied in my own Judgment that
there was money in it for me. Thirty
five hundred dollars is the approximate
costs in the costs and there would be
no object for me to guarantee the
costs at that amount.
"But If the democrat man will give
me $4,000 will then guarantee to pay
all costs in the case that the county
Is liable for. I would consider this a
money making proposition.
II have not changed my mind as to
my former statement that the costs to
the county will not exceed $500 and
offer this guarantee only as busi-
ness proposition.
after the claims have been acted
upon by the board of supervisors we
will publish statement showing the
exact costs to the country"
SIifer photographer.
Slifer has returned from visit at
the worlds fair in st. Louis and TO.
the past few weeks has been looking
about for an opportunity to engage
in the photograph business. A deal
has just been closed whereby Charles
Frost disposed Of his gallery to Sill
fer, the latter to take possession next
Monday. The central figure In the
celebrated murder case is a genius In
this line, and it is expected that he
will make a success of his newly
chosen profession.
Public sentiment was SO uniformly
with the accused man that much in
terest attaches to his steps In secur-
ing fresh start in life. The entire at
fair is generally deplored by the COM
munity. Slifer is much improved in
health and spirits since his release
from the county jail. and the removal
Of the terrible strain from his mind.
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