Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1901 — ABOUT THE COURT HOUSE. [ARTICLE]

ABOUT THE COURT HOUSE.

Commissioners’ court meets Monday. —o — The John F. Judy company recorded the usual number of chattel mortgages this week. —o — New suits filed: W. B. Austin vs. Caroline Roberts, Samuel R. Roberts, her husband, et al, foreclosure. J. H. Chapman, attorney. —o The tax-ferrets are still grinding away and an occasional victim is landed. Next week The Democrat will probably be able to give the result of their work up to date. —o — The county council is called to meet again in special session next Tuesday. There are several matters to come up for appropriations, we understand, more important among which will be the tax ferret matter and the street improvement about the public square. —o The Board of Review is still in session but is not having very much to do except put in the time. The law requires that they remain in session 20 days, but this year they have had no complaints as yet nor have found it necessary to change the assessments in any of the townships. —o —

If Commissioner Dowell leaves Jasper county next February, as , he now intends, it will necessitate I the appointment of a new com- 1 missioner, whom we understand can serve only until the following : January, as the appointment can- | not be made for the full unexpired > term. A successor will be elected in the fall of 1902 who will take his office in January. Mr. Dowell' will have served his first term of three years in November next, his second term not beginning until January 1, 1902. .. o Foltz, Spitler Ar Kurrie are preparing the county's brief in the old court house architects’ case, appealed by the latter from the White circuit court. According to the contract with the architects ‘ they were to receive a certain per cent, of the cost of the court house up to SIOO,OOO. and 5 per cent, in excess of SIOO,OOO. In appel-. lant's brief he alleges that the total cost of the structure upon which he was entitled to a per cent, was $149,603.08. The county is taking the position that the commissioners (Faris. Martindale j and Jones) who entered into that I sort of a contract were blockhead-, which conclusion is so generally .accepted by the people of Jasper county that the point is not even debatable; that by the terms of said contrrct it was greatly to the financial interest of said architects to make the cost rui) up, awav beyond its original estimate, which was done in the way of extras to the extent of more than 50 per cent. It contends that contracts made with architects on a percentage, basis of cost of public build- ‘ ings are against public policy, and, lin effect, that a board of county commissioners who would enter ! into such a contract belong to that j species of the finny tribe which are known to inhabit shallow waters. In the meantime the. dear people are paying the freight. —o — Following is' a cop}’ of the ' County Clerk's civil and criminal i statistical report to the Bureau of i Statistics for the year ending June 30, 1901: CIVIL KEPOHT. i Cnse« begun during year I'l [ Cases pending at end of year 54 I Cases tried by jury 17 I Days occupied by jury trials ... 34 | Court in session, (days) 79 ; Administration causes pending 50 Letters of administration issued.... 24 : Estates settled 20 I Guardianships pending 84 Guardianships issued 10 i Guardianships disposed of 8 i Executions issued 33 , Decree, of foreclosure entered 10 | Number adjudged of unsound mind 5 Marriage licenses leaned 133 Following number of persons declared intention of citizenship: From Austria. 1; from Denmark, 2; from England, 1; front Germany. 15; from Holland and Belgium. 4; from Switzerland. 2; from Poland. 1.. Four from Holland nud Belgium were naturalized. I Number divorces granted, to husband on abandonment 4 Number divorces granted, to wife on abandonment 5 i N umber divorces granted to wife on failure of husband to provide..... 2

Total number divorces during year...,,.. ’it Persons admitted to practice law < Attorneys on roll of county it CBIMINAL kepoßt. Criminal cases pending......... Criminal cases begun during year 4& Criminal cases dismissed 31 Number of misdemanor punished by fine. 17 Number criminal cases tried by jury IS Number days occupied by jury in criminal trial cases K» Number convictions for violations of li<ior law 2