Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-26

cusS their work until they rested up.
Many stated they did not care to 80
into the fifty hours work. but would
tell about the balloting later II they
could.
County Attorney Naglestad and his
assistants declared after the verdict
was returned that they did not care to
discuss 1t or give their opinion Of the
outcome. 1t was stated that trial Of
George Ford, who was jointly indicted
with Peirce. on the charge Of conspir-
acy, would undoubtedly come up at the
September term OF court. 1t can not
be tried next month because no Jurors
are drawn for duty at that time.
The jury In It's verdict found that
PIERCE had conspired with Milton j.
("Rummy'') De Roos and George Ford.
former saloonkeeper, to allow prostitu-
ton, bookkeeping and gambling to
flourish In the city without police mo-
lestation.
The case has been In progress twelve
days when the jury retired. The jury
was impaneled on Friday. April 9. and
J. w. Kindig began the states opening
statement that afternoon. Seventy five
witnesses for the prosecution and de-
Tense were examined. The state put
forty-five witnesses on the stand to
corroborate the story Of De Roos who
was a member of the alleged conspir-
acy and who was granted immunity
by the state when he turned states
evidence.
Mayors Letter Starts Il.
Charges Of corruption IN the police
department had their inceptin in Janu-
airy. when Mayor Smith sent letter
to hotel keepers warning them to re-
frain from selling liquor. Evidence In
the case showed that shortly after that
time De Roos went to the county attor-
ney's office and expressed willingness
to tell Of the operations Of the alleged
graft triumvirate'' If he would not be
prosecuted.
Special agents Of the attorney gem
erals office came to the city and began
an investiga ton. When the March
grand jury convened evidence Of the
alleged conspiracy was laid before that
body.
Arrest Anticipates True Bill.
While the grand fury was conducting
its investigation Chief Of Police Peirce
was arrested on a warrant from JUS
tice D. G. Brownings court charging
him with having accepted bride from
c. w. Mes, proprietor Of the Daven-
port hotel. The charge was filed by
E. C. Wolcott. general secretary of
the Y. NJ. c. A.
After examining nearly forty witt
nesses in regard to the operations of
the so-called graft triumvirate" the
grand jury returned three indictments
against Pierce for bribery and one
against PIERCE and Ford for conspir-
acy. PIERCE was released on $4,000
bond. PIERCE was arraigned and en-
tered a plea Of not guilty to all the
charges. Ford. thru his attorney. en-
tered a plea of not guilty. Ford left
Sioux City for California on the day
the indictment was returned. He did
not return until the day before the
PIERCE trial began.
Peirce's attorney asked for a sep
arate trial, which was granted.
Conviction on the charge Of conspir-
acy carries with 1t three years sec-
tence in the state penitentiary under
the indeterminate sentence law. IN
less the lower court grants Chief
PIERCE a new trial or the verdict Is re-
versed by the Iowa supreme court ne
| must begin term Of three years in
the state penitentiary at Fort Madi-
son. Being past 80 years old, he vii
have to serve time at the Fort Madi-
son penitentiary instead Of the state
reformatory at &Anamosa. In passing
sentence the Judge has only one alter
native, and that Is to give him the
maximum under the law. The state
board Of parole or the governor can
shorten the sentence.