Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-14

HALEY AMONG THE NUMBER
Brilliant Editor Of the Prison Press
Has Splendid Offers Awaiting Him
w. F. GIyndon Has Accumulated
Pension Money Sufficient to Keep
Him Alive Balance of Days.


Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. 14.-Ten Iowa life
convicts have filed notice with the
governor Of Iowa that they will ap-
ply to the Thirty-third general assem-
bly, that convenes Jan. II for pardons.
They are:
Leonard Haley, Dubuque county.
L. r. vanTassel, Chickasaw county.
w. P. Glyndon, Story county.
Thomas W. Watson, Mills county. j.
Albert Parnitzke, Van Buren, county.
John Penny, Emmett county.
w. E. Alexander, Polk county.
w. H. H. Jones, Henry county.
G. III. Woodward, Decatur county.
Thomas C. Robinson, Howard coun-
ty
One of the most tragic cases is that
of Jones, of Henry county, He was
convicted with Charles Fields for mur-
der in 1899. Jones protested his inno-
cence. Just before Fields died he made
a written confession that he alone was
guilty and Jones was entirely inno-
cent. That was three years ago. The
warden for some unexplainable reason
pigeonholed the confession. There has
since been a change of wardens and
the confession is lost. There are three
living witnesses to the writing and
signing of the confession who will tes-
tify in behalf of Jones'
A pathetic story is back of the ap-
peal OF w. P. Glyndon, who has served
almost thirty years in the Fort Madi-
son prison and protests his innocence
to this day. He is a veteran Of the civil
war, having served in the Seventh In
dependent company of the Ohio volun-
'teers sharpshooters, and he draws a
pension That pension has amassed
until it is sufficient to keep him the
remainder of his days if the legisla-
ture will but give him freedom.
Leonard Haley is under life sentence,
convicted Of having killed policeman
in Dubuque. He was a stranger and
was convicted on circumstantiai evil
dence. He was tramping over the coun-
try and admits he has not divulged his
real name in order to protect his fam
lily. While in prison he has developed
marked literary ability and has offers
of positions on several publications as
soon as he is at liberty.
Thomas w. Watson was sent from
otf
to the fact he has served over a quar-
ter of a century in prison and calls
attention to the fact that that is longer
than the average life of the prisoner.
c. Fl. Woodward who was sent to
the penitentiary from Decatur county
for poisoning his wife in 1905 claims
absolute innocence.
W. Fl. Alexander is a colored man
convicted in Des Moines of shooting his
own brother in the back. He claims he
acted in self defense.
Thomas C. Robinson was committed
from Howard county, convicted of
poisoning his twin children. He claims
he is innocent.
John Penny, who has served since
1899 claims he was convicted on false
testimony.
Parnitzke has served in prison
since 1891 for the murder of a girl. He
was but 18 when convicted.
Van Tassel, who has served since
1896, claims he was convicted on per-
jured testimony. He was accused Of
killing his wife and the state held out
the motive that he was in love with her
younger sister, whom 1t claimed he
wished to marry. Van Tassel admitted
having bought poison about that time
but claims it was for rats.
1t is expected some interesting testi
mony will be given before the pardons
committee in these cases. 1t is likely
that the question Of granting paroles
will be taken up also in January in a
number of interesting life cases by the
state board of parole. The famous
Rainsbarger brothers case has been
continued to that time.
There was less crime in Iowa dur
ing the past year than during the pre-
ceding year according to the report of
the secretary of state now being COM
piled from the reports of the district
court clerks thruout the state. Indica-
,tions are that this report will show a
decided improvement in the social con-
dition of the state. The offenses for
which men and women were convicted
were not as heinous as some have been
in the past. The report will be COM
pleted probably during the next two
weeks.
There is considerable speculation as
to what the new house of representa-
tiyes will do during the coming ses-
sion of the general assembly regarding
and reform. Last assem-
bly house eliminated most all the COM
mite clerks retaining but about
dozen, who We're required to pass
test as to qualifications made by
committee Of the house. This move
ment for retrenchment did not appeal
to the senate and each senator had
appointed a committee clerk for him
self. In the upper house two sena-
tors had their wives appointed ana