Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 297, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1916 — JUDGE WASON REVERSES HIMSELY [ARTICLE]

JUDGE WASON REVERSES HIMSELY

Quashed Indicemant and Sands Jay W. Stockton Eack to Jasper Connty for Trial. The case of the State v's.Stockton, which opened in the White circuit court today, came to an abrupt close this morning .only a short time after it had gotten under headway. There ha® been very earnest contention on the part of the attorneys for the state that t,he indictment was bad, but Judge Wason Anally held that it was good. Suddenly, while witnesses were being examined, the judge withdrew the case from the jury and quash, ed the indictment on account of the same having an error in the name Bertrand. was spelled Burtrand. On the motion of the defendant that he ber’SSt free, Prosecutor Brockway, on behalf of'the state, announced that the state intends to bring a new prosecution for the same offense, and moves the court that the defendant elect whether he would defend in the White or the Jasper circuit court. Defendant refuses to elect. Defendant recognized to the Jasper circuit court in the sum of |I,OOO to appear before the judge thereof, the Arst day of the February term, with E. S. Thornton, surety. The state is given ten days in which to Ale bill of exceptions. > This abrupt intermission was very much unlooked for by the attorneys of the defense as well as the state. There are some very One legal questions, and the future development will be watched with great interest. The defendant will contend that the aotiop of Judge Wason makes it impossible for him to be retired, while the state is positiye that a new indictment can be brought -and -t-hat Stockton will have to stand trial in the Jasper circuit court.