Hide Article Text (OCR)
,r«?cu lu wu me Dost in the history of the bank.DENOUNCES RELEASE.Judge Byington on Kutzlebcn Case. “DcIIbcrfc Dastardly Crime,”Appreciating a Mother’s Love Former Judge Declares Itolenge iui Inexpressible Outrage.Judge O* A. Byington of this city presided at the tr laj of Baron von Kutzleben for murder at Marengo In 1905. In view of tills fact, the Citizen asked Judge Byington for an interview following the announcement of Kutzleben’s liberation by habeas corpus proceedings in Jones County, Judge Byington has given the Citizen the following statement ^ “I notice that the recent release of Eric Von Kutzleben from the insane department of the Anamosa penitentiary, has occasioned considerable newspaper comment. Aside from a short sensible editorial In'the.Des Moines Evening Tribune, the substance of all the newspaper articles that I have read describing his release, consisted of a glorification of his mother for her efforts to secure his freedom. As pictured in the newspapers, it was a long and glorious contest, between the devotion of u loving mother and the minions of the law and the most natural impression received from reading the accounts of his discharge Is one of sympathy for a person unjustly accused.“However with due appreciation of a mother’s . love and with a just sympathy ‘ for the erring the plain, blunt facts are that von Kutzileben ..ciontiuitted one of the ,most dastardly and deliberate crimes recorded in the history of the state—a crime which sent to a horrible death a brwe, innocent man and which, but for almost a miracle of chance would have sacrificed scores of other lives. And It is equally true that hie release means a constant menace to society and incidentally furnishes another illustration of the apparent inability of the state, under our present method of criminal procedure to con vice criminals. It Is an added example to the already long list, In which a criminal has escaped his just deserts and to such an extent has this proceeded that the non-enforcement of our criminal Jaws has become a reproach, and a disgrace to a law abiding people.“The recovery of von Kutzleben’s mental equipoise, so soon after the dismissal of the indictments against him, is to my mind conclusive evidence that the “Irresistible Impulse'* theory, put forward as a defense was a sham and pretence. While he is a degenerate and with a mind far from normal, he undoubtedly' understood the nature •of his act. His cunning maneuvers following his crime show that he understood the turpitude of his act by seeking to conceal his connection with it.“I have always thought that the reversal of the judgment of life imprisonment against him. after a trial In which the benefit of every doubt was given to him, was a great mistake,“A business man of thiB city recently said to me that the cpurts of this country seemed possessed of a fear that some one might be sent to the penitentiary, and It would seem that there is some basis for such oplolon on the part of the laity.“Notwithstanding the newspaper bladerdash” about the beautiful and touching efforts of his mother In assisting to secure his release, the discharge of the baron” from the penitentiary, Is in plain English, an inexpressible outrage/'—Iowa City Citizen.Eastern Star*There will be a regular meeting ofa grei en nc warm and si offer i This ever lt;moved spring in the their \ the bt Their best e ers a and h Ora Mr, ar past e born I days 1 home young from h and es was a favoriti in the man e\ His force o ters, a; tender are ext home, the an*nanwxmnYOATICONGSATFM
Newspaper Details
Williamsburg Journal Tribune
Williamsburg, Iowa, US
Thu, Jul 01, 1909
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
State H.
IA, USA 18 Jan 2018
Other Publications Near Williamsburg, Iowa
Williamsburg Brick Hotel Registry
Williamsburg Shopper
Iowa County Farmer
Williamsburg Journal Tribune
