Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1910 — Preliminary Hearing of the Kouts Harder Case at Valparaiso. [ARTICLE]

Preliminary Hearing of the Kouts Harder Case at Valparaiso.

The preliminary hearing* of Jacob Walters, the Kouts saloonkeeper, who murdered Albert Johnson last Friday morning, was held at Valparaiso Friday and Saturday. The testimony bore out mainly the story as published in The Republican Saturday evening. Walters was jealous and accused Johnson of improper relations with his wife. t He adopted the “unwritten law.” A,write-up in the Valparaiso Messenger severely censures Mrs. Walters, whom it accuses of having had a hypnotic influence over the murdered man. Johnson was much liked at Kouts, and although every person seemed to have a kindly word for him, yet none seem to censure Walters for the action he took in disposing of the nocturnal visitor at his home. Walters had one time previous to this beaten Johnson severely and told him never to darken his doorway, but Johnson seemed to be under a spell of infatuation and Mrs. Walters did not try to weaken his admiration. The impression is that Walters will go free. One witness, who was not examined Saturday, is said to intend to testify that Johnson had threatened the life of Walters. This will give an opportunity for a plea of self-defense that Walters’ attorney will be quick to use.

O. A. Yeoman, of Rensselaer, is well acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Walters, having stopped frequently at thedr hotel at Kouts. The largest line of cotton and woolen bed blankets, comforters and outings, at lower prices than any competition can name. Come in and examine these for yourselves. ROWLES & PARKER.