Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1915 — JUDGMENT FOR $150 SECURED [ARTICLE]

JUDGMENT FOR $150 SECURED

lty Jasper County Against Winaniao j Bridge Co. for Shortage on Mil- " roy Tp. Bridge. The old case of Jasper county vsT the Winamac Bridge Company and C. L. Bader and Mr. Frain, the latter surety on the bond of said company, on its contract to erect a 70-foot bridge over the Howe ditch in Milroy tp.,; some years ago, was by agreement submitted at Crown Point Monday, where the case was taken on change of venue, and a judgment for $450 awarded the county. This was for the full amount sued upon, and was according to the figures of Engineer Ray Yeoman of Valparaiso, who was secured to measure the bridge and ascertain its shortage over specifications and contract. The Winamac Bridge company, it will be remembered, erected several bridges in Jasper county some years ago and C. L. Bader, president and general manager of the company, was convicted and served one year in the state prison for swindling tKe county on the particular bridge, above mentioned, which was shown to have been scaled down from the specifications nearly or about onetliird. An investigation was then made of other bridges erected by this company, and all were found to be short about the same amount. The democratic board of commissioners sued the bridge company and the bondsmen on this Milroy contract for the shortage—they having been paid the full amount of the contract price—with the above result.

Just what will be done in regard to the shortages on other bridges erected by the company remains to be seen, but it is probable that this will end the matter. The total shortage , on all of the bridges erected here by the Winamac company, is said to have been In the neighborhood of $2,000 or $2,500, but this being the largest bridge, the amount was greater on this than on any other erected here. The case was set for trial at Crown Point Monday, but the defense agreed to let the case be submitted and judgment taken as above noted, therefore reducing the costs considerably, as no witnesses were required to go over there.