Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-13
1.-THE DOUGLASS
JURY DISAGREES.
AND THE RYAN CASES ARE DISMISSED
BY THE STATE.
Douglass Jury Unable TO Agree After Being
Out Twenty.three Hours. County Attor.
ney Dismisses Ryan Cases and
Prisoner is Discharged. Duffy
Case is Now On.


been an interesting one, and during
every session the court room has
been packed with spectators. The
Mullaney case, which was on as we
printed our last issue, was con-
tinued by consent. on account of fail
ure to secure witnesses.
On Thursday the jury was drawn in
the case of the State of Iowa VS.. J. N.
Douglass, charged with assault with
intent to commit rape, and the case
lasted until yesterday. The defense
attempted to prove an alibi. claiming
| that he was working in the country at
the time stated. The attorneys,
Strand and Sayre for the state, John
son and Kaye for the defense, began
their arguments on Saturday, closing
them Monday morning, and the jury
was sent ont little after ten o'clock.
They labored faithfully until ten
O'Clock last night, when they called
Judge Hobson and Reporter Comstock
to the court house to read over some
parts of the testimony. After wrang-
ling while longer they retired, and
at nine O'Clock this morning they
were still unable to come to an agree
ment. Coming into Court and report
ing this fact, Judge Hobson dis,
charged them. The jury stood seven
for acquittal and five for conviction.
Whether Douglass will be given an
otf er trial or will be set free has
not yet been stated. = fa.t
The case of the State of Iowa VS.
John Roberts Ryan, charged with
extortion under two different counts,
went by the boards before the testi-
mony was all in for the defense.
The defendant was charged with at
tempting to force persons at Castalia
to do something against their will
The defense produced numerous wit
nesses, papers, checks. receipts, etc,
to show that the defendant was at
Rochester, Mimi, or near there, at
the time stated, and the evidence
was so positive that this morning
after the opening of court County
Attorney Strand dismissed the case.
and the prisoner was discharged
This included. of course, both indict-
ments. There is 10 doubt that he was
not the man.
AS we go to press, the case of the
State of Iowa VS.. Ambrose Duffy is
on, and the jury is being drawn.
There are four indictments against
him, the first one TO be tried being
that of breaking into the Sisters
School, the charge being burglary,
with intent TO commit rape In
terest in this case will probably be as
intense as the Douglass case, for it
promises to be racy, and such cases
can always be depended upon to draw
crowds.
Following are the other matters
disposed of since the opening of the
court:
State of Iowa VS. John ID. Null
laney-continued by consent as per
stipulation.
K. +. b. Portman VS.. Blanche S.
Kirby-defendant adjudged insane, r.
f. b. Portman appointed permanent
guardian
Reports of referees approved in cases
of:
Catherine Mccormick VS.. Matthew
Mccormick ct al
&. Christen VS.. Emma Hayes ct al
Defaults and DEGREES accordingly
were entered in the following cases !:
f. g. Schanck VS.. Dewitt Brady
ct al. Decree quieting title as prayed.
+. g. Schanck VS.. Frederick A.
Olds ct al. Decree quieting title as
prayed.
John Wirshing VS. l.. J. Orke,
Judgment for sls6.OO
Ralph w. Parliman Elk ct al VS..
Tena Woods ct al. Decree as prayed
Mary Il. Wilson VS.. G. A. Nelson =
divorce granted to plaintiff.
Anna Rose christopher VS.. Grace
Clara Christopher ct al--shares es-
tablished as alleged. sale ordered.
Ben Bear referee. l.. j. Anderson,
Col Birdsell. f. j. Hook appraisers.
T. f. Lavalle VS.. Charley G. Barrett,
judgment for $32 SO.
| Judgments by consent were secured
in the following cases for amount,
specified
Hannah & Hogg VS. Knudtson &
Co. ct al. SOL 2l
Monarch Coal Company VS.. f.
Rudolph d Co. ct al, $222 7S.