Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-07
MATTERS IN THE DISTRICT COURT
Wilding IL Acquitted on the Charge
of Extortion.


The case OF the state of Iowa against
Z A. Wilding. charged with attempting
to extort money from Charles McKeovn.
a farmer OF Crescent township, by sending
him black hand letters, was given to
the jury shortly after 4 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. About II O'Clock the Jury re-
turned a verdict OF not guilty. He was
Immediately arrested by the federal au-
thorities for sending a threatening letter
through the mails TO w. Swanson. a gro
ceryman at 7H North Tenth street. wIldins
was on the witness stand and denied that
he wrote the threatening letter to McKeown.
His testimony was brief and was confined
to the denial OF the authorship of the let
ter.
The defense offered c.. F.. Price and c.
Konigmaoher of the Council Bluffs Ma
tional bank, @. F. Spooner Of the First
National bank, and Warren Hough. as
handwriting exeperts. Their Testimony
was to the effect that the letter received
by McKeown and samples OF the defend
ants handwriting appeared to be the work
OF different persons. Mr.. Price said that
in his opinion there were striking differ.
ences between the letter received by Nc
Keown and the writing known to be tina,
of the defendant.
Joseph WluNlB, Idtner OF the 0eIendant
testified that his son told him about Nc
Keown receiving the threatening letter or
December 1, that being the time his sor
first heard about Il.
Mrs. Charles McKeown. who was called
by the state. testified to seeing wildins
on the road between Council Bluffs and
Crescent while she and her husband were
returning home from Council Bluffs, on the
day when. according to the demand made
in the threatening letter received by heI
husband. the latter. was to deposit the
money for the might riders.
The trial of George League, charged with
embexzlement of funds belonging to the
firm OF Frank & Campbell by which hi
was formerly employed, Is set for today
A motion for a change OF venue IN the
damage suit of Charles r. Case against
Or. r. w. Houghton OF this city and DIR
A. p. Condor of Omaha was filed yester.
day in the district court on behalf OF the
defendants, IL being alleged that prejudice
exists here because one of the defend.
ants practices surgery in Pottawattam nil
county, though a resident Of Omaha. The
motion asks that thu trial Of the case taxi
place in the next nearest county or dis.
trlct, to which no objection exists. CHASE
asks damages on the alleged claim thai
the defendants. left a piece OF absorbent
cotton In his body following an operation
The defendants in their answers claim tina
II the sponge was LETT in the body Of
the patient, the fact was due to the care.
lessness Of nurses.
Drs. Condor and Houshton both present
affidayits In support of the motion. DR.
Condor in his affidavit says that the cues.
tions OF fact involved in the case are
largely. medical and the surgeons and
nurses OF Council Bluffs would be wit,
nesses for the plaintiff. Prejudice, DIR
lGondon asserts, exists here, against hin
because he practices in this county, though
living in Omaha,
DR.. Houghton in his affidavit declares
that prejudice would also be directed
against him because of the fact that Tho
operation was performed on his patient
by DR.. Condor.
An affidavit signed by George F. Ham
ilton, ID. B. Beno and r. E, Daniels. Il
also attached to the motion in suppor1
of the allegation that prejudice exists her,
to such an extent as to prevent the de
PENDANTS from obtaining a fair and impair
tial trial.