Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-19
IOWA CENSUS
NEAR COMPLETION
Gathering of Statistics Will
Take About Two Weeks
More of Time
FALLoN TO FOLLOW DENlsoN
Will be Principal Attorney for the State
In Prosecution of the Omaha Gam
bier at Red oak-Peculiar Indict-
nent for Carrying Burglar Tools
Lower Courts Decision.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times
Des Moines, April 19.-The census of
Iowa is within about two weeks of
completion so far as gathering the
statistics is concerned 1t will be some
time vet before the office of the secre-
tary of the executive council has COM
pleted the work of tabulating the fig
ures so that they can be published
Secretary A. II. Dawson has lately
made inquiry of the county auditors
and the best information from all of
them is that they are about two
thirds or three-fourths thru gathering
the facts, and that In about two weeks
more practically all the returns will be
in and forwarded. In the case of some
cities there will be a delay Sioux
City In Woodbury. county will not be
reported for some time for the reason
that the assessors there took the as
sessment first and the census was not
begun until after the assessment was
all completed. There will also be de-
lay in Crawford county in the case or
Denison for some reason or other. The
information from the county auditors
to the executive council is that the
rural districts are only holding their
own, while the cities will show a gain
in population.
County Attorney L. w. Fallon will
follow the Tom Dennison case to Red
Oak and will be the principal attorney
for the state in the prosecution of the
Omaha gambler. This is according to
rule of the courts of this state that
the county attorney Of the county
where the indictment is returned shall
follow the case if he so desires and has
the time. In almost all the big cases
the attorney does follow the case and
has to assist him the attorney of the
county where the case is tried The
county attorney at Red Oak is +. P.
Greenlee who is said to be an attorney
of considerable experience and ability.
The states case will thus be strength
ened by the addition of another attor-
ney as Attorney Elmer 3. Thomas Of
Omaha will still be in the case to assist
the state.
A case of unusual interest is to be
presented to the supreme court at the
next period in the case of the state Of
Iowa against John c. Erdlen of Wapel-
10 county. Erdlen was indicted by the
grand jury of that county for having
burglar tools in his possession. The
indictment was only about four lines
long and fails to describe the tools or
to allege that they were in his posses
sion for any illegal purpose. On this
ground the case was appealed by Erd-
len, whose attorneys claim that if such
an Indictment will hold good then every
chambermaid in every hotel in the
county can be indicted for they all car
ry skeleton keys. Assistant Attorney
General DeGraff is preparing the argu
ment in the case for the state at this
time. The conviction of the man in the
lower court gives some weight to the
possibility that the supreme court may
sustain the conviction. The arguments
of the attorneys in the lower court
bring. out the claim that the intent
can be shown in the evidence and tes-
tilnony and become a part of the case
as much as the indictment
and that an Indictment against
a chambermaid could hardly
be brought in the same manner as
there could be no evidence that she
possessed the skeleton keys for othe.
than lawful purpose.
There seems to be small chance for
William Spry, assistant engineer at the
state house, being elevated to the posi-
ton of chief engineer to succeed j. S.
Goodrell, who has resigned. Mr.. Spry
is the principal candidate at this time
for the position. 1t was expected
there would be "a rush of candidates,
but thus far the engineers of the coun-
try do not seem to have learned of the
vacancy. 1t will be some little time
before Mr.. GoodrelPs resignation takes
effect and in the meantime it is UNDER
stood that Custodian T. q. McCurdy is
looking for man of technical educa-
ton and he will possibly be secured
from outside the state. The appoint
ment will be made by the custodian
with the approval of the governor, but
the governor will leave the matter all
most entirely with the custodian, sat-
isfying himself only that the appoint
ment is a worthy one. 1t is Mr.. Nc
Curdys idea that the position should
be filed by a man who has had
school education in engineering as well
as practical experience. The position
pays a salary of $1,000 year and the
position as first assistant. which is
held by Mr.. Spry, pays $1,000 a year
Mr.. Spry's engineering education is
said to have come entirely from ex-
perience serving under engineers.
The matter Of the estate of John
Wregie which it was thought might
escheat to the state of Iowa, is in the
hands of the attorney general for in
vestiga tion. The will gives the prop
erty amounting to several thousand
dollars to charity and names an exc
cutor, but does not give any plans for
the distribution of the estate. Wregic