Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1880 — ONE CENT. [ARTICLE]

ONE CENT.

Dtehaww is Bequlrei tm rmj for Bbeeliaß Albert 6.UVA Wssai er easy virtue the ; Cum er the DiMceitj. Kentland, Ixi>., March ft, 1880. tditrr Smmtlatr BrpmbUeem Bur Sir: The case of tbe State vs. Robert M. Dickson in the Newton Circuit Court, was tried last week, engaging tbe court two days, including two night sessions. Tbe indictment charged Dickson with an assault and battery with intent to kill one Albert G. Livings. The particulars of thd battery charged was shooting Livings with a revolver, just above the left knee. Tbe evidence, briefly stated, showed that Dickson for some four years bas been proprietor of a blacksmith shop in the town of Goodland; that Livings engaged to work in Dickson’s shop on the 30th of October, and continued iu bis employ until the time of the shooting, o\i November 8, 1879; that the employer and employe were brother Masons, and on the best terms ot friendship daring 811 this time, spending much of their time out of the shop together; that Dickson had a wife and a home • % while Livings seemed to have neither and boarded; that tbe men spent the evening together previous to day of shooting; on the morning of the Bth they both went to the shop as usual; Dickson proposed to “look over the accounts and see how we stand;” this was done harmoniously and apparently to the satisfaction of both; D. then told L. that he (D.) was going home, and when be came to his dinner he might bring to D's. house a piece of work L. W3S then finishing for D’s. 6tove; that L. took the work as requested D., in the presenco ot bis wife, accused L. of seducing her, ordered him ont of tbe boose and at once drew bis revolver; that L. caught him and being the stronger finally succeeded in overcoming him and got hold of the revolver —using no more violence than necessary to save himself, and much less than tbe law would have justified—but not until D. had fired two shots, one of which took effect in L’e. left limb, immediately above the knee; that D. promised to shoot no more and L. released him and walked away. The woman’s story to her husband, as related by him to tbe jury was that L. came to tbe house in September, Bet down beside her on the lounge, put his arm around herwaist and gave her some candy; that when they had been together thus about thirty minutes she lost all control of herself and all physical motive, but retained her consciousness; that L. then carried her up a narrow stairway, passing through three rooms and into,the fourth, where he laid her on the bed and basely violated her person; that again iu October, some thirtyfour days after the first scene related, L. came again and in the afternoon, as before, pulled lier down on his knee, gave her candy again, producing the Bame effect and again carried her up stairs, repeating all the details ot the first criminal act.

This absurd 6tory was denied in teto by L., as well as any kind of illicit intercourse with Mrs. D. Livings also claimed that Dickson owed him nearly 8150 on their settlement that morning, which D. dented. The State was represented by Frank W. Babcock, prosecuting attorney, assisted by John 11. Ash, Esq..,j»nd tbe defendant bv Messrs. P. 11 Ward and J T Sanderson Ilis H •jnot, Tvlgc Hamm nd, gave tbe law to the Jury in plain and concise iiistrnetiutis, among other tilings telling them that the alleged seduction story of the wife could not be considered as a justification of the shooting, but, if considered at all, could only be taken into con sitieration in mitigation of the punishment. The jury were out five hours, and to the surprise of every one who heard the trial, returned a verdict for assault and battery and a fine

of one cent.

P. A.

Cincinnati is to have two national conventions this year—the “National Starch Manufacturers” and the Democratic conventions. It was a very happy thought of the starch manufacturers to meet a little in advance of the Democrats, and we trust they will have a few pots ready mixed. A strip of good starch applied to Democratic spines might stiffen them up. The fact is the Democrats “have bad the starch taken out of them” so often of late years that there is mighty little of the raw material on hand. Republicans will like the amusement, and next November all the starch on the continent will not make a Democrat stiff enough to stand alone.— Inter Ocean. The Voorhees exodus boom seems to have subsided. “The Tall Sycamore of the Wabash” has not added a leaf or a branch to his political foliage. It was a case of “great expectations.” The failure has bee* mortifying. The Indiana Sycamore is no longer vigorous; like the Democratic party, it is probably hollow at the butt, and destined soon to suocumb to the winds.—lnter Ocean*-