Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1903 — DRAFT WORKER WEMPE FREED. Jury Acquits Him After Being Out [ARTICLE]

DRAFT WORKER WEMPE FREED.

Jury Acquits Him After Being Out

Bsvsn Hours. The most interesting case in the circuit court this week was that of the state vs. Ed Wempe, the man for whom Geo. Strickfaden endorsed a draft on a Louisville liquor firm last January and, like the proverbial cat, the draft came back. The particulars have been heretofore published, as well as the arrest and result of the former trial, in which the jury failed to agree. It was thought that a better case had been made out this time than at the previous trial, but the jury after seven hours arrived at a verdict of acquittal. The case was given to the jury at 5:30 Tuesday evening, and the sealed verdict was opened at the re-convening of court the next morning. The prisoner was discharged but was immediately re-arrested on a warrant from Liberty, Union county, where he was wanted for a like charge. The sheriff of Union came up Wednesday evening and took Wemp with him Thursday.

Ada A. Dobbins was granted a divorce from Sloan Dobbins. The cases of Albert Graham vs. Patrick Halligan were dismissed at plaintiff’s costs. The case of Thomas Akers vs. B. J. Gifford for damages to plaintiff’s crops by reason of overflow from defendant’s-ditch, occupied the attention of court and jury and Friday forenoon, when a verdict was returned for Gifford.