Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1892 — The Trial if Jackson Plummer [ARTICLE]

The Trial if Jackson Plummer

He is found guilty and given Fourteen Years' Imprisonment. The trial of Jackson Plummer for killing James Dorn, marshal of the town of Kentland, was concluded last Friday, at Fowler. The circumstances of the crime have already been fully published in this paper but will be briefly re-stated. Plummer was an old resident of Kentland, was physically and mentally incapable, but usually very mild, and harmless in his deportment. He devoted much of his time to cultiva ing shade trees, which seemed to be a sort of mania with him, and he became very angry at an order issued by the Town Board to trim his trees. On the 20th of June, while his wife, was at a neighbor’s to ask them to interfere with the Town Board to get the trimming order postponed for a while until Blummer got over his “bad spell” he took his revolver and went down town, and flourished his weapon and threatened a member of the Town Board. A cool-headed citizen talked kindly to Plummer and advised him to go home. This Plummer started to do. Somebody then called Marshal Dorn. Plummer heard the call for the marshal and turning around he waved his pistol and used words to the effect that “he would fix him,” if they sent the marshal after him. Dorn was called however and although advised by some to not do so, as “Plummer meant business,” he started after him first taking off his coat and transferring his revolver from a left coat pocket to his right hip pocket. When within a block or two of Plummer’s house, Dorn got near him and shouted to Plummer to put up his gun. Plummer turned around, again flourished his weapon, and told Dorn to keep back and let him alone. Plummer again turned and started towards his home, when Dorn approached him rapidly from behind and struck him a heavy blow with his “billy,” expecting, probably to knock him senseless. The blow did not knock Plummer down, however, and he turned around and both men began shooting, almost simultaneously. Both fired two shoots. Plummer was hit in the side but not dangerously hurt. Dorn was hit in the right breast and was killed instantly. Plummer was brought to Rensselaer for safe keeping, where he has been confined until taken for trial to Fowler, where his case was sent by change of venue. The trial occupied nearly all of last week. Plummer was defended by E.P. Hammond and Jas. T. Saunderson; and was prosecuted by State’s Attorney Brown, assisted by Wm. Darroch. The defense first sought to have Plummer declared insane, without a trial, and Dr. Chaffee, of Kentland, testified to his insanity. But Drs. Cook and Baker, of Fowler, were appointed by the court to examine into Plummer’s mental condition and reported him sane, and the trial was proceeded with: the facts developed being about aa above stated. The line of the defense was to prove insanity and also to prove that Plummer shot Dorn in self defense. Among their witnesses was Dr. Brown, who testified that Plummer was either insane or had no sense. The case went to the jury Friday, and after four hour’s deliberation they found a verdict of guilty and assessed the penalty at 14 years in the penitentiary. Plummer took no apparent interest in any of the proceedinga, not even the reading of the verdict having any effect upon him. He is about 60 years old, broken down physically, and the 14 years sentence is equivalent, in his case, to a sentence for life. And in view of his very probable insane or at least frenzied condition of mind when the act was committed and also of the unnecessary rashness of his unfortunate victim, it would seem that the jury did not err on the side of leniency. The Attorneys for the defense will ask for a new trial, and failing on that, will probably carry the case to the Supreme Court. Estey organs and pianos, and Estey & Camp organs and pianos, on exhibition at C. B. Steward’s. We are overstocked in fine shoe on account of the season ; call now and get bargains. HEMPHILL & HONAN.

Roby Investigated by Grand Jorore. Judge Gillett in his charge to Jthe Lake county grand jury Monday, Jirged that free and Jail investigation be made of the rumors charging infringment of the Indiana law by the management of the Roby race-track. The, grand jury is giveh full power to act, and if violations are found to return indictments in accordance with statute provisions.—Valparaiso Vidette- "" *-■ -