Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1915 — DeMotte Man Fined For Provoke; Son Made Complaint. [ARTICLE]

DeMotte Man Fined For Provoke; Son Made Complaint.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sands went to DeMotte .this Friday morning and appeared for the State in a case against Silas Alfring, who was charged with provoke. His son, Richard, was the complaining witness, and the father pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $2 and costs. John Greve was the justice of the peace. Alfring, Sr., is a carpenter and said to be a good workman but addicted to the habit of strong drink. He makes his home with his son, Richard, and when sober gets along all right, but when intoxicated he becomes very disagreeable and the cause of the action brought by the son was the act of the father in hsaking his fist under the son’s nose and applying some very uncomplimentary language to set tune to hjs action. Some time ago a minor son of the defendant came from DeMotte to complain that his father took all of his wages and spent for drink and that the son, although he had worked hard and constantly at fair wages, did not get enough to cloth himself. There was talk at that time of appointing a guardian for the father, but the boy finally decided that his best course was to leave home, which he did. The father was unable to pay the fine assessed by Justice Greve and it was staid, the son who brought the action isgning as surety. It is hoped the old man ■will now change his conduct and etopthe habit that so transforms him.