Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-30
Looker-On In Iona

| Alexander. Jan 30-NoW that the
murderer of Trimble is safely in Jail ut
Eldora. some of the unjust CRITICISMS
on Sheriff Walsh's work and action in
the whole business, fall flat. But this
| fact stands plainly out, the murderer
had whole week to escape and could
have been in California or Name II he
had had the inclination. And the offic-
ials of nearly all adjoining towns
claim that the first official notice they
had of a murder at Union at ll:lo sat
urday night, came to them the Moh-
day afternoon following. Now While 1t
is easy for the people and the papers
everywhere to find fault with our po-
/ lice officials, and frequently SUCH Oh
tcials do not let the public Know OF
| the actual work they are doing this be-
cause such publicity may upset their
| plans and probable capture of Grim
mails, still it must be admitted our sys-
tenn for the capture of such men as
Winters is lamentably weak. There is
the lack of a head with money and
power to do things, and concerted ac-
ton is seldom made. With all this view
a suggestion made by one of the resi-
dents of Hardin county and commented
on by others is interesting just now.
His idea is for Iowa to have a state
mounted police to consist of one COM
mander in chief living in Des Moines.
AS .liutenants every sheriff in Iowa.
should have such title and power. Then
each city marshal should also be
member of the state mounted police.
| And all of these officials should have
power to swear in other men when oc-
casion demands He does not propose
to put the state to the expense of pay
I ing these mounted police for their en-
tire time Rather, let such men in adj
dtion to their regular pay from coun-
ty, city and town, be made an allow
ancc from the state funds. say $50 to
500 year, sufficient for the keep Of
a horse. and require them to own one
/ and then pay them per diem when
actually engaged in work like that of
securing the person of such men as
| Winters
| He illustrates the working of such
system of state mounted police by what
| would have happened at Union on the
night of the Trimhle murder. First the
! city marshal of Union would have at
once notified Sheriff Walsh of Eldora
! The marshal would also Immediately
have sworn in other men with horses
! to follow the fugitive At once Sher-
| iff Walsh would have telegraphed the
| chief of mounted police at Des Moinas,
and at the same time every city mar
shall in Hardin county Until the chief
at Des Moines began giving orders by
wire to Sheriff Walsh and other sher-
| ifs in adjoining counties Sheriff Walsh
would be in control of the mounted po-
| lice in Hardin county. When the chief
arrived from Des Moines he of course
would take command This outlines the
proposed plan. Our legislators can
| work out the details.
| While on this subject it can be men
toned that the people of Hardin coua-
| ty especially those of Union. are not
| fayoring mob law in this or any other
case, but there is a deep seated feel
/ ing of the need of swift and sure JUS
| tice The talked of action of the grand
jury taking up this case at once meets
with general approval. Also that the
| evidence shall be clear and conclusive.
Also that the sentence and execution
of the sentence shall be carried out
within the limits prescribed by law
ITO state it in a way every citizen OF
lthis part of the state understands OK
.actly what it means, they will not
stand for repetition of the Busse
murder case. Judge whoever he may be.
jury wherever the case may be tried.
and attorneys of both sides of the case.
no matter where they come from. all
of them, judge. jury and lawyers, want
to realize just what the words mean,
eve Hardin county people will not
have another Busse case"