Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1911 — GETS OFF WITH A FINE [ARTICLE]

GETS OFF WITH A FINE

Of Ten Dollars and Costs, About $55 Dollars In All. The indictment case against John Colton, the “Lena Rivers” theatrical man charged with assault and battery with intent to commit a disgusting crime at Remington several weeks ago Was heard by Judge Hanley and a jury in the circuit court Wednesday and Thursday. The court appointed Dunlap & Parkison to defend Colton, a poor person, who was also defended by Prosecuting Attorney Baker of Marion county, his cousin.

The evidence did not tend to prove the more serious offense charged, as our statutes seem to be a little lame in defining such a crime, and only the assault and battery charge could be considered by the jury. The Sunderland boy, who is only eight years of age, told a pretty straight story for so young a lad, but the defense introduced testimony seeking to disprove his truthfullness, and did show by several Remington people 'that he was not regarded as a very reliable boy in this respect. The jury -was* out over two hours and the verdict as finally returned was a compromise, a number of the jurymen wanting to give the defendant the full limit of the law, a SI,OOO fine. A few, however, were for acquittal and some for a lighter fine, and as it was figured that he would lay out the fine were it too high, at the expense of the county or a disagreement would result, the verdict of $lO and costs was finally agreed to. The fine and costs amounted to about $55, {which was paid Thursday evening and Colton left on the milk train for Indianapolis, seeming to think, as did all who heard the evidence, that he got off mighty easy, although he of course protested his innocense all along. It is indeed hoped that Jasper county will never again have a case of this kind and that Colton will never again set his foot in the county.