Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-21
COURT GUSTS c. c. cREMER, OF
WAPELLo COUNTY. FROM
OFFICE.
GUILTY OF CORRUPTION
AND NEGLECT OF DUTY
Decision Of Judge Hobson May Have
Far-Reachins Effect on Conduct Of
County officers Of Iowa - Defense
= Claimed cremer's Errors Were Not
Wilful. o.

Ottumwa, April 81. = Judge A. N.
Hobson, of West Union, a special jurist
trying the custer proceedings brought
by the state against Sheriff c. c.
Cremer, Of Wapello county, late yester-
day afternoon decided the sheriff was
guilty and ordered him removed at
once. The trial had been in progress
for nine days.. ..Gs0
| cremer wa $. charged with maladmin-
istration, corruption and failure to per-
form his duties by the state. :,
| Turnout the trial Cremers attorney
Iheld that he was entitled to all over
charges he had made. y5. s.S>.. ssz.t.
These We're entered on the service Of
grand jury subpoenas. warrants and
processes and in the keeping Of the
Jail calendar, (which is a record of pris-
oners, including the. number of meals
they were served and their lodging.
Stay Of Proceedings Denied.
In a brief oral ruling which may
have sweeping effect on county or
fees all over Iowa. Judge Hobson
found Sheriff C. c. Cremer guilty sof
extortion, corruption and 1naladminis-
tration as charged by the state.
Cremer was declared removed from
office and his office vacant. Judge
Hobsons ruling coming so quickly
after the close of the case amazed AL
in the crowded court room.
1t was believed he would not de-
liver a ruling for an extended period.
The decision was rendered within
half hour after Assistant Attorney
General Fletcher, of Des Moines, made
the concluding argument, for the pros"
: ecution. -
Notable among the opinions given by
the judge in his opinion were the fol-
| lowing: a
That under the state law sheriffs are
entitled only tol5 cents per mile as ex
penses in service of criminal process.
Cremer and numerous other outside
sheriffs called to the stand have
charged and received expense actually
incurred. ~
That use of the telephone in the ser
vice. of subpoena is not proper and
that charge of mileage for such SER
vice is entirely illegal.
That a sheriff is not entitled to more
than 12h cents for each meal and each
lodging actually given in keeping pris-
oners and that to charge by day for
each day Of the prisoners Incarceration
is urlla wful. s,ss ~. $50: u
The chief contentious of the defense
that Crsner.s serrorss We're not Wilful
and that she Was the Gxictirn of DON
tspiracysof his deputy and local reform
ers was not gone into by the judge.
Following the decision the magis-
trate refused to grant stay OF re-
moval proceedings requested by the
defense pending decision whether OF
not to appeal. ... -, 49,.
Cremer has made no decision con-
corning an appeal.
The trial occupied nine entire days
in which l05, witnesses were examined.
BY the courts ruling all costs OF the
case must be paid Sbys-Cremer.
The bohrds Of supervisors will i'm
mediately appoint successor as
sheriff. -. " s-s -
Much speculation is present concern
ing the probability of Charles Doran.
the deputy dismissed by Cremer ana
star .witness for the state securing the
appointment. u E..s,
] -.