Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-06
GUY BAKER. CONVICTED OF MUIR.
DER, PLEADS FOR NEW TRIAL
ON NOVEL GROUNDS.
COMPANION IN DURANGO
LATER HELPED CONVICT
Was Behind Bars to Refrain From
Getting orunk-stats Control Board
Unable to Purchase Good Seed Corn
mo Move to Select President For
State College at Amss.
Special to Times-Republiean.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, March 6.-Unusual feat
ures developed in the submission Of the
Guy Baker murder case from Johnson
county as argued to the supreme court
today. One Of the matters of chief
complaint on which a new trial was
sought was that when Baker was ar
rested after the tragedy at Lone Tree
and taken to Jail he was associated
there for several days withsa man who
afterwards served on the jury which
convicted hims and complaint is made
that this coincidence of Jail service at
the same time prejudiced the juror so
that the defendant did not have fair
trial. An amusing part of the story is
that the juror was not in jail for any
offense, but he had fallen into the habit
of getting drunk occasionally and also
had made an arrangement by which
when he felt impe1led to resort to drink
he would go to the jail and the jailer
would care for him until the mania
had passed. 1t is said attorneys for the
defense did not know that one Of the
jurors was thus closely associated with
the defendant in Jail until after the
latter was. given a life sentence for
murder
While the state board Of control has
only good seed corn at the various
farms and it has all tested out right
because the state farmers have been
taught how to make sure Of good seed
corn, the board has been trying to buy
some additional corn for seed but finds
practically none to be had in the state.
The ordinary corn in northern Iowa has
tested out no better than IS per cent
good Professional seedsmen are offer
ing seed corn for from SO to IS a bushel.
but the board has doubt as to Its value
for seed. Usually the state farmers
have all the good seed corn they need
and some for sale but that is not true
this year.
The state tax commission is in ses-
sion getting ready for the state con-
vention to consider tax problems the
latter part of the month. The commits
sion hopes to have some of the bills
which it was appointed to prepare
ready for exhibition by that time and
in such condition they can be discussed
intelligently. Reports from all over
the state are to the effect that the
convention will be well attended.
1t is stated that the state board of
education is not at present making any
definite move in the direction OF Sc
curing a permanent president for the
state college at Ames. Practically all
the prospective candidates for the
place have been considered and when
ever one has been found who would
suit it has been found the board can
not pay what is necessary to get him.
The board members however, feel that
the college is getting along first class
with Professor Stanton acting as pres
ident and that there need be no great
haste about election of a permanent
president.
Ole o. Roe, state fire marshal, re-
CARDS the successful prosecution of the
firebugs in Appanoose county, which
mas resulted in three receiving SEN
fences to prison. as by far the most
valuable service his department has as
yet rendered. An elevator was burned
and there was $4,000 Of insurance up
on it. Investigation showed that the
grain which it was supposed was
stored there was much less in guam
tity than claimed and also that much
lumber and other material had been
carted away before the fire. Deputy
Marshal Tracey was put on the job
and he turned up line Of conclusive
evidence that a great fraud had been
attempted: but there does not seem to
be much doubt that If the state fire
marshal law had not been passed the
ferreting out of the fraud would never
have taken place.
Reformers at work here to induce the
county and city to establish work
house have thus far failed to find any
way that this can legally be done un-
der Iowa laws as they are at present. A
plan was laid to have one established
at the county farm, but it is found this
can not be DONE and besides the coun-
ty can not appropriate the money nee
essary for the starting Of a workhouse.
In all probability the work will not be
n..l: ~. rcs.ol.