Iowa
Old Press
The New Era
Humeston, Wayne co., Iowa
January 23, 1895
Condensed Items
- J.K. Cumberland, convicted of the murder of two men in Shelby
county in 1891 must hang. Governor Jackson has signed the death
warrant and fixed February 9th as the day for the hanging.
- Preston T. Greenlee, of Vincent, who disappeared from his home
several days ago, has been found in a demented condition at
Humboldt. He said he thought he was going to Texas on foot.
- Mayor Hillis, of Des Moines, has suspended Chief Johnson,
Sergeants Butin and Batchelor and Officer Thompson of the police
force. It is believed that their failure to stop gambling is the
cause.
- Mrs. Dewalt of Manson, while on her way home from Belmond fell
between the coaches on the Mason City & Fort Dodge railway
and her head was completely severed from her body. She was there
visiting her son, who became insane a week ago.
- The now celebrated Reames murder case is now on trial in the
Floyd county court at Charles City, Judge Burr residing. Reames
is indicted for killing his wife, striking her with a club and
then cutting her throat. His plea is that he did it in self
defense. Sympathy is strongly against him and it is the general
opinion that the state has a clear case.
- Rev. J.W. Mahood, pastor of the Whitfield M.E. church, at Sioux
City, has commenced a crusade against the houses of ill fame
after the manner of Dr. Parkhurst. He went to a well known
brothel on one of the principal streets of the city at night and
found five women and four men there. He appeared in police court
as prosecuting witness against these five women, charged with
keeping a house of prostitution. He gave testimony to what he saw
there, which, while not as sensational as that given by Dr.
Parkhurst in New York on a similar occasion, was sufficient to
prove the character of the house. While he was present one woman
proposed to do the feat of standing on her head, but was
prevented from doing so by another woman. There were a large
number of friends of the preacher present at police court when
the case was called, but the attorneys for the women insisted on
the room being cleared. The police have refused to interfere in
these houses and a general crusade is likely against them.
[transcribed by C.J.L., January 2007]