Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-04
General Opinion is that Noted
Hardin County Men Will Be
Released from Prison
STORMS CASE is SENSATIONAL
Accusation Made Against Police of
Burlington of RaiIroadins Him to
Prison-NatonaI Electors to Meet in
Des Moines Next Week-scramb!e
for Messengers Job.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 4.-The state board
Of parole convened today and besides
hearing pleas from two other life con-
victs will take definite action with ref
erence to ss pardon for Frank and
Nathan Rainsbarger, convicted of mur-
der in Hardin county twenty five years
ago. Their pardon has been strenu
ously' resisted by some and as ardently
urged by others. 1t is strongly inti-
mated the two men will be given their
liberty.
The two Rainsbarger boys, it is
stated, have promised the board of par
ole that If liberated they will never
go back to Hardin county or among
their old associates. Both are now
gray haired men. During their long in
generations they have learned trades.
Frank 1t Is said is an expert mechan-
ical craftsman. sucE as can demand
q good compensation anywhere. Nath-
an, 1t Is stated, is I competent me-
c.anic. The two men, it is claimed.
can get good work at once If released.
They mold the remarkable record of
never having one mark placed against
them during the whole twenty-five
years Imprisonment, tho there have
been many different guards over them.
Their prison. record is perfect regard
ing discipline.
In the case of A. d. Storms to be
argued before the board, a sensational
showing will be made. He was con-
victed in Burlington of murder. His
lawyers now claim he was railroaded
by detectives and was forced to con-
fess to the murder after he had been
two days and two nights in police
sweatbox and his mind was not in a
fit condition to make a statement. The
crime charged is that Storms killed
Mrs. Mary Mansfield and daughter in
South Burlington. The charge is made
almost directly that Chief Griener, Of
the Burlington police Iorce. wrung a
confession from Storms under duress
and then melted the members of his
police force to SO stir up the people OF
Wapello against Storms that the case
would be transferred to his county for
trial.
The case Of Orman Mcpherson will
also be heard. He was convicted Of
numbering an officer. His friends claim
he fred without intention of killing
when he was in fear of being lynched.
He has been in since 1897.
Mrs Frank Miller, Of Blacl1hawlS. is
expected to appear and plead for the
liberty of her husband, convicted of
rape. She believes him innocent.
Others whose cases will be heard
are: W. ". Eckman, of Des Moines. in
for rape; Sherman Doolittle. of Des
Moines. horse stealing; Ed Gordon. of
Polk county. robbery: James Young. of
Mahaska county, rape; Fred Albright.
of Des Moines, uttering forged tnstru-
ment.
The great value OF the farms owned
by the state of Iowa In keeping down
expenses at the various state institu-
tons, especially the state hospitals, Is
shown by the fact that while the cost
Of living has enormously increased. the
per capita allowance for the support
of the institutions has been decreased.
The board Of control estimates that
this is largely due to the fact of the
large farms on which so much is
grown that goes to the tables of the
inmates. When the board took con-
troll the per capita allowance was SIG
1t is now $12 per month and not an
S,~ A kl.@
time the cost Of all food, clothing and
fuel has increased from 20 to 40 per
cent; and in addition the food and SER
vice at all the institutions is vastly
better than it was before. It is be-
lieved that all the institutions may be
continued right along without asking
the legislature for an increase in the
allowance The soldiers home has been
given more money because Of the fact
that 1t Is now more of a hospital than
1. home, as nearly all the inmates re-
quire hospital treatment and care.
ess
One week from today there will be a
meeting at the state capitol Of the
national electors named at the last
general election and a lively contest
over the selection Of a messenger to
carry the Iowa vote on president and
vice president to Washington is an
ticipated. The position pays some-
thing and is an especial honor. All
of the electors are men who belonged
to the "standpat" faction of the re-
publican party. NJ. W. Bailey of Wash
ington. is said TO be candidate for
messenger. The electors who will meet
are Thomas r. Anderson of Warren
county. John II. Anundson of Cerro
Gordo county, Marsh w. Bailey Of
Washington, F. d. Let's of Davenport,
w. f. Ray of Butler county, D. H.
Bowen of Waukon. w. c. Walters Of
Toledo, William NJ. Reece of Wapello
county, Walker NJ. Black of Des
Moines, Alexander Mardis of Corydon,
Almer Stern of Harrison county.
George W. Hanna of kossuth county,
John Boeyink Of Sioux county.