Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-07-31
No Pardon Given LIfers.

No Pardon Given Llfers.
Des Moines.--None Of the convict0
serving life sentences for murder will
be paroled at this time, nor will s. F..
Smith of Davenport.
That is the decision of the state
board of parole. arrived at last week
and just fled with the governor.
George Weems. who killed conduc-
tors Ridpath: James w. Burns, who
murdered Jerry Corcoran, and Otis
Green, who murderer MS wife. all In
Des Moines, are denied parole, by the
boad.
The case Of s. F. Smith was put
over one year by the board and by
that time he will have almost ex-
hausted his regular term In the pri-
son.
In the case Of Frank Jackman and
Fred Fivecoat. given life sentences
for attempted train wrecking, the
board recommended q parole for Jack
man because he Is afflicted with in
cipient tuberculosis which would
make his Incarceration certainly re-
sponsible for his death within short
time. Fvecoat was denied parole.
The board in its recommendation
antagonistic to the release Of George
Weems, recommended that he be
given a',chance to secure the deposit
tons Of the woman In whose room he
claims to have been at the time that
Conductor Ridpath was shot. as he
insisted, and the dispositions OF such
other witnesses as he claims will aid
him in perfecting his appeal to the
board.
This provision is q part Of the
rules OF the board of parole. which
provides that 1t may take such depo-
sitions into account In determining
whether parole shall be issued.
This leaves the Weems case open
for future consideration if he is able
to produce the testimony that he
claims to have with respect to his
whereabouts the night Of the Ridpath
murder.
Jackman and Fivecoat were given
life sentences by Judge Towner on
conviction of an attempt to wreck a
train near Murray, which. If success
full. would have cost many human
lives. in all probability.
Jackman was carefully examined
by Dr. Emmert of the board of parole
and was found to be suffering from
consumption. 1t was deemed adyis-
able. therefore, to release him on
parole. for in the open air he may
have chance to live But parole
was denied his associate in the crime.
These men have served ten years.
were put in the prison ten years ago
last March. Judge Towner recom-
mended parole in their cases, II their
conduct In prison was satisfactory,
after ten years.
Prouty Admits Defeat.
Judge s. F. Prouty has conceded
the nomination of j. A. T. Hull as the
republican candidate for congress in
the Seventh district. and announced
that he will make no further contest.
being satisfied that Captain Hull has
clear and legal majority of six votes
In the district.
Attorneys who have studied the
matter declare that Judge Prouty
could institute an extremely interest
Ing contest with respect to whether
he or Captain Hull Is entitled to 20
on the ballot. in view Of the failure
OF the executive council to act in re.
gard to declaring the result within
the time provided by the law.
Judge Prouty was asked Il he
expected to stand on any legal and
technical advantage Of that sort and
fight 1t out In the courts. He said
that he would not and that the fight
10 finished SO far as he Is concerned,
Seven Now Are Mentioned.
It Is thought that at least these
seven men win be active candidates
for the republican nomination for
supreme Judge to succeed Justice
Charles A. Bishop. Judges McHenry
and Brennan OF Polk county and
Judge Evans Of Franklin county have
authorized announcement OF their
candidates.. The Jefferson Bee has
presented the name Of Judge Church
Of Greene county. Friends Of Judge
Green OF Audubon county. In this city,
have stated that he would be candi-
date. The names Of Judge Towner
and Mr.. Berry have been connected
with the speculation incident to the
vacancy.
Executive Council Postpones Action.
BY vote Of three to one the exc.
cutive council adopted a resolution
to postpone the declaration Of a result
In the Seventh district congressional
fight until Dallas county's board Of
supervisors. now engaged in re-
count OF ballots as to congress, shall
have had further time In which ia
complete the returns.
New Trial Denied.
Judge James A. Howe oyerruled q
motion for new trial brought by the
Des Moines City Railway company in
Jack Blades damage case and the
company must pay the big Judgment
OF $12.500 awarded by the Jury unless
relief can be secured from the SUI.
preme court. In its petition for an.
other trial, attorneys for the defense