Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-12
BUSSE
CASE: is
BLAM ED
Leniency Shown Murderer
Who Escaped Death
Penalty Goaded
Citizens

| The dispatches from Charles City
| state that members Of the mob SAID
| they were wreaking Vengeance on the
/ murderer on account of the escape OF
| Louis Busse, wife murderer In an
adjacent county, from legal execution.
Busse murdered his wife in Butler
county, June IS, 1901. He was tried
| in Bremen county on change of VEN
ue in the spring of 1902 and was SEN
fenced to hang. Under the law he
could not be hanged within a year
from the date of his conviction, which
gave him time to appeal. The date OF
| his execution was fixed for April II,
1908
An appeal was taken but the SUI
preme court divided on the question
of whether or not he had fair trial.
Uuder the law this even divisior acted
! in affirmation Of the Judgment OF the
lower court dividedbgkq bgk bgk gkk
| lower court. Gibson & Dawson. attor-
Deys for Busse, began habeas corpus
proceedings TO secure his release on
| technical grounds. This was denied
and the supreme court then expressed
the view of it's members to the COVER
nor to the effect that it would be bad
policy tc send any man to the gibnet
! in Iowa by the operation Of the arbi-
trary rule relative to even division Of
the supreme tribunal, when one-half
of that court believed the man had
not had fair trial.
Three Hangings Since 1890.
There have been three legal hang
ings in Iowa since 1890.
James o. Dooley of Adams county
was hanged Oct. 10, 1894. He had
murdered his sweetheart. He was 1G
years of age at the time of his eXecu
ton.
j. K. Cumberland of Shelby county
was hanged Feb. S,1S95. He had muir
dered two men at Hardan and was not
captured for two years after his crime
He was 40 years of age at the time OF
hih execution.
Joseph Smith, colored, was hanged
April 90 1906. He had killed woman
with whom he was in love, but who
had repealed his attentions after hav
ing at first accepted them. He was
43 years of age at the time of his exc
cution.
Louis Busse was first sentenced tc
hang on April IT, 1908. Four times at
forwards the date was fixed and at
last, on the suggestion of the supreme
court, the governor committed his sen
tence to life imprisonment. This was
supposed to meet with general approx
al for the reason that a strong move
ment had been started some time age
for the repeal of the capital punish
u ,,,,s, e
During the last ten years nine men
4 including Busse, sentenced to death
on the gallows, in Iowa, escaped exc
cution. Eight of them are serving life
sentences. One, on retrial, was found
not guilty
Nine Have Escaped Execution.
The nine men who have been sen
fenced to hang but escaped execution
on retrial during the last ten years il
Iowa were:
Harry Hortman of Cherokee county
who killed his sweetheart in a restau
rant. pleaded guilty and later changed
his plea, and on being retired, got {
life sentence.
Dick Williams of Keokuk county
who murdered woman and on retrial
after a death sentence, was given life
imprisonment
Louis Phillips and Albert G. Brook:
of Buena Vista county, who killed
members of a citizene posse who hat
caught them robbing a bank, and who
on retrial, were given life impriso1
, ment
Charles Rocker of Lyon county, who
was sentenced to hang for the murde
of hie G,,a@ S,,.l.,.1 "a
was found not guilty on retrial.
Charles Stegall of Scott county
whose death sentence was affirmed
by the court, but whose sentence wa
COMMITTED by Governor Shaw to LIE
imprisonment. He is now petitionin!
the present legislature for pardon.
George Weems and John Hammil
of Polk county, whose death sentenc
was affirmed by the court, but who's
> sentence was committed by Governo
Drake to life imprisonment. Weem
! is now petitioner for pardon and Ya
J mill is insane.
Louis Busse of Butler county, who's
death sentence was conmuted to III
!, imprisonment on recommendation O
+ the supreme court by Governor Gun
Minis
! The supreme court has affirmed tn
T death sentence Of four of the min
cases.
Governor Shaw committed one mul
derer's death sentence to life impris
onment. Governor Drake two and Go,
: ernor Cummins one!
shall, but Cullen broke away from tn
crowd and securing gun. shot tn
y boy.
!. Later Cullen attempted to kill hin
r self. but inflicted merely a Sigh
4 scalp wound.
0 A Guaranteed Cure for Piles.
! Itching, blind .protrudine niJes