Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 240, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1916 — PEOPLE AWAIT THE PASSING OF SENTENCE [ARTICLE]

PEOPLE AWAIT THE PASSING OF SENTENCE

Judge Hanley Expected to Pass Sentence on Ernest L. Morlan Saturday Morning. The chief topic of conversation among the people of Jasper county thfl. past few days has beep the Morlan perjury trial, which closed Wednesday evening when the jury brought in a verdict of “guilty” against the defendant, on a charge filed in the indictment made against him. The jury recommended that leniency be granted., .the. defendant if it was in the power of the court to do so. The decision of the jury had to be one of two things, “guilty” or “not guilty;” there was no alternative for them.

“Morlan was declared bythe men who had heard all the evidence submitted by both sides, as being guilty of the charge, which carries with it a term of from two to twenty-one years : n the state prison, and a fine of from SSO to SI,OOO. When the jury returned their verdict of “guilty,” this was the penalty they were forced to inflict but asked that the court grant leniency if possible. It is possible for Judge Hanley to suspend both the fine and the sentence, or to accept the decision of the jury. What Judge Hanley will do in this matter no one but himself knows and the general public will have to wait his decisions which will probably be given Saturday morning. Many different opinions are ventured by the people as to the action the court will take, and likewise, the action that should be taken. Some think that clemency should be granted in this case, while others say that the violator should be punished. Which is right we will not attempt to say. One thing is certain, however, Judge Hanley will not be influenced by any outside talk, and no judgment other than his own will be used in passing the sentence.

The trial is over, so far as the court is concerned, but the after affects are not over. Weeks or months will not heal the wounds or ill feeling brought out in this trouble. Years will be needed to close the breach between the two factions. It has been currently rumored throughout the trial that the whole trouble was brought, up by ill feeling that existed between the parties for several months, arid reached a climax when Morlan perjured hfinself last February before the state board of accounts, stating at that time that com had been hauled from the county farm to the D. S. Makeever farm during 1915, which was denied by Superintendent Nichols and Mr. Makeever. At the April term of the grand jury an indictment was returned against Morlan and also Jay W. Stockton, who also testified at that time to the same thing. Much time, money and ' labor has been spent in this case, which has caused internal strife in one of the best communities in Jasper county, and which will retard the progress of this special community for some time to come and has made enemies out of neighbors, who should be on the most friendly terms, for jiyil interests. We do not wish to say that this occurrence should not have been brought to the attention oT the court, for the state of Indiana has laws which must be obeyed and respected, “and if Ernest L. Morlan has violated a law of the State of Indiana, then he must suffer the punishment that the court sees fit to inflict.