Iowa
Old Press
Iowa City Press Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa
May 6, 1925
J.F. Dooley Dies Today
Mr. Joseph F. Dooley, a pioneer of Iowa City, born and reared
here, passed away this morning at 4 o'clock, after a prolonged
ill health at his home 504 South Clinton street. He was widely
known as a property-holder, the Dooley Block, on College street,
being one of his possessions.
[transcribed by C.J.L., May 2004]
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Iowa City Press Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa
May 13, 1925
JUDGE UPHOLDS FREE SPEECH.
Shellhouse Cannot be Convicted for Holding Public Meeting.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Ia, [Henry Co] May 13- If the decision of Mayor
Magderous' court at Wayland is upheld and E.B. Shellhouse is
found guilty of violating a city ordinance it will not be on the
ground that he participated in a public meeting without the
consent of the mayor. Judge Smythe in his instructions to the
jury made that fact plain when he declared it unconstitutional
and without the jurisdiction of the city of Wayland.
He pointed out that any man had a right to tell his grievances
and ask his friends to assemble on private property. The
prosecution, however, bent their greatest efforts on accusing
Shellhouse of participating in "unconstitutional display on
the streets." Judge Smythe ruled that the right of free
speech is inherent with all
English speaking people but told the jury if it wsa found the
defendant had driven a car through the streets of Wayland
decorated in an unusual manner, he was violating an ordinance and
that the city was within its rights in enforcing the ordinance.
Shellhouse admitted driving a car decorated with four American
flags, a
Masonic emblem and a cress and a placard announcing a klan
meeting. He said he and Mrs. Shellhouse sang as they drove.
Twelve witnesses testified that they were attracted by the
"unusual display." The case was given to the jury this
morning.
[transcribed by C.J.L., May 2004]
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Iowa City Press Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa
May 14, 1925
JURY FIGHTS ON SHELLHOUSE "KLAN" CASE.
Mount Pleasant, Ia., [Henry Co] May 14- The jury in case of E.B.
Shellhouse Ku Klux Klan organizer who appealed to district court
from a conviction before the mayor of Wayland for illegal
assembly, completed twenty-four hours of deliberation shortly
before noon today. At that time there was no indication that a
verdict was near and it was expected Judge Smythe would shortly
call for an explanation of the delay. Court bailiffs declared the
jury apparently was having much difficulty and that the sounds of
excited wrangling from the jury room had not been heard in any
previous case here.
FILE OBJECTIONS TO WILL OF LATE JOSEPH DOOLEY
Relatives Allege He Was Incompetent at Time Will Was Made and
Protest Admitting it to Probate; Fight Clause Giving Local Church
Large Sum
No sensational developments although some interesting ones have
followed the filing of the will of the late Joseph Dooley and the
discovery of his enormous fortune- hidden, ancient and in some
instances, nearly decayed, money, by the sackful. The objections
to the will having been filed and a special administrator has
been appointed. The objections were filed by W.J. Baldwin and
Hon. E.A. Baldwin, attorneys for the heirs-at-law. Hon. O.A.
Byington, named in the will that is offered for probate, as
executor, was selected by Judge Ralph Otto as special
administrator, to serve pending the hearing of the probate
matter. The bond was fixed at $80,000, and Judge Byington
provided duty. The objections are brief. In it first cousins of
the decedent allege that he was incompetent at the time the
"purported" will was signed to know just what he was
doing, and that, as a matter of fact, he did not know. Hence
these heirs-at-law object to the probating of the will that is
now on file, and to the disposition of his great wealth, along
the lines the alleged incompetent document outlines- the protest,
of course, being directed specifically against the fifty per cent
bequest to the St. Patrick's church. If the court rules
adversely, and admits the will to probate, then, seemingly, the
attack on the document will crystallize into a direct effort to
break it. The specific complainants are as follows: Thomas
Dooley, Joseph Clair, E. Rourke, Nellie Clair, and Mesdames Alice
Clair Fessing, Theresa Clair (Harry Arthur) Miller, and Elizabeth
Clair (Thomas E.) Smith.
[transcribed by C.J.L., May 2004]