Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1914 — EDITOR BABCOCK WAS ON THE WAR PATH [ARTICLE]

EDITOR BABCOCK WAS ON THE WAR PATH

Wanted to Fight Attorney Halleck and J. A. McFarland—Attorney Honan Halted Him.

Editor Babcock, of The Jasper County Democrat, had his fighting clothes on Saturday and his belligerent tendencies would qualify him as a “general” in Huerta’s Mexican army. That he escaped whipping any person or getting whipped himself is due to the activity of his attorney, E. P. Honan, who got in between he and the object of his wrath on two occasions. Both attempts are the outgrowth of a libel suit which J. A. McFarland, the grocer, who is the democratic city chainman, brought against Babcock, asking $5,000 for an attack made against McFarland in The Jasper County Democrat A feature of damage suits is the right of the defendant to make an examination of the plaintiff. The examination was setter Saturday morning at 10 o’clock, an hour when Mr. McFarland is busy at his store, and he desired that the examination be hastened along. Attorney Halleck, McFarland’s attorney, went to the office of Attorney Parkinson, who is assisting Attorney Honan to defend Babcock. He stated that his client was very busy and asked that the examination be made promptly. Babcock said that they were not ready and Mr. Halleck replied that perhaps when they finally got ready that McFarland would not be ready either. At this Babcock grabbed a chair and started toward Attorney Halleck, but he is said to have been careful to keep Attorney Honan between himself and the object of his wrath, who calmly awaited his advance. That feature of the morning’s combat was concluded without a clash, the editor not proving very hard to hold. -

Later the examination was held in the office of Court Reporter Wagner, in the court house. Mr. McFarland was under oath and had made reply to a question from Attorney Parkinson When Babcock called him a liar or a damned liar, reports seem to differ. McFarland replied by saying that Babcock, himself, was the liar and at the tame time Shedding his coat Babcock started to remove his coat but after getting it part way off he put It back on and grabbed a chair and started for McFarland, who got out his pocket knife and the gladiators stood for a moment, while Attorney Honan again sprang forward and halted his (bellicose client Babcock then accused McFarland of drawing his knife first and McFarland again called the editor a liar and the air was fairly blue for some time, but the principals found the stalwart form of Attorney Honan between them and there was no blood Shed. Mr. 'McFarland says that Babcock’s desire to fight is accompanied with a great deal of precaution and that he was very cautious not to assume an aggressive attitude unless his attorney was on hand to restrain him, giving his belligerency somewhat of a stage appearance.

The. libel suit was venued from Jasper county to Newton county and from Newton to Lake, and will be tried at Crown Point The objectionable article on which the libel suit is based charged among other things that MeFarand was not a fit man to send to the state legislature because “he did not have the moral stamina to withstand temptations.” The failure of McFarland to support Babcock’s candidacy for the postoffice was the chief cause of the disagreement between the two men. Other court items are as follows: CIRCUIT COURT. Mack Steel, upon warrant issued by the clerk, has been arrested and released upon bond in sum of SIOO. Trial is set for April 27th, 1914. The defendant is charged with unlawful hunting. Clint Brown vs. Granville Moody, st at The court finds that a trustee should be appointed to collect all outstanding debts and Kenton Parkison is appointed without bond.

Mary A. Jordan, guardian of the minor heirs of Monnett Etna Jordan, deceased, files final report and requests her discharge as such guardian. Nelson Randle, adminitrator of the estate of Samuel G. Pass, files final report and same is set for hearing the first day of September term. L _ <

The last wiM and testament of John Richardson, of Livingtson county, Hl, has been admitted to probate in this court. Baid will affects the e% ne% of section 16; the nw% of section 15, all in township 29 north, range 5 west, in Jasper county, ill devised to the widow, Anna Richardson, during life an<

then to go to the children of decedent Thomas Downey files application for letters of administration upon the estate of Joseph Downey, decc&scd*