Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-06-27
Increases Cost to State.

he pOllSy VI lAS olulC ooHAN W
parole in making prisoners in the
penitentiary and the reformatory
serve longer sentences, now than
they did under the old determinate
sentence law, has increased cost OF
keeping prisoners by $37,4ss in four
years. In those same four years the
number of commitments to the two
institutions have been decreasing at
the rate of forty per year.
The sum of SOS per year is allow.
ed by the legislature for the keep Of
each prisoner. This is the minimum.
With the increase in the number Of
| prisoners in the institutions each
year, it is seen that a continuance of
the policy of the board means pro-
portionate increase in the total cos,
each year.
Added to this expense is the $40
per day which the board receives,
$500 per year for the secretary's
salary, $125 per month for the state
parole agent, and SIS per month for
each of two stenographers. Then
there are office expenses and travel.
ing expenses. The board Of parole
meets four times year to pass on
applications for parole. The state
board of control has entire charge of
purchasing the supplies for the two
institutions, buying the clothing for
the inmates, hiring the help at the
institutions and working the proper.
ties. The parole board has nothing
to do but pass on cases.
1t has been suggested that the pa.
role board be abolished and that the
board of control be given power to
parole prisoners the same as they
do the inmates of the industrial
schools and insane hospitals. The
control board does everything else
about the prisons but parole the in.
mates.
Opposes 6Iodsett's Release.
John Fletcher, assistant attorney
general, is in Fort Dodge to contest
the application Of D. T. Blodgett for
release from the state penitentiary
at Fort Madison. Blodgett filed with
the United States district court ap.
plication for . writ of habeas corpus.
He has raised novel question for
the attorney generals office to meet
He declares that he was put twice in
jeopardy for the same crime and is
therefore entitled to release because
his Imprisonment is a violation Of
the United States constitution.
He was tried at Boone on the
charge of uttering forged instru.
ment and in Des Moines on the
charge of forging the instrument
They were the same instrument but
the crimes are separate and distinct.
Federal Judge Reed will hear the
cas-.
Van TasseI Must Serve Out Sentence.
Hopes of an imprisoned man were
blasted when the parole board refused
to parole l.. R. Van Tassel, serving
life sentence for killing his young
wife fifteen years ago. The crime was
committed near lonia, in Chickasaw
county. A skilled Chicago detective
claimed to have secured a confession
from. Van Tassel (who always claim.
ed his lnnocence). and upon the evi.
dence OF the detective and circum.
stantial evidence, Van Tassel was
convicted. The parole board, review
ing the case, says that the evidence
shows that Van Tassel committed the
murder, disregarding the alleged con.
fession, and that 1.-The law is the
law" The board refuses to show
mercy on the theory that Van Tassel
has suffered enough and should be
allowed to enter the world and live
life of usefulness
Tom Watson Case Continued.
The state parole board announced
that it will not take the Tom Watson
case under consideration until the
July term. This is the case which
has excited Editor Brant of the Iowa