Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-11
Iowa Newspapers
DISTINCTION NO DIFFERENCE.
Council Bluffs Nonpareil.1

Council Bluffs Nonpareil1
Two hearings were held before the
commissioner of the United States
court in Council Bluffs Tuesday and in
both cases the issue was substantially
the same. Tenekheig, of Audubon
county had a hearing on a charge Of
disloyalty under the espionage act
The evidence showed that he had on
different occasions expressed senti-
lnents which made IL clear that he was
not only un- American but pro German.
Coached by lawyer Tenekheig. OF
course, denied that he was disloyal
and put up the claim as evidence in
his favor that he was a Lithuanian
rather than q German.
In the case of BONES of Underwood
the evidence was clear that on several
separate occasions he had expressed
un-American and pro German senti-
nents. Shortly after America went In
TO the war this man remarked that he
was going to lay in a supply Of Ger
man flags because after Germany
whipped the United States there would
be demand for them. In pool hall
on New Years day the evidence was
clear that BONES said he hoped every
American soldier going to Europe
would be drowned going over or killed
when he got there" He also asserted
that Germany would win the war. Then
he asserted that he would sell German
hooks for we would all have to learn
to talk German, for the schools would
be operated in that language.
In this case similar tactics were pur-
sued as in the case OF Tenekheig. Bon
mes admitted that he had made some
O. the remarks brought out in testi-
mony, but claimed he was Just joking.
And witnesses were brought In 10 test
ify that they had never heard him
make such remarks.
1t is plain to every man who thinks
with any clearness that the Bonnes
claim that he was just fooling is mere
camoufage. And so is the testimony
of witnesses who didn't hear him make
these remarks. Ten members OF the
defense council or military bureau in
Council Bluffs which investigated this
case first and passed it on to the state
grand jury and United States commits
sioner would testify II put on the stand
that they never heard BONES make
these statements. a few days ago two
men were sent to Anamosa from the
local courts for stealing hides. Prac-
tically all the people Of Council Bluffs
would be forced to admit II put on the
stand that they didn't see these fellows
commit this crime.
Camo uflage Is the stuff lawyers use
to create fog of doubt in the minds Of
juries court officials and the public.
But in some courts and before some
juries this sort OF stun doesn't count.
Judge Wade at Des Moines last week
sentenced one Blodgett to the federal
penitentiary for twenty years under the
espionage act. Blodgett insisted that
he was just fooling. Not only this but
he argued with substantial reason that
he was insane. But Judge Wade gave
his country the benefit OF the doubt.
He very properly assumed that the
country would be safer with such fell
lows informed. The question Of sanity
could be determined later.
That Is justice tempered with COM
mon sense and patriotism. 1t Is JUS
tice meted out by a man who recog-
nizes that his country 1s engaged in
war with the most interruptions power
ON earth. 1t is justice meted out by
man who does not want the people to