Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1909 — MORGAN ESCAPES WITH JAIL SENTENCE. [ARTICLE]

MORGAN ESCAPES WITH JAIL SENTENCE.

Arthur Morgan, the Newton county negro who has been in Jail here for several months, was tried in the Newton circuit court last Friday and Saturday, and the charge of cutting up a C. & E. I. railroad conductor on the Momence-Brazil branch some 18 months ago, and after wrestling with the case for 22 hours, the Jury brought in a verdict at 11 a. m., Sunday that gave him a $25 fine and six months more of Sheriff Shirer’s jail grub. This is a very light sentence considering the enormity of the offence, as the conductor was nearly killed by the razor-wielder, according to reports. Newton county taxpayers get to pay about S3OO for the privilege of having one of their citizens “cut up” a human being with a razor, and the school fund is enriched $25, unless the prisoner “lays the fine. The victim of the cutting gets to carry the scars to his grave as his reward in having the fellow prosecuted, and in six months the latter is turned loose to try his hand on carving up some one else.