Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 120, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1916 — JOHN SONENBERGER CHARGES ASSAULT [ARTICLE]

JOHN SONENBERGER CHARGES ASSAULT

German Who Has Worked On Farms Says Omar Morlan Siezed Him and Injured Him. John Sonenberger, a German 54 years of age who has worked in and near Rensselaer for the past 24 years or more, spent Thursday night in jail after he was brought to town by Russell Willetts, who had detained him when he said he was going to the river to drown himself. Sonenberger is a harmless man and persons who have known him all his life say that he is a good worker, faithful, truthful and has never had any trouble. After he was brought into town he related a story that caused those who heard him to feel very sorry for him and to question the conduct of Omar Morlan, whom he alleged had abused him. His story as told to a number was substantially as follows:

On Wednesday evening he had gone to the home of Ed Grant, near the Morlan farm, west of the countv farm. He had worked for Grant, who is a nephew of Morlan and occasionally went there for a chat. Ed was not at home, so he remained only a little while and then returned to Morlan’s. Thursday evening Omar and his wife were milking, the cows and when they were finished, according to John, Mr. Morlan took him to task for going to Grant’s. He told him that he would be “puffed full” of stuff down there, meaning, as John interpreted it, that he would be prejudiced in the perjury trial in which Ernest Morlan is one of the defendants. He said that he had not seen Ed Grant and that no one had talked to him about the case. He said that Mr. Morlan said they were “puffing him full” of stuff and he told Morlan that he lied. John in a very short man, lis eye sight is poor and he is not very strong and he says that Mr. Morlan, who is a man about 70 years old, rushed at him and grabbed him with both hands on the sides of his head and shook him. He says that Mrs. Morlan urged her husband to stop and that he did so. John said that he was so heart-broken at the affa'r that he said he would take his life and that he said he would jump in the river. He says that Mr. Morlan said it was not necessary for him to jump in the river, that he would get a gun and kill him. John started across through the oats field to jump in the river but Russell Willets, the mail carried on Route No. 3, saw hint and brought him to town. After spending the night in jail he feit better and said he was glad he had not killed himself but said he felt so bad that he did not want to live. Prosecutor Sands heard his story at the jail and asked John if he wanted to make an affidavit charging Morlan with assault but he said that he had never had any trouble during the many years he had lived in America and that he did not want to cause any one else any trouble. His story, however, elicited considerable sympathy and if the circumstances as he related them are right it does not i speak very much to the credit of Mr. Morlan. He said that Ernest Morlan, son of Omar, who had employed him always treated him all right, but that Mr.’ Morlan complained about the amount he ate. He related a bit of logic, saying that a woman for whom he had worked at one time said ro him: “If you kick a good dog in the back he is satisfied; but a bad dog has to have several morsels of food to satisfy him.” John aimed to compare himself to the good dog and to indicate that if he was not wanted and could not be treated right ae would put himself out of the way. This Friday morning Mr. Morlan 'brought all of John’ij, clothes to the jail and John Was taken to the home of GArland Grant, where he said he would be treated all right.