Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1903 — A CARD OF THANKS. [ARTICLE]

A CARD OF THANKS.

We kindly thank the neighbors and friends for their kindness and help during the sickness nnd death of our daughter, Nellie G. Brown. John N. Brown and Children.

IROQUOIS DITCH CASE DECIDED.

Supreme Court Decides Against Petitioners and They Must Now Pay the Coasts. On last_. Friday the supreme court affirmed the decision of the lower court in the long-pending Iroquois ditch case, and the remaining petitioners will now have the big bill of costs piled up in this noted case, to pay. The Iroquois ditch project was begun Oct. 7, 1892, and was destined to drain a large territory north of Rensselner. The ditch was ordered on Dec. 10, 1892, and much preliminary work was done and paid for out of the couuty fund. On May 10, 1894, the county commissioners arbitrarily dismissed the cause. The petitioners appealed from the dismissal order to the circuit court, and on March 23, 1895, the citcuit court dismissed their appeal. The petitioners then appealed to the supreme court, but on Dec. 2. 1896, the dismissal was affirmed. There had been $3,646.70 paid out on preliminary account of this proposed improvement, and instead of taking the proper steps to collect this money from the petitioners without cost to the county, the commissioners on Nov.- 27, 1897, entered into a contract with Hanley & ■ Hunt to collect the same and also $3,023.17 in preliminary costs paid out on the Waukarusa ditch—a similar large drainage for south Marion, Hanging Grove, Milroy, Jordan aim 7 Carpenter townships—for S7OO. Suit was begun and judgment was rendered by Judge Palmer as special judge, in the circuit court, Nov. 30, 1900. The Waukarusa case was taken from this county on change of venue and sent to Cass county, where it has lain since without action. The petitioners in the Iroquois appealed to the supreme court, and this decision now ends the matter, and the remaining petitioners now residents of the county and financially responsible, some 30 of the original 61, will have the judgment to pay, which with costs will probably amount to* $4,000. The injustice of dismissing this case after expending so much with nothing to show for it, and against the wishes of the petitioners, is questioned on all sides. The questions involved in the Waukarusa case —whether or not the petitioners were liable for costs in such cases— are practically the same as in the Iroquois, we understand, and the decision above virtually decides it also. The amount involved in the Waukarusa is $3,053.17, instead of $9, 089.68, as 6tated by both the Republican and Journal.