Iowa
Old Press
The New Era
Humeston, Wayne co., Iowa
January 24, 1899
THE NEWS IN IOWA
JUDGE ROTHROCK DEAD
CEDAR RAPIDS, Jan. 16 - Ex-Chief Justice James H. Rothrock died
at his home in Cedar Rapids Saturday after a lingering illness,
of degeneration of the heart. He was one of the best known men in
the state of Iowa, having been nine years on the district bench
and twenty-one years on the supreme bench of the state. He
resigned from the Iowa supreme court in December, 1896, and
expected to enter into active practice of law with his son at
Cedar Rapids. But his health soon failed, and much of the time
since then has been spent in travel. Last winter was spent at
Excelsior Springs. He was in good health during the summer but
with the approach of cold weather he again grew worse and finally
took to his bed from which he never arose. His opinions are
contained in sixty-one volumes of Iowa reports.
SAVED THEIR LIVES
Clarkson, Jan. 21 - The family of B. Banford, a blacksmith, and
Andrew Nealy, who made their home with them, had a narrow escape
from being roasted alive. The house was fired in some unknown
manner while all were asleep. The heat and smoke aroused Nealy
from his slumbers and in a half-dazed condition he rushed from
his room and aroused the Banford family. There being no exit
which was untouched by the flames, he broke the glass in a window
with his fist and pulled the members of the family out through
it. All of the family were attired in their night clothes and Mr.
Banford ran to a neighbor's at whose door he fell unconscious.
The family lost everything in the fire.
MR. and MRS. KEITH DEAD
CRESTON, JAN. 21 - This city was thrown into mourning by the
receipt of a telegram stating that Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Keith had
been burned to death in a steamboat fire at Memphis. They left
Creston January 11 on a pleasure trip. Mr. Keith was a prominent
citizen. He had been twenty years in business at Creston, twice
mayor and held various positions of trust. Before coming to
Creston, twenty-three years ago he resided in Muscatine, where he
was three times elected sheriff. He was very popular and his wife
shared his popularity.
Dog Bite Case Settled.
DES MOINES, Jan. 20 - After seven years of litigation over a
Floyd county dog bite the supreme court has decided that W.H.
Gregory can not recover damages from it from the dog's owner,
A.P. Woodworth. Five supreme justices so decide, but Judge Given
dissents. In his first petition Gregory's attorney failed to
recite that the dog bit Gregory without provocation or
encouragement from the victim. Mr. Woodworth demurred to the
petition, Judge J.F. Clyde sustained the demurrer. The supreme
court affirmed the decision. Gregory began a new suit reciting
all the allegations necessary to make his position in court good.
A new demurrer set up the first decision as a final adjudication.
Judge Clyde again sustained and was in turn sustained. Judge
Given says such a decision controverts the rights of a litigant.
[transcribed by C.J.L., January 2007]