Iowa Old Press
Ottumwa Daily Democrat
Ottumwa, Wapello co. Iowa
Friday morning, September 23, 1881
CRIMINAL TRIALS
Henry Pownell Convicted of Forgery—The Ballingall
House Robber Pleads Guilty.
Some months ago Henry Pownell and J.D. Wilhite were arrested on
the charge of forgery. The young men had been at work at the
Cutlery Works or for the Water Works company, by which means they
got hold of some blank checks, which they filled out, and among
the rest was one for quite a sum of money on the Iowa National
bank, purporting to be signed by Pownell. Mr. Blake being in
attendance at the time. The forgery was so plain that Mr. Blake
at once had the fellows arrested, and on preliminary examination
they were both held to answer. In the District Court they were
given separate trials and Pownell found guilty yesterday morning,
but sentence has not yet been passed.
Wilhite was on trial yesterday afternoon and when court adjourned
for the day, the case was not yet closed.
J. C. Gates, the Baptist preacher newspaper reporter and corn
doctor plead guilty to robbing the Ballingall House and at the
proper time will doubtless go over the road. He is the man who
entered the room of Mrs. Canfield, and stole from her bureau a
lot of valuable jewelry, and made the flying leap through the
window, lighting on a shed building, from which he again entered
the hotel and then so nonchalantly walked away and was so
innocent when arrested. His impudence, however, served him but a
poor purpose and he is now quite likely to do the State some
service at Fort Madison. He is one of that class of people who
sometimes weaken when least expected, but finding that the State
had a sure thing against him, he probably thought to lighten the
sentence by pleading guilty.
The case of the State vs. Frederick Gasser and some others, on
the charge of robbery, was on trial yesterday.
[transcribed by L.Z., April 2018]
Ottumwa Daily Democrat, September 24, 1881
DISTRICT COURT.
The jury in the case of Willhite mentioned yesterday morning as being on trial brought in a verdict of guilty of forgery.
In the case of the State vs. the Gasser boys and others on the charge of robbery, the verdict was guilty as to the Gassers and not guilty as to the others.
During the term of the District Court, there have been fourteen jury cases tried. The jury was discharged yesterday evening and court will formally adjourn Saturday evening.
BIRTHS.
From the time the new law went into effect, July 10th, 1880, until June 30th, 1881, the total number of births reported at the County Clerk’s office is 639.
The Grand Jury.
The Grand Jury is quite an expensive luxury. The last session occupied eighteen days, during which time forty-five indictments were found. The total fees for witnesses for the term were $244.70; grand jury fees for the term $565.10. Total fees for jury and witnesses $809.80. At the previous term the total fees of jury and witnesses $520.50. Excess of last over former term $279.30. This is the record as it appears in the clerk’s books.
Telephone Subscribers.
Add to your lists the following new subscribers:
No.
89, Bowen’s Mill.
97, Inskeep Cary residence.
12, Williamson Dr. J., residence.
25, Williamson, Dr. J., office.
Daum Bros. and several more will be added in a few days.
The new instruction cards will be distributed Saturday and take effect, Sunday, September 25th. Read and observe, Don’t Ring Back, when called as the party wanting you will be holding the telephone to their ear.
Respectfully, GEO. H. WHEELOCK.
Notions and Newspapers.
Eugene has leased the room now occupied by G. E. Slaughter in Waddington block and will take possession about the first of October. He will then open a fine stock of notions, books, stationery and fancy goods and will establish a first class news stand. Gene is an enterprising young man and will have as fine an establishment as there is in the city. We feel sure he will be successful.
MARRIAGE LICENSES.
The number of Marriage licenses issued from July 10, 1880 to Sept. 8th, 1881, number 325. This is a little in excess of the divorce record.
The licenses issued during the last week were:
Sept. 13th, David Finley to Mary E. Harper;
Sept. 14th, Henry M. Swope to Mary S. Cheek;
Sept. 17th, Alpheus Mowery to Sarah E. Yager and L. M. Wheeler to Dora Smith;
Sept. 20th, D. S. Cleminus to C. T. Munsey and A. D. Cleveland to Sarah E. Trauel;
Sept. 21, A. J. Colt to Maggie Williamson and O. M. Ladal to Ada I. Upham;
Sept. 22, Thomas A. Eller to Alice C. Phelps.
[transcribed by L.Z., Jul 2020]
Ottumwa Daily Democrat
Ottumwa, Wapello co. Iowa
Sunday morning, September 25, 1881
THE DISTRICT COURT.
The Work Done During the Term—The Criminal
Cases—The Divorce Record—The Expenses
A summary of the word one by the term of the District Court,
Judge Burton, just closed is given showing the extent to which
our people “go to law,” some voluntarily and some
involuntarily. The term lasted eighteen days. During that time
the Grand Jury found forty-six indictments mostly for nuisances
or what is known as whisky indictments, burglary, larceny &
ect. The whisky cases all gone over with two exceptions, when the
defendants plead guilty and have been fined $50 each and costs.
THE CRIMINAL DOCKET
Was unusually large, containing some very close and intricate
cases, which were very ably and skillfully tired by the ablest
members of the bar. During the term there has been fifteen jury
trials in all, forty-seven criminal cases disposed of out which
number the follow persons were:
SENT TO FT. MADISON
To wit: Thomas Travis convicted of manslaughter for a term of 4
years. In this case defendant showed an untarnished character
prior to this offense. This with very many other mitigating
circumstances no doubt went very far with the court.
Granville Boyer (colored) convicted of bigamy was sent up for one
year;
H. Melville and James Moore confidence men went to the
“pen” for 18 months each;
Al Palmer convicted of robbing cars went over the road for 18
months;
Jno. Brown for burglary sentenced for 18 months;
Geo. Wadkins for breaking and robbing cars went up for 2 years;
Thomas Smith convicted of robbery, sentence 18 months;
Henry Pownell on two charges of forgery goes over the road for
one year on one charge, and nine months on the other;
Lewis Pratt for larceny sent up for two years and six months;
Walter Lorance for burglary, three years;
J.C. Gates known as the Baptist minister, newspaper reporter
& ect., sent for two years and six months;
J. D. Wilhite for forgery sentenced for one year and three
months.
In the case of the State vs. Jos. and Frederick Gasser for
burglary the court on account of their youth suspended judgment
and released them on bond.
State vs. Marion Miller in this case the court fined the
defendant, who was convicted of an assault with intent to inflict
great bodily injury, $250 under order of commitment.
Jonathan Carban found guilty of larceny is sentenced to county
jail for six months. His advanced age and imbecility was taken in
mitigation of his sentence.
CIVIL CASES
Fifty-three law cases were disposed of may of them of long
standing, and some more recently filed, several of which were
tried by the court, the parties waiving a jury.
In chancery there has been thirty-nine cases disposed of, of
which seventeen were divorce cases in which decrees were granted,
and in this connection it is learned that during the term there
have been twenty-three marriage licenses issued being six in
excess of divorces for the same time, which certainly is not a
very flattering compliment on public morals; and the sanctity in
which the marriage vows are held and regarded. The chancery being
very much behind, the court has appointed a special term to
commence Dec. 26th to dispose of most chancery and many law cases
not requiring a jury.
From the above brief summary it can be seen very readily that the
court has not been toying and playing for the last four weeks,
but has been driving work with great rapidity.
THE COST
The following is a very close, if not an exact approximate of the
expense of the term:
Grand jurors, $568.10
Witnesses before grand jury, $244.70
Trial jurors, $1,194.40
Witnesses in State cases, $700.00
Total: $2707.20.
[transcribed by L.Z., April 2018]