Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1910 — THIS IS THE OTHER SIDE. [ARTICLE]

THIS IS THE OTHER SIDE.

Without Any Sugar Coating or Unreasonable Exagerations. Editor Democrat: —In reference to the difficulty which occurred Monday, May 2, between W. A. Witham and James Wiseman, will say in self-defense that there has been but very little, truth revealed to‘the public. While this is not an elevating affair, one is sometimes compelled to speak and act in self-defense, as was the case here. It seems as though there has been more or Idss contention on their part since the establishing of the Farr route. The first day W. A. Witham-served the route, Mr. W. refused to compfly with the governmental rules and has so continued up to the present time. So, when the office at Aix was dicontinued, he asked if Witham would serve a. temporary box until he could get to

town and get a government-approv-ed box? Witham consented and the box was an old Yeast Foam box with the whole north side out. This continued in this shape until about a week before the difficulty, then Wiseman’s put up a little tin box about 6xßx6 inches, resembling a spice box. On the day of the difficulty Witham saw* one of the children and informed them to tell their folks that he wanted a government-approved box, and that they had one on the other route, Rensselaer, R-R-2. Mr. Wiseman overheard the talk, and came out of the front door of the store at a 2:40 gait and asked the carrier what he said, and the carrier informed him. He then asked when that rule went into effect and the carrier replied that it had been the rule ever since the rural! route system had been established. He then told the carrier that he had a government approved box on his* route oncp, for which the carrier disputed his word, as it set on R-R-2 from Rensselaer, on the road going north past Aix, and Witham goes west past Aix. He then said that the carrier did not have to drive any further to serve that box than the one he had been serving, in which the carrier disagreed, and told Wiseman there was no use to talk to him, as he was too unreasonable, and started bn. Wiseman commenced anew, and then the horse stopped on its own accord.

Wiseman was getting “warm under the collar,’’ as he states the carrier did. Then the carrier got to his conclusion at once and told Wiseman that they had been trying to bulldoze the route ever since H started. - • At that Wiseman shoved his fist in at the north door of the wagon, which was open, and called Witham an infernal liar, for w’hich Witham knocked his hand down and handed him one that landed and staggered him back. He came again, found something jn the door that slapped his blows tp one side as fast as they came and the second one went through the glass, which he alleges the carrier broke in his hurry to get away, which, was not the case, and when the glass came rattling in* the wagon it frightened the horse and it made a leap that raised the front wheels clear of the ground, as he started, and then the show was over. This is as* it all happened, regardless of what may be said later on and is the last and only time you will hear from me on the subject. “ Respectfully,

W. A. W.

[We have now given both sidds a chance to be heard, and let this end the newspaper publicity—Ed.] Subscribe for The Democrat-