Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-04
WITHHOLDING OF CLEMENcY TO
RAiNssARGERs MEETS WITH
DIsAPPRovAL.
MAJORITY IN HARDIN
IN FAVOR OF PAROLE
Governor Charged With Violating
Promise in Sending Case Back to
New Parole Board Following Fa-
vorabIe Action-Paroles Granted in
Less Deserving Cases.
Special to Times-Republican.

Eldora, Oct. 4.-The action OF Gov
ernor Carroll on Tuesday in refusing
clemency or parole for Nathan and
Of twenty-five years, have been i'm
prisoned in the reformatory at Ana
, mosa, created no little comment here,
much of which is adverse to the find
ing of the governor.
Some three years ago or more two
of the then board of parole. P. A.
Smith, of Scranton. and DR.. Emmert. OF
Atlantic, after giving one of the most
searching Investigations of the case in
this county, recommended to the gov
ernor that after the Rainsbargers had
served twenty-five years they be re-
leased.
Carroll Breaks Promise.
Governor Carroll stated to Eldora
citizens who interviewed him last win
ter relative to his probable action in
this case that he would give the mat
ter his persona! attention and would
not ask that the case be again called
to the attention Of practically new
'NotN VI ps1AO3 1-hSl SdiiiiiSA' AIoS
withstanding the governors statement
OF the previous winter. the new board
Of parole. together with the governor,
came into Hardin county and again
presumed to make an investigation of
the Rainsbarger case.
The action of the governor in this
case seems strange. too, in view Of its
Inconsistency when compared with his
attitude in other cases when there was
possibly not so much politics to divert
attention from the main issue In the
Clemens case, whert there was posi-
lively no doubt Of the murder by
Clemens Of one Burgduff, a parole Of
the accused and condemned man came
after only a few years Of penal service.
Still another instance, where plenty Of
evidence could and can yet be secured
touching the guilt of the man imprison-
ed for the crime was the case of w. p
Glyndon, who was incarcerated for the
murder of a defenseless girl Just over
the line in Grundy county east OF Ell
dora. The governor brought no brass
bands or heralded his coming previous
to the liberation Of either Of these men,
but when the Rainsbarger case came
up for investigation he acts entirely
different.
Novak Case Cited.
Then. again, take the case OF Novak
In Linn county. He too was liberated
when there was not half as much doubt
regarding his guilt as there is in the
Rairsbarger case. In neither of the two
trials Of the Rainsbargers for the al
legged killing Of Enoch Johnson were
they ever proven closer than two miles
to the scene Of the crime. In this state
the law has always said that one ac
cused Of the commission Of a crime
should have the crime proven against
him beyond reasonable doubt and
that he should be given the benefit OF
any lacking link in the chain of evil
dence tending to connect him with the
commission Of the offense.
Sentiment For Parole.
Nearly thirty years have now elapsed
since Enoch Johnson was found lying
dead by the roadside between Eldora
and Clifford. II Enoch Johnson was
murdered the deed was committed the
night OF Nov. 1s,1SS4 The Rainsbarg-
ers We're arrested the following January
and have ever since that time been
either in Jail or the penitentlary. In
he light Of present facts and in view
Of the case after prejudice and feeling
have melted away during the interven-
ing years the friends of the men .incar
cerated honestly believe that they
should now be liberated because of the
doubt in their case and by reason Of
the fact that turnout their imprison-
ment they have been model prisoners
and if liberated uow when the shadows
are growing long in life's afternoon
they would be good citizens. Your cor
respondent has visited the Rainsbarger
boys on numerous occasions ana in the
talking over of the case he never heard
either Of them breathe the spirit Of
vindictiveness.