Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1904 — TRUSTEE AND TEACHER HAVE A MIX UP. [ARTICLE]

TRUSTEE AND TEACHER HAVE A MIX UP.

Trustee Arnold of Barkley township, and John a prominent young teacher of the same township, had a little difficulty recently over the latter’s asking pay for teaching a few days during which his school was closed on account of smallpox, which the law provides he is entitled to, and the matter culminated in a fistic encounter at the home of Mr. Arnold on Wednesday evening of last week where Mr. Hayes and his father had gone on some other business. The trustee got decidedly the worst of the encounter, but both were arrested and arraigned before ’Squire Comer, of Barkley, where Mr. Hayes plead guilty to assault and battery, and was fined $2 and costs, which he paid. Arnold took a change of venue and his case was sent to Rensselaer, before ’Suqire Troxell, and by some error, it seems, the papers in Hayes’ case were also sent here. Both affidavits were thrown oat here as irregular, and a new warrant sworn out for Hayes. He being unacquainted with the law, and not having his counsel at hand, again plead gnilty and was finedslo and costs —$26.10 all told. From this latter finding he will appeal, we understand, to the circuit court. He could not be arrested and fined twice for the same offense. Regarding the article which apfieared in the Rensselaer Repubican, stating that the assault was unprovoked, and that Hayes bit Arnold in the face, the former requests us to say that Arnold repeatedly called him a liar and provoked the assault, and that he did not bite Arnold, as stated. He had asked Arnold for a school next year and the latter had refused him for the reason above stated, and used insulting and very abusive language to him here in

Rensselaer the Saturday preceding the final trouble, and he only kept bis hands off him at that time because he thought him under the influence of liquor, and not responsible for his actions. Mr. Hayes is a popular young man, and is well liked in Barkley township, where he has grown to manhood. Those who know him best think that the provocation must have been very great to cause him to ever get in a fracas with anyone. The case against Arnold has not been reinstated at this writing.