Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1911 — COLTON GETS OFF EASY; FINED $10 FOR ASSAULT. [ARTICLE]

COLTON GETS OFF EASY; FINED $10 FOR ASSAULT.

Actor Charged by Boys with Dark Deed Escaped with light Punishment H Charges Were True. The jury that tried John Colton fined him $lO, which The Republican considers a mighty easy release for Colton. If he was guilty as charged by the boys, he should have, been given the limit. If he was not guilty, he should have been acquitted. He paid the fine and costs, amounting to $55.70 and seemed mightily pleased to be again a free man. South of Mason and Dixon’s line, men have been left dangling from the limb of a tree for a less offense than that charged by the boys, and the thought of doubting the honesty of the story of the assaulted never occurs to those who mete -out speedy punishment. The wonder is, almost the pity is that Ed Sunderland did not take the law into his own hands. It does not seem possible that a child, of eight years could make up so revolting a story—it is not possible. The mere act of a man taking or permitting a little boy to accompany him outhouse is in itself evidence of the perversion of moral decency. The thing that saved Colton was the fact that the deed with which he ‘was charged was so revolting that men of moral respectability could scarcely make up their minds to the possibility of it. But was it not more reasonable to think that this man could be guilty of it than that a boy of eight could conceive such a story? John Colton is lucky to be wearing a loose collar. Necktie parties have been held on much less evidence than tjiat against him.