Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-20
Attorneys Begin Closing
Statements in Case
to Gust Sheriff
NEW WITNESSES SAY
CHARACTER IS GOOD
Eldon Men Testify as IA
Life and Habits Of
Former Deputy

Judge Francis N. Hunter was
offered az witness out Of order,
this afternoon by the defense.
He told the court that at the
time James Travis made hIs net
away he was severely annoyed at
the sherlff for It. Later he felt
that the responsibility was d.
vIded between Mr.. cremer and the
county attorney. ri.
In regard to conversations with
chas. Doran about resienins 20
deputy sheriff, the Judge said that
he did not feel he advised Doran.
The deputy sheriff came to him
without solicitation and Il annoyed
him.
On cross examination judge 4
Hunter said that during his first
term Of court, after Sheriff cremer
took office. he was not satisfied
with the work Of cremer as a.
OFFICER Of the court. He said the
sheriff was not negligent nor dIIa-
tory, simply showed = lack 81
good Judgment. The next term tho
Judge found cremer's work In
court to be satisfactory.
Arguments were begun this after
loon In the custer proceedings trial Oe
Sheriff G. G. Cremer, which has been
n progress since Tuesday afternoon,
April II before Judge A. N. Hobson of
West Union, a special jurist for this
case. They are expected to close
Thursday evening or Friday morning.
The defense rested at 10:40 O'clock
his morning and the state began to-
all witnesses for the rebuttal. Tho
heriff's cross examination ended half
IN hour after court convened this
morning. III
Say Character Good.
Before noon, H. Nachtrieb, general
oreman Of the Rock Island at Eldon:
lanes Reed, coal contractor at tho
same place, Charles Burns, ticket
lgent there, Sherman Hollenbeck, D
armer near there, G. w. F1nney,
cashier of the First National bank at
1ldon, and Nick Lutz, proprietor Of 81
'estaurant there, were called to testify.
o the general character Of Charles
.. Doran for truth and veracity. They
Ill said that It was good The major
ty Of the witnesses said that they had
lnown DOran since boyhOod.
Mr.. Nachtrieb has only known him
ince August, 1913, but said he was Ia
| place to know his habits as an em-
,loye of the Rock Island road. He teS.
ified that they were good. On cross
he told the court that
ooran was laid of at the time he was
lamed deputy sheriff but that he II
till in the employe Of the road and
ubject to call at anytime business in-
,reases to such stage that the men
rom the reserve board will be needed.
What Is Moral Character7
The entire cross examination Of
hese character witnesses seemed to
evolve about the question, What ID
moral character" Most of the Wit
lesses said they had general idea
What 1t meant and that as far as they
Knew Doran's was good. They were.
,asing their opinions on what they
lad heard and their own personal
deas and Impressions by being with.
he man.
In answer to Cross Examiner 10
[aques' questions as to whether or not
hey would say man was Of good
moral character who drank while
n office or attended open, fragrant vio-
ations Of the law as cock fights are,
hey answered they would not. All
II them said that they did not know
Ooran had done these things until this
rial came up and some said they
lidn't believe it now.
G. w. Cremer, son of the sheriff,
vas the last witness for his father.
Sheriff Not Very Apt.
T. F. Norfolk, city auditor, testified
hat he went over the books with
Sheriff Cremer, after the suit was
for the purpose OF acquaint-
ng the sheriff with the methods and
tyle OF them.
Continued on page6) NJ