Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1916 — COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF [ARTICLE]

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs From the Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomized—Together With Other Notes Gathered From the Several County Offices. Township trustees should get in their annual estimates for publication this week. Quite a number of prominent citizens from different parts of the county were in yesterday to attend the funeral of the late J. H. Perkins. All the offices in the court house were closed during the funeral and the county officers acted as pallbearers. On account of the death of Clerk Perkins, Miss Eva Moore, stenographer for Mose Leopold, who was employed for some time a few years ago in the clerk’s office, has hau charge of the office for the past few days in the absence of Mr. Perkins daughter, Miss Ethel Perkins.

In The* Democrat's mention of the purchase of the State bank corner by C. G. Spitler, in Saturday’s issue, we were misinformed as to the precise size of the plot of ground. It has a frontage on Washington street of 38 feet, and is 66 2-3 feet on Van Rensselaer street, instead of 31 %x 66, as we gave it Saturday.

Everett Rex ford was brought over from Brook Friday as a prisoner of Newton county and placed in jail here to await trial in the Newton circuit court. Rexford is charged with stealing $9 from a fellow farm employee near Brook, and is said to have admitted the theft, $7 being found on his person when arrested and he had spent $2 of the amount stolen. His bend was fixed at SSOO. He is the only occupant of the jail at this time.

Trustee John Kolhoff of Jordan tp. let the contract Saturday for a 25x34 addition to the Union school lieu so in said township. The contract war awarded to Albert Wortley of Jordan tp. for $1,099. The next lowest bid was $1,900. Mr. Wortley, who was formerly on the advisory board, resigned some time ago and there fore had a legal right to bid on this work, it is said. He has Lis own teams and can do the hauling and considerable of the work himself. He figures that he can perhaps make a few dollars and also save the township some money. New suits filed: No. 8651. Sidney K. Turner vs. William M. Turner; action for divorce. The complaint alleges that the parties were married in Valparaiso on September 1, 1888, and lived together as husband and wife until February 17, 1913, on which date the defendant wholly abandoned plaintiff, without cause on plaintiff’s part, and that since said last mentioned date plaintiff and defendant have not lived or cohabited together. Flaintiff further alleges that defendant had been a habitual drunkard and had been a constant user of alcoholic liquor for 25 years, and frequently came home in an intoxicated condition, and by reason of said use of liquor defendant squandered his earnings and left plaintiff to support herself and children. The plaintiff resides at Wheatfield.

Captain H. B. Tuteur of Company M, in writing home to his mother, Mrs. Anna Tuteur, says, re garding the criticisms made of the expenditures of the Company M “comfort fund,” that the checks at the First National bank drawn on the fund tell what the money was expended for; that $75 of the monej expended while at Fort Harrison was for socks and underclothes for members of the company and this will be paid back by the boys when they have their first payday. As The Democrat understands the checks merely state for “supplies” while at Fort Harrison and enroute to Texas, etc. In order to fully satisfy everyone in the matter, as The Democrat suggested recently, It might perhaps be better for the of-

fleers to send the receipted bills to some party here and have the items and amounts published in the papers.

The death of Circuit Court Clerk Judson H. Perkins makes it necessary for the appointment of a clerk by the commissioners to serve unit* after the November election—for ’ period of about three months—when a new clerk will be elected to serve out the unexpired term of Mr. Perkins, about three years and six months—but a clerk will be elec’td at the regular election in 1918 for the full term, of course, taking the office on May 1, 1920. As the time for nominations for this office under the primary law is past, the place will be filled on the respective tickets by the county central committees of each party participating in *he election. Mr. Perkins’ daughter, Miss Ethel Perkins, who had been deputy during most of the time her father held the office, is very efficient and is well liked by everyone. But the office of clerk of the circuit court cannot be held in Indiana by a woman, and the sentiment of everyone The Democrat has talked to regarding the appointment to be made is that some one be appointed who would be willing to accept the office in name only, with the understanding that Miss Perkins will have all the salary and the emouluments until a clerk is elected in November, providing, of course, she would care to have the place. She is thoroughly conversant with the work in every department and it is hoped that such an arrangement may be made.