Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1917 — COURT NEWS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COURT NEWS

This is the last week of the April term of the Jhsper circuit court and, as usual, it has been quite a busy one. The jury has been here all week, and Tuesday the case of Charles A. Jones vs. Ransom N. Edwards was taken up. (Through a misprint in Wednesday’s Democrat it was stated that this case had been continued to the fourth Friday, when it should have read the fourth Tuesday). This was a landlord and tenant case and was first started in Jasper county where change of venue was taken and cause sent to Newton county. The case was tried there, or the trial was practically completed when the sudden death of a daughter of Judge Darroch, one of the counsel in the case, stopped the (proceedings and by agreement the cause was sent back to Jasper county where a complete new trial was had and many witnesses were

examined. The farm is near Roselawn, and the landlord and tenant engaged in the cattle. business as partners. The business did not prove profitable, and difficulty arose between them in the settlement, the suit following as a result. The case lasted up to about 10 o’clock Thursday morning when it was given to the jury, who did not reach a verdict until about midnight Thursday night. 4 Their sealed verdict was returned in court yesterday morning and gave the tenant, Edwards, a judgment for $75 and found against the plaintiff on his complaint. Fred Oxley of Rensselaer, who was arrested and placed in jail a few days ago on default of SSOO bond, on complaint of his wife, who alleged that he had beaten her up last Tuesday in a fit of anger, was tried by jury yesterday forenoon and he was acquitted of the charge. Oxley had plead not guilty, and testified that his wife had “come at” him and he merely “pushed her away.” The jury, composed of married men, gave him the benefit of the doubt and set him free. The state alleged that he was under the influence of liquor at the time, having come down town and became intoxicated because of a quarrel over his supper not being ready, as he alleged, and that he had then gone home and assaulted his wife. The marshal was called to quell the alleged disturbance and said Oxley was under the influence of liquor when he went there. The case of “Johnson vs. Walters from Gillam township was taken up yesterday afternoon and was still on as The Democrat went to press. The case of M. V. Brown vs. George H. Hammerton, trustee of Union township, growing out of the building by plaintiff of a new school house at Virgie,' was heard by the court at a night' session, held Thursday night, and the cause taken under advisement by the ocurt. The cause of Sawin and Shirer et al vs. May, county treasurer, the Rensselaer north side sewer case, was set for trial yesterday, but was not likely to be reached.

Other proceedings during the past few days follow: Francis Gorbet vs. Clyde Yeagly. Defendant confesses that he is the father of the two children born to plaintiff and court orders defendant to pay $l2O per year for the support of sadi children at the rate of $lO per month, commencing Alay 1, 1917, and to continue so paying until further order of the court, said amount to be paid to the clerk of the court. Defendant is also taxed with the costs of the action and is required to give good freehold surety that he ill comply with the order of the court, and on failure to give such bond shall be remanded to the custody of the sheriff and committed to jail. Bond provided with Lee Meyers as surety. Charles T. Otis vs. Clifford Fairchild, trustee of Keener township. Plaintiff granted change of venue and cause sent to Newton county. Lillie L. Ruffing vs. Percy L. Coons et al. First National bank of Goodland files answer and crosscomplaint. . Grant-Warner Lumber Co. vs. Elbra Cochran and Frank Cochran. Judgment and foreclosure of lien for $1 28.20. - . ' In the 'matter of the last will and testament of Kate L. Moorehead, late of Remington, Emil Besser, administrator with will annexed,’ vs. Emil Besser, Nina Weiser and Paul “Weiser. Petition for construction of item 1 of said will which reads: “I give and bequeath lots 7 and 8, Schafer’s addition, with all improvements thereon to Dr. Emil Besser, my physician and true friend, for medical service and kindness and devotion to me in the darkest hours of my life, he to have and hold the same in fee simple absolute forever.” Court holds that it was the intention of testatrix to give said property to said Besser absolute, and that he do have and hold same as such will provides.