State v. Sterman

Arthur, J. —

I. Appellant was a practicing physician in the town of Peru, Madison County, Iowa. The indictment grew out of a church controversy. , One W. J. Beeler had been handling some financial matters for the Methodist church at Peru. The indictment charged appellant with writing and publishing a libelous letter, accusing Beeler with appropriating to his own use some of the church funds which he had handled, and making certain other defamatory statements about him. The letter set out in the indictment was as follows:

“October 31, 1923.

“To W. J. Beeler:

“Word has reached me that you are…