Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1910 — THE COURT HOUSE [ARTICLE]

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. Mrs. Barbara Meisch returned to her home in \\ heatfield yesterday morning alter a few days visit here with her brother, L. P. Shirer and family. Walter Doty, the young man from Newton county who nad been in jail here for some time charged in the confession of Baumgartner with complicity in the attempt to rob an old man near Lake Village 'last fall, was tried and acquitted in the Xewton circuit court last Friday. Kentland Enterprise: Prosecuting* Attprney Longwell is to be commended for starting an investigation of the road work system in this county. There is every appearance that’ stealing has been going on for years in the sub-letting of this work, and the farmer who is compelled to, put in full time on the highways do not look kindly on the railroads being let off at half price. ■■ O-:-

Marriage licenses issued: May 28, John J.eo CopSey of Sheri? dan, aged- 25, occupation baker, to Rose E. Carr, daughter of James M. Carr of Rensselaer, aged 24, occupation, clerical work. First marriage for each. May 31, Henry Paul Sartorius of Chicago aged 28, occupation civil engineer, to Hazel E. Webb, of Hammond, aged 21, occupation stenographer. S. C. Irwin officiated. • ' The county board of review, composed of the County Assessor, Auditor and Treasurer, and two appointees by the Judge of the circuit court, will meet next Monday and continue. in. session for twenty days. Judge Hanley appointed John Biggs of Kankakee tp., and Ed Reeve of Rensselaer, to serve as the appointive members, but Mr. Biggs declined the honor and S. T. Comer of T nion tp., has been appointed in Mr. Biggs’ stead. -—o —* Winamac Journal: The Monon ditch.case came up for consideration last week. Attorney 11. A. Sties of South Bend, who had been selected to try the matter, came down and opened court for the purpose of starting the case. Then the remonstrators decided that they wanted to hold the case until the September term. This Mr. Sties objected to, and at once disqualified as judge, declaring that other business would prevent him serving in the case except' at a vacation term. The remonstrators later withdrew their motion and a petition signed by attorneys for both sides has been sent to Mr. Sties, asking him that he reconsider his withdrawal. Xo answer has y 4 et been received from' Mr. Sties. In W. H.'Blodgett’s interview with County Attorney Halleck, as recently published in the Indianapolis News, was this: “Since you have been county attorney, or white you were a member of the board of county commissioners did any of these bridge contractors offer to bribe' you or to attempt to influence yotr in any way?” was the question asked Senator Halleck.

The senator laughed at the abruptness of the question and answered: f “I should say not. No one ever approached me in any way, ’ he continue#, with considerable emphasls* “and I do not believe that any officer of this county was ever approached with a disfionest proposition. Tam satisfied that there is nothing in the reports of attempted bribery.” This does not coincide with the story’ told by r ex-xounty r commissioner John Martindale, told by Mr. Martindale-to perhaps five hundred or more voters in Jasper county’, regarding the pui- ' chase of the new court house clock, and had we along about that time a Fred Longwell for prosecuting attorney’ it is likely Mr. Martindale’s oft-repeated story' of his having been offered S3OO Jo sign the contract for this $2,300 clock would have been investigated, » ' , We do not know whether Mr.

Martindale’s story was true or not, but the records show that he never did join the other two commissioners in signing the contract for this cldck, and though he is a man who is financially responsible for his remarks, no libel suits were ever begun against him by his colleagues, which seems a little strange indeed.