Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1902 — GOT LIGHT SENTENCE. [ARTICLE]

GOT LIGHT SENTENCE.

A dispatch from Indianapolis says of the sentence of Albert Merrill and Oscar Sorrenson, arrested some time ago in Newton county for counterfeiting: Today, in the Federal Court, Albert Merrill and Oscar Sorrenson were arraigned for counterfeiting, and sentenced to the workhouse. Merrill is a young farmer and has a beautifuf wife. They lived with a man named Nottingham. Merrill did the chores for his house rent. Nottingham fell in love with Merrill’s wife, according to the story told in Court. The Nottingham home is within the Indiana line near Momence, 111. Merrill made a short trip to Illinois, Upon his return he found his wife very angry and vowing that she would not live with him unless he provided her a home. She would assign no reason. Meanwhile, it was alleged, Nottihgham had been telling Merrill how easily counterfeit money is made. He concluded to try it. Oscar Sorrenson furnished money for material, and then Nottingham acquainted Merrill’s wife with what he was doing, and also tipped off the story to the Federal authorities, and claimed the reward offered in such cases. The counterfeit outfit complete and costly, was exhibited in Court, and Merrill’s story was borne out by Captain Tom Halls of the Secret Service, leading Judge Baker to remark that the wrong men had evidently been brought before him, and that Nottingham ought to be punished. Both defendants received only light sentences. Sorrenson is the son of a wealthy farmer of Newton county and is a native of Denmark.