Murder in the Evening times-Republican, 1900 & 1920

In the 1900’s and 1920’s murder was defined as anyone who kills any human being with “malice aforethought, either express or implied” (Heinonline, “Title XXXIII. Criminal Law” (n.d.)).  The statutes for murder that were in effect around the time of the 1900’s and 1920’s in the state of Iowa mostly focused on first degree murder, second degree murder, assault with intent to murder, advising or inciting murder as well as poisoning (food or drink) with intent to kill.

SEC. 8555. First degree murder-punishment.

All murder which is perpetrated by means of poison, or lying in wait, or any other kind of willful, deliberate and premeditated killing, or which is committed in the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate any arson, rape, robbery, mayhem or burglary, is murder in the first degree, and shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life at hard labor in the penitentiary, as determined by the jury, or by the court if the defendant pleads guilty. [C., '51, § 2569; R., '60, § 4192; C., '73, § 3849; C., '97, § 4728.]

SEC. 8556. Second degree murder-punishment.

Whoever commits murder otherwise than as set forth in the preceding section is guilty of murder of the second degree, and shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary for life, or for a term of not less than ten years. [C., '51, § 2570; R., '60, § 4193; C., '73, § 3850; C., '97, § 4729.]

SEC. 8562. Manslaughter-punishment.

Any person guilty of the crime of manslaughter shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not exceeding eight years, and fined not exceeding one thousand dollars. [C., '51, § 2576; R., '60, § 4199; C., '73, § 3856; C., '97, § 4751.]  

Heinonline, "Title XXXIII. Criminal Law" (n.d.)

In the 40 stories that were examined; 7 of the stories mentioned sentencing. Out of these 7 stories only 3 of these stories mentioned the degree of the murder (2 in 1900 and 1 in 1920). Only 1 of these 3 murder cases occurred within the state lines of Iowa.

A South Dakota Man by the name of Lorenzo Stevens was convicted of first-degree murder for shooting and killing a man named Samuel Livingston (whose daughter Stevens loved) in a corn field on his farm. The penalty for this crime was fixed at life in prison. This sentencing coincides with what was mentioned above in statute SEC. 8555.