Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-20
DUFFY GETS FORTY YEARS.
Ambrose Duffy Pleads Guilty to Two In.
dictments and Judge Hobson I'm
poses Extreme Penalty.

The most important development in
district court circles during the past
week was in the case of the State of
Iowa VS.. Ambrose Duffy. There were
four indictments pending against him,
and he was being tried upon the first
one. that of burglary at the Sisters
School in this city. The case had
progressed for "A couple of days and
about eleven O'Clock Thursday morn
ing Duffy, through his attorneys,
withdrew his plea of mot guilty"
and entered plea of guilty. ;"
Judge Hobson then gave him an OPP
portunity to plead to the Indictment
for assault with intent to commit
rape, to Which he also plead guilty !;
then the county attorney dismissed
the two other indictments against
him. The suspense in the corut room
was intense while Judge Hobson
b1sied himself entering his sentence
uPOh tiiN uothCt, anu WliCh lac Itdtt
the decree sentencing Duffy to twenty
years of hard labor at Anamosa on the
first count and twenty years at hard
labor on the second count, the latter
to begin on expiration of the first
sentence, the large number present
could hardly contain themselves.
Judge Hobson also instructed the
sheriff to allow Duffy to see his
parents and then take him i'm
mediately to Anamosa, and he left
on the Rock Island train after dinner
for the penitentiary, accompanied by
Sheriff Qualley and Deputy Sheriff
j. H. Blaess.
This concluded the criminal work
of the court, the case against John
Roberts Ryan having been dismissed
for lack of evidence. Court continued
until Saturday noon when Judge
Hobson adjourned court until Monday
afternoon when business was again
resumed.
The following is record of the
cases disposed of since our last Issue.
State of Iowa VS.. John Roberts.
alias John Roberts Ryan--extortion-
cause dismissed by county attorney
for lack of evidence to convict defend
ant Defendant discharged from Gus
Ody.
State of Iowa VS.. Ambrose Duffy
Observation-Disclosures withdraws plea
of not guilty and pleads guilty.
Sentenced for the term of twenty
years and pay costs of prosecution.
Bail on appeal S., 200.
State of Iowa VS.. Ambrose Duffy
ASSAULT with intent to commit rape
Defendant withdraws plea of not
guilty and pleads guilty as charged.
of breaking and entering with intent
to commit the crime of rape. SEN
fenced to Imprisonment in peniten-
tiary at Anamosa at hard labor for
twenty years, and pay costs of prose-
cution. Term of Imprisonment
under this sentence to begin at such
period as defendant shall be released
from imprisonment under judgment
just pronounced in Case No. $3.50.
Bail on appeal s., 600.
John d. Mullaney VS.. George
Taylor appeal from J. p. jury found
for defendant.
B. Barnett VS.. George Bernatz Sr..
ct al-Judgment for defendants foI
costs.
The following cases were settled
and costs paid:
N. r. Croft VS.. James Birdsell.
Henry Houdek VS.. Thomas Houdek.
Jr
Lewis Meyer VS.. The @. M. & st.
p. Ry.
Court reconvened Monday afternoon
and in calling up the remaining jury
cases two were continued for sufficient
reasons. and the case of Barthell ct "a
VS.. G. M. 81 ST. P. Ry, came up fol
trial During its progress motion
to direct verdict for plaintiffs was
sustained and Judgment granted foI
$3.50. This ending the jury cases, the
jury was discharged yesterday morn
ing. Out of respect to the County
Clerk, s. L. Brickner. whose father
was buried Yesterday, Judge Hobson
did not convene court until late in
the afternoon In will not take many