Iowa
Old Press
New Era
Humeston, Wayne co., Iowa
May 15, 1907
IOWA STATE NEWS --Events of Recent Occurrence
Throughout the Commonwealth
DUNNING CASE IS DISMISSED.
Prosecution is Compelled to Let Mt. Ayr Banker Go.
Osceola - With the dismissal of all indictments against him Day
Dunning was set free forever for the wrecking of the Mount Ayr
bank three years ago. The prosecution moved to dismiss the case
because Patterson, the assignee, refused to come from Missouri to
testify on the ground, it is said, of his personal friendship to
the indicted banker. The action of the state was anticipated
somewhat because it was noised abroad a few days ago that
Patterson would not come. This action ends for all time
prosecution of Dunning for the failure of the bank which
collapsed January, 1904, and which paid about 30 cents on the
dollar. The statute of limitations now covers the case fully, the
three years specified being up in January of this year. Dunning,
it will be remembered, was being tried this time as in December
on indictments drawn in September of 1905. Dunning was first
tried in Mount Ayr in April, 1904. A jury found him guilty of
accepting deposits when it was known that the bank was insolvent.
His attorneys appealed to the supreme court, who reversed the
case on an error of law. Then a change of venue was taken to
Clarke county, where the second trial occurred last December.
This time the jury freed Dunning. Other indictments hung over
him, however, and the third trial was recently begun in Osceola.
His lawyers set forth motions to quash the indictment, but were
overruled. Then the state met with refusal from Patterson, which
was followed by the ending of the case.
THUGS ARE CAPTURED.
Made Cowardly Assault Upon Railroad Man at Valley Junction.
Des Moines - Following a brutal assault on the part of three
thugs upon the person of Jerry Libby, an old employe of the Rock
Island at Valley Junction, one of the most exciting man hunts
ever held in the county resulted in the catching of the thugs who
committed the crime. More than a score of railway men joined in
the chase, during which a crosscountry run over plowed ground an
a wild ride in a switch engine played a prominent part. Libby,
who was assaulted by the thugs, is now seriously ill from the
effects of a wound on the head and cuts made by a blunt iron
instrument. The three men finally caught were given a hasty
hearing on the charge of attempt to murder and rushed to Des
Moines for safe keeping. There was, however, no talk of lynching
though the city of Valley Junction was very much excited. As
nearly as could be learned, the assault was entirely unprovoked.
Libby, who has been a car inspector for the Rock Island for a
number of years, was at work in the yards when three strange men
picked a quarrel with him. The men were intoxicated. It is
claimed they had been drinking in the Valley Junction saloons the
greater part of the morning. No one witnessed the start of the
trouble. When the men assaulted Libby with a long bar of iron he
gave a yell which brought a number of train men and track men to
his aid. These men tore the three drunks away from the victim.
The tramps started to run across the country north of town. When
it was discovered that Libby's injuries might prove fatal the
chase of the men began.
Woman Fatally Hurt by Cow.
Iowa City.- An infuriated cow attacked Mrs. Robert Sass at New
Sharon and but for the arrival of her husband would have killed
her on the spot. Her back was broken and hip injured and recovery
is doubtful. The screams of the woman brought her husband to her
aid, but before the animal could be beaten off he also was badly
hurt.
Head Crushed to a Pulp.
Fort Dodge - John Peeler, aged 18 years, was caught on a chain
conveyor at the Blanden gypsum mill and carried along until his
head came in contact with a number of cog wheels which crushed it
into a shapeless mass. He was dead when rescued.
Thrown from Buggy and Killed.
Webster City - While driving to his home north of Williams August
Hazeman, a prominent farmer aged about 60 years, was thrown from
his buggy and instantly killed. While descending a small hill the
buggy lurched forward upon the horses, frightening them and they
started briskly, throwing Hazeman to the ground. The impact broke
his neck. He was alone and the body was found later by neighbors,
who had seen the team with no driver. Hazeman was well to do and
widely known.
Young Girl's Arm Shot Off.
Dubuque.- The right arm of Mildred Stumpf was blown off here by
the discharge of a gun in the hands of her brother, aged ten. The
girl will probably die.
Hangs Self Three Times.
Sioux City.- Frank Desmond, aged 41, of Ipswich, S.D., locked up
for intoxication tried three times to hang himself. The first was
by using a handkerchief, then suspenders and last the straps by
which he had been bound. John Higgins, a hobo, saved his life.
MINERS TO AID NEGRO.
Raise $500 to Defend Alleged Buxton Murderer.
Albia.- Fondness for a big negro, Lewis Stallworth, caused Buxton
miners to raise $500 in his behalf when he was suddenly placed
under arrest for the murder of a cousin in Alabama five years
ago. Stallworth is a fine specimen of physical manhood, being
over 6 feet in height, and by his great strength is enabled to
earn $190 a month in the mines. As soon as he was arrested the
miners rallied to his aid. Stallworth says he is not guilty,
although he did live in Alabama. He has been successful and
orderly since coming here. The miners retained Hon. Nate Kendall
in Stallworth's behalf.
ACTOR'S LOVE WAS HOPELESS.
Telephoned Girl He Would Suicide, Then Did So.
Waverly- An actor's love for the daughter of a bank president and
the niece of a railroad magnate, caused a tragedy in a hotel
here, when A.H. Keller, a hypnotist, shot himself to death.
Before he sent the bullet crushing into his brain he rang up Miss
Hazel Cass *, the girl whom he loved, and sent this message to
her at Sumner: "I am going to kill myself." When the
terse statement was given to her, the girl hastened to the
telephone in an effort to prevent the terrible tragedy. She was
too late. The bellboy who took her call to the room of the actor
found him dead on the floor, a 32-caliber bullet in his brain.
Keller, only met the girl a week ago. He was at Sumner, where he
gave a performance in the opera house of J.S. Cass, father of the
young woman. He fell in love with her pretty face and gentle
ways. He was introduced but the young girl, who is only 17 years
old, had no more than a speaking acquaintance with him. She did
not treat him any different than she did hundreds of others whom
she met. But Keller was ever haunted by the image of the young
society girl and when he left Sumner for Waverly his love for her
had become a mania. He had been in town for more than a week
arranging his dates for a tour of the state. He went to the long
distance telephone and called up Miss Cass. The girl did not come
to the line and he left the grim message to be delivered to her
when she arrived.
[*transcribers note: Hazel Cass later became owner of the Hazel
Cass Tent Shows which travelled all over Iowa.She also later
married Clement McNally, my grandmother's brother, in 1930.]
[transcribed by C.J.L., February 2005]