Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-28
GIRL FACES
SERIOUS CHARGE.
LUCY THOMAS CHARGED WITH
Subscribing PosToFFlcE
FUNDS At HOOKING
RILEY DECLARED SANE
Man Who Wrote Obscene letters to
Daughter Held Responsible by
Physicians Marquette
Given Year and 4 Day

Charged with the appropriating Of
postoffice funds to the extent of some
$500 while acting as clerk in the post
office at Hooking, a small mining
camp near Abba. young Miss Lucy
Thomas is the center of attraction in
the United States court today as she
sits near her aged mother in the
court room. Small In stature and limo.
cent in appearance, the defendant ex'
cited the sympathy of the many pres
ent in the court room as the charges
were stated to the Jury by United
States District Attorney M. l.. Temple
at the opening Of the case. The jury
was summoned to take places In the
box about 10:45 and the work OF
selecting the jury was begun with ex-
petition. Miss Thomas is but slip
of girl and the charge against her
is that of using funds belonging to
the money order department Of the
Hooking postoffice during 1910s pre-
vious to November. Her indictment
took place several months ago at
Keokuk. A move was on foot to have
the trial at the Des Moines session OF
the federal court, but Judge McPher-
son after ascertaining that the district
attorney was ready for trial. expressed
a disinclination to hold the hearing
over to the Des Moines session.
Riley Declared Sane.
Judge Smith Mcpherson appointed a
commission of three physicians to ex-
aiming Ed. p. Riley. the man who
wrote the obscene and threatening
letters to his daughter, as to his san
ity. and named Doctors A. o. Williams.
J. F. Herrick and j. G. Box. The court
stated that in the exercise of justice,
the prisoner should be examined and
if insane should not be given the pun
ishment that otherwise should be
melted out to him. The three physi-
clans assembled in the room of the
this morning and after
taking the testimony of Riley, his
daughter. Mrs. Tweedel, and other wit
nesses, decided that Riley was both
sane and responsible for his actions.
The court will pronounce Judgment on
the prisoner tomorrow morning.
Marquette to Prison.
For robbing mail boxes at the Abba
postoffice and taking valuable mail
matter consisting chiefly of bank
drafts and other negotiable paper,
Warren Marquette Of Abba was SEN
fenced yesterday afternoon to a term
Of one year and one day in the federal
prison at Ft. Leavenworth in Kansas.
case came to the notice Of
he federal authorities month ago
and he was brought by Deputy United
States Marshal Frank Hardy and Post.
,ffice Inspector John Welbourn to Of
,umwa, where he was given a hearing
before United States Commissioner A.
W. Enoch. After hearing the evidence
against the young man, whom it was
shown had apprised the authorities of
Abba where they could and did find
some Of the stolen mail matter he
was bound over to the federal grand
ury by Commissioners Enoch and
when that ody reported he pleaded
guilty to the charge yesterday morn
ng. His sentence was passed upon
lin yesterday afternoon. He will be
aiken to prison next week.
Slamal Suit Last.
Following the passing Of judgment
IN Warren Marquette. the court re-
;umed the hearing of the Slamal dam
lge suit for $4,000 against the Iowa
Central railroad and at the completion
u I1c IeSLlIuOuy, d LuoIlOu LUZ d
directed verdict alleging contributory
negligence on the part of the dead
nan, Charles Robbins, who was killed
while alighting from an engine, was
lreued by the counsel. The court this
morning at the opening of today's ses- !
ion ruled in favor of the defendant
md the case was taken from the jury !
nd dismissed in favor Of the railroad /
ompany. The plaintiff will probably
axe the case to the United States
curt of appeals.