Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1903 — ONE DOLLAR AND COSTS. [ARTICLE]

ONE DOLLAR AND COSTS.

The corn stealing case againat John Iselman, from Hanging Grove, was tried in “the circuit court Friday afternoon and Saturday. While the evidence was somewhat conflicting the jnry agreed on a verdiot of gnilty after several hours deliberation and fixed his punishment at $1 fine. Here is another travesty on justice. If the man was guilty at all he should have been given a much heavier punishment; if innocent he should have been acquitted. But, as one 'juror told us, some of the jury said if the punishment for stealing 18,000 worth of cattle was only $25, a man who stole only $lO worth of corn ought to go free. This is poor reasoning, however. Because one jury failed in its duty ought not to cause another jury to do the same. The trial brought out a large number of Hanging Grove people, and a great deal of petty theirvery that has been going on for some tima.in that locality is now laid at Eisleman’s door. Randle himself had missed corn and oats heretofore. This particular corn alleged to have been stolen, was fonnd in Iselman’s hay-mow, and one witness swore that he saw the latter driving away from the direction of the Randle crib on the night it was stolen. On the other hand his family swore that he had not left home on this particular night, and that the corn found was seed corn he had placed there for safe-keeping.