Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1889 — Tried for Illegal Voting. [ARTICLE]

Tried for Illegal Voting.

■ The trial of Clinton Gerard, charged with wo ting under age, in Rensselaer last tall, was begun Tuesday afternoon, Judge Ward and a picked-up jiiiw. The trial was held in the Circuit\Clerk’s office, the court room occupied by Judge Swigart, in the trial of other cases. The principal evidence against Gerard was. the testimony of Chas. Burns and wife, for whom worked last year, and of their hired girl; and of the.boy’s uncle, Servetus Gerard, of Union tp.. who never saw him until he / came east from MissSuri, tyrd>. years ago, all of whom that Gerard, had often stated that his age Was nineteen’years last May. For the' defense, Gerard, himself, took the stand and swore flatfooted that he never told the Burns’ ior their handsome hired girl or his avuncular relative that he i was only nineteen years old. He also i swore that he would be twenty-two next month, and a letter purjxirting to be from his mother was offered in evidence, in which she declared that his age was nearly twenty-two. It isa noteworthy fact, in this connection that although Gerard’s parents are both living in the state of Missouri, no swOrn depositions from them were offered by the defense, in regard to their son’s, age. The case-was given to the jury at about 2 p. m* yesterday, and had not been decided up to the time of going to press.