Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1909 — THE COURT HOUSE [ARTICLE]

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. Six marriage licenses have been issued this month depite the poor start made. ' —o— Monday is the last day for paying the spring installment of taxes to avoid their going delinqeunt. ——o— There has been quite a rush of tax-payers in this week to settle their spring Installment of taxes before the, expiration of the time limit. 9 —<o— The township trustees and others appointed as inspectors for to-day’qj special election, were in Thursday getting the election supplies for their respective precincts. —o—— Marriage licenses granted: April 28, Henry Bosma of Keener tp., aged 25, occupation farmer, to Lula Kungina, also of Keener, aged 21, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each. —o— A. J. Schuh, county treasurer of Newton county, has received a check from the C. I. & S. railroad for -$7,858 to pay their first installment of taxes. A railroad is a benefit to a county in more ways than one. —n— Marshal Parks has received a card from the marshal at North Manchester giving the description of a horse and buggy stolen from John Renicker last week. With the set of harness on the horse two other sets were stolen, as well as a fine lap robe. A reward of $75 is offered for the capture of the thief. Mr. Renicker moved from Barkley tp., to North Manchester last fall. -o-~ ’ Court has been grinding along slowly this week. The jury camel back Wednesday morning to hear the cases of Harvey J. Dexter and John Werner, the tailor, vs. C. H. Sternberg, et al, for $l5O dam-v ages for a triangu4 lar piece of land south of Weston* cemetery and the Kight vs. Zea ease. Both weie settled and there was nothing for the jury to do until Thursday, when the Cheadle, trustee vs. Joe Nessius and J. A. May case was heard. In the former case plaintiff’s attorney, W. H. Parkison, was out of town and plaintiffs did not know hardly what to do, but finally decided to accept Sternberg’s offer of $lO and the latter to pay the court costs, which they did and the case was dismissed. In the Kight vs. Zea case, where some $750 was demanded, a settlement was reached by the payment of S2OO, we understand. The Cheadle-Nessius case afforded considerable amusement for both the court attoches and jury, and the judge had a hjrtd time to keep his face straight at ah times. Mr. Nessius is a Dutchermans, and he speaks somewhat brokenly. It was hard for him to understand some of the United States questions put to him by the attorneys. John Wagner, one of Joe’s witnesses, is also from the Fatherland, and when a question was asked of either of them while they were on the witness stand, .they would talk for five minutes, while the court reporter would throw up his hands in despair. Joe would use more expressive than elegant language at times, too, such as "Mine Got, yes,” “Yaw, dot ish ah— of a ditch,” etc. There was no difficulty about either making themselves heard in almost all parts of the court house* the trouble was to understand what they were saying or to get them stopped when they got started. Mr. Wag©er is a rather frail looking Dutchman, but he has a voice on him like, a tog horn. The case grew out of a note for some $750 given by May and Nessius to the Parker bank of Remington for tile used on a lateral to a ditch, which they had the contract to dig. Mr. Nessius was a partner in the ditch, but wanted to get out of the partnership. May had paid half the note, and the jury brought in a verdict against both. The court ordered that Nessius be exhausted first. The judgment and costs are about SSOO, and it is quite probable that May and Nessius will now have a lawsuit over the matter.

B. J. Gifford vs. Frank Cochran; dismissed, costs paid. Rensselaer Lumber Co., vs. Sarah E. Lane; continued on affidavit of defendant. John T. Kifcht vs. Wm. Eea; dismissed, costs paid. James R. Craig vs. Seth B. Moffitt; Judgment for 11,016.65. Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Co., vs. Augustus W. Lux, et al; set for Fourth Monday. -

< The Kirkpatrick ditch case was compromised yesterday and ordered established. No commissioner has been appointed’as yet. The failure of the state to produce two of their important witnesses caused the two cases against Hank Granger, set for trial yesterday, to be dismissed. i The jury was excused yesterday torenoon until 11 a. m., Tuesday.