Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1910 — HANK PROVED AN ALIBI. [ARTICLE]

HANK PROVED AN ALIBI.

Ruler of “Jerry’s Island” Found Not Guilty of Fish Spearing. “Hank” Granger, chief potentate of Jerry’s Island in the Kan«kakee river, was tried here Wednesday before Squire Irwin and a jury of twelve good men on the complaint df the State of Indiana that he had a fish-spear in his possession. The affidavit was filed by Deputy Game Warden James Donley, and the state’s witnesses were Louie Swarts and Rudolph Wichman, employes ot the , Indiana Land Co., whose chief employment seems to be that of watching for poachers on the preserves of the land company. Their evidence was positive and direct as to the guilt of the prisoner. One 1 night last December they were out looking for poachers arid espied a light out on the marsh. They silently rowed their bo/it up to within a few feet of the scow on which the light was burning and, shoving the business end of the Winchester which lay across the bow of their boat toward the poachers, commanded them not to extinguish their light. One of men then stepped over onto the scow where they alleged they found Hank and his son Fred and saw a big fish spear and several pickerel, a few carp’and catfish on the floor of the scow, Mie fish bearing the marks of the spear. Both Mr. Grangerand his son denied 'the charge in toto. They had no spear; were out looking after some trot-lines that night i and had a bamboo pole with a piece of galvanized wire beund to ;one end and'bent up in theTbrni ' of a spear at all, and, having rhe I but a spear I never. The night was awfully dark, blacker than a stack of black oats, and foggy, tpo. Hank and his son got lost in rhe darkness and the sleuths of the land company als.o lost their bearings, according to the Grangers, as they saw them strike matches to look at their | compass after leaving them. Corroborative evidence of parties who knew ail about the fishing trip and. got some of the' fisn • was furnished by the defense altso. None of the fish bore marks ; of a spear at al. and, having the weight of the evidence cyi- his side, the jury promptly acquitted him ot the henious criine. There were two charges against Granger, one with having a fish spear in his possession, and the other with spearing fish. The latter charge was dismissed.