Bank Robber’s Sentence Reduced - 1958

GREATHOUSE, ANTES, HURLEY

Posted By: Louise Lane (email)
Date: 7/29/2005 at 10:24:20

Bank Robber’s Sentence Reduced to 35 Years

After a hearing in Elkader, the life sentence of Charles Greathouse, 26, convicted bank robber, was shortened to 35 years by Judge W. H. Antes.

Greathouse, was confessed robbing McGregor, Farmersburg and Bagley, Wis., banks last summer, under the new sentence may become eligible for parole after 10 years.

The re-hearing followed considerable discussion that Judge Antes was misinterpreting the Iowa law, which he said made a life sentence mandatory for convicted bank robbers, while other judges interpreted the law as giving judges the right to determine the length of the sentence.

A number of witnesses, among whom was Time Hurley, well - know in McGregor, testified at the re-hearing as to Greathouse’s good reputation as a youth before the robberies. It was also testified that Greathouse had made complete restitution to the bonding houses which had, suffered losses in the robberies.

In spite of the much more favorable sentence for Greathouse, the Iowa Civil Liberties Union, an organization which began the original protest on the life sentence, indicated that it was not satisfied with the 35 years sentence and would appeal Judge Antes’ decision.

-source: VOLUME NO. 102 NORTH IOWA TIMES, McGREGOR, IOWA THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1958