Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-29
CASE AGAINST EXECUTIVE ON
CHARGE OF LlBELING CoWNIE
is DRAWING TO A CLOSE THIS
AFTERNOON.
GIRLS AFFIDA Wis
PLACED IN EVIDENCE
CHARGES OF INMATES OF THE RE-
FORM SCHOOL UPON WHICH
GOVERNOR BASED CHARGES
MADE PART OF TESTIMONY.

Des Moines, Sept. 27.-lSpecial.) ~
The trial of Governor Carroll on {
charge Of criminally libeling Johr
CoWnie is drawing to close. Gross
an redirect examination of the COVER
nor was concluded this morning and
| the examination of states witnesses IN
rebuttal is in progress this afternoon
The states fight to show malice on the
part of the governor was a sharp one
this morning. Objections to the ques-
tons asked the witnesses by Attorney
Reid for the state were entered freely
by the defense, but the prosecution
brought out number OF points favor
able to their side. Attorney Reid first
brought out that Governor Carroll said
nothing of the afiidavits secured from
Mitchellville employees to Mr.. COwnie
during or prior to their conversation
in which Mr.. Cownie's resignation was
demanded.
Defense Wins Point.
The governor also testified on cross
examination that if Mr.. Cownie knew
that an investigation was in. progress
at Mitchellville he did not learn it from
him. The state lost a strong point
when it sought to show that when Cow
ME questioned the girls at Mitchell
vile as to their past lives he was only
acting in his official capacity in line
with the custom of the board to as
certain whether or not girls about to
be paroled were suffering from disease.
The court sustained an objection to
this and also sustained an objection
to Mr.. Reid's question as to whether
or not Governor Carroll had revealed
to committee of the humane society
which waited upon him, the nature OF
the charges which had been made
against Cownie. The governor denied
under cross-examination that Mrs. Nc
Grath. an employe at Mitchellville, had
stated to him that Mr.. Cownie's ad-
dress to the school in which he said
he would have been ringleader in the
outbreak Of ten years ago. was an ap-
propriate and perfectly proper one.
The affidavits signed by inmates of
the Mitcbelville Industrial school for
girls accusing Mr.. Cownie. We're intro
duced into evidence Yesterday after
noon.
The affidavits sworn to by four Of
the girls. were to the effect that Mr..
Cownie had asked them improper
question. had put his hands on them.
and asked one, Jessie I>oubscher, to sit
on his lap.
'velma Howard. one of the larger
lknates of the institution" testified
The governor. told me that Mr. Cow
ME had been to her cottage January
10. She said Cownie's conduct was not !
what it should have been. She said Mr.. |
Cownie had called her to him and |
placed his hand on her leg.
Jesse Loubscher. another girl. told !
ne that Mr.. Cownie had asked her to
sit on his lap. and that he also put his |
hands on her.
Concerning the alleged sale OF dis
,ased cattle the governor said
"The state veterinarians found cat
lie in the herd of mich cows at Glen
wood that were diseased, and told Mr..
Cownie that the cattle could not be
'old. Later the veterinarians reported
hat the cattle had disappeared and had
,een sold in the open markets OF Om-
tie. The tag placed in the ears Of the
,atle showing them diseased had been
'emoved at Glenwood before the cat
lie We're shipped"