Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-24
LAWYERS The
come TO BLOWS
BITTER FEELING IN MoULToN
ARSON CASE PENETRATEs
cENTERvILLE COURT

Centerville, Feb. 23.-The bitter feel
ing engendered about Moulton because
Of the sides taken and the activity dis
PLAYED in the arson trial has pene-
trated the court room and aroused the
feeling Of the lawyers In the case ~
such an extent that Attorneys n. y.
Valentine and G. +. Howell came 70
blows in the court room THURSDAY al.
ternoon. 1t has been a theory Oh lne
state that John Replogle was re-
auested at the office OF Attorney
Howell to state that the check ne says
he received to make him secure IN 30.
ing on Mr.. Croft's replevin bond, Wnen
the seed at the Hendons' was repieg-
med was really in payment for seeu.
When one of the witnesses was pelils
cross examined by Mr.. Valentine ne
was asked if he was up at Howelis
office the night before going over MS
testimony. At this Mr.. Howell re-
marked that they didn't fix up testl-
mony at his office like they did at
Mr.. Valentines, and the latter made
rush for the one who uttered the OF
fensiye words and landed dow
souarely in the face before rush OF
officers and attorneys could stop the
alteration. Mr.. Howell was on his feet
engaging in fist bout which might
have had a bloody ending but for the
interference. Both were at once put
under arrest for contempt OF court 70
make answer for their conduct TO-DAY.
The case promises to abound III
sensations from this time forward.
Thursday one Witness Amos Reniker'
fold how he and three other men walk
cd ont to the Croft farm home the
night of December % to hide IN tne
kitchen and listen through a crack, ~
the request of Mr.. Croft, to a CONVERSE !.
ton to take place near the hour OF
midnight between himself, deputy
Fire Marshal Tracy, and John KEEP.
logic. The two latter arrived ABOUT
10: 80 and the witness said began an
effort to get Mr.. Croft to make con.
fession. he refusing all the time ana
saving he had done nothing wrong.
They are claimed to have told MIN
that there would be clemency for MIN,
nut If he didn't confess they had
stack of affidavits, one eight pages
long. that would send him to the pen.
55 The interview lasted into Sunday
morning. when the fire deputy re-
marked he couldn't take statement
en- Sunday anyway and they lett.
Clarence Seibert told Of calling Kay
Replogle the night Of the fire several
times at his home, getting no answer,
and shaking on the door. when Ray
answered that be had been asleep ana
that about five minutes later Ray ana
his wife went to the fire after the
elevator had fallen in. Mrs Willlam !,
Bennett and Mrs. Allen corroborated
Seibert in this. i.
|: Another strange development OF the
iay was when John Smith was put on
the stand. He said he was at the Croft
yard the day Mr.. Gleason came over
from West Grove to identify the man
who sold seed there under the name Of
John Smith, and he was pointed out
as the man. When Gleason was on the
stand he positively identified Jim
Hendon az the man he picked
out. The two men stood up to-
gether and were the same height
and build, but Smith was smooth
faced and Hendon with a mustache.
The witness said he worked at the ele-