The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-10-04

public official has been thus en-
phatically and signally exonerated
from an unjust and uncalled for
charge.
Atlantic Telegraph: The verdict was
expected. At no time during the prog
ress of the case has there appeared
to be chance for any other verdict.
1t is extremely fortunate for Carroll,
for the Republican state ticket and
for the party at large that the verdict
is as it is.
AS for Mr.. Cownie he practically lost
his own case by losing his temper.
This was no doubt due to an old mans
eagerness to clear his name of scan
dal. After all is said the remarks Gown
lie made on the stand relative to the
fact that these things will stick to
me as long as live points to the
most unfortunate feature Of the whole
case. Mr.. Cownie swore that the gov
ernor said that whether true or false
the charge would stick to Cownie. I'm
der the verdict they are likely to stick
in some measure at least, whether
they are founded in fact or not Mr..
Cownie cannot be said to be man
of great tact. He probably should
have known better than to jump on a
governor without more evidence to
support his case. A governor has
some privileges in comparison with
other employees of the state. The
jury says that the governor is not
guilty of criminal libel. The jury
did not even take long to deliberate.
1t is apparent that the jury felt
there was no question about the
nocence of the accused. Governor
Carroll is entitled to all the consid-
Grafton and vindication which COM
plete generation by jury of his
peers vouchsafes to any man who has
been on trial.
Des Moines Capital: Governor Car
roll is fit subject for congratulation
although very small number of peo
pie only expected any other verdict
1t is fair to say that after Governor
Carroll gave his own evidence not
lawyer in the court room expected the
governor to be found otherwise than
innocent
Govrnor Carroll did what he thought
was his duty and stood by his position
with noteworthy courage.
1t is understood that the governor
! insisted on immediate trial. He die
not want it postponed until after The
election. He did not ask a continu
ance. He felt confident that he hat
done right and he was willing that the
! case should be heard by twelve men
/ The complaining witness employed
4 some of the best lawyers in the cit!
! to prosecute the governor. The coun
! ty attorney did little more than t.
make the opening statement. TIT
case was fought over every inch o
the ground The governor was abb.
I defended His rights were protected
from start to finish The governor
attorneys were confident that the.
overlooked nothing and before thu
case reached the jury 1t was simpl.
a question of malice, and that wa
undertaken to be established by tn
conduct of the governor in tellin,
certain editors and other public mel
some of the reasons for his action il
opposing the continuance of Hor
John Cownie on the board of contro
Another question was, Had the gov
ernor in his published article In repl
to Hon. John Cownie introduced an
new subject which Mr. Cownie ha
/, not presented? In both these instar
ces the jury found for Governor Cal
roll
}, Hon. John Cownie's best friends rea
! ize that he was made the victim G
) bad advice They also feel that tn
: advice given Mr. Cownie was no
, prompted by desire to do him goot
!, but by an inclination to play the gam
, of politics.
: The attorneys representing the go,
t ernor at no time charged Hon job
Cownie with immortality.
We have no doubt that this entir
} matter has been great sorrow to Nj
4 Cownie and to his intimate friend,
/ But he should have taken the advice {
= men who had no political axes t
y grind
n