Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1893 — THE CIRCUIT COURT. [ARTICLE]

THE CIRCUIT COURT.

Edward Phalon, of near Blackford. charged with stealing a .’os-chain, wag tried by a jury and promptly acquitted . The saloon license case of Louis Freel, of DeMotte, appealed from commissioners’ court, was tried by a jury. The jury was out but a few minutes, and found for the appellant, granting him a license.

The case against Frank Stone, an erstwhile barkeeper from Wheatfield, indicted for inducing a minor to gamble, was dismissed. Tuesday was a field day for divorces, two being granted that day. Cyrus A. Ball, of Rensselaer, was granted a divorce from his wife, Anna Ball. He alleged that she called him bad names and that she struck him on the head and face with her fists and “made his head ache.” They were married about two years ago and separated February 15th. They have no children by this lately dissolved union.

Robert SwaJm, .the. octogenarian but vigorous bridegroom of Union tp., was granted a divorce from Mariah Swaim. He alleged that his wife called him many opprobions names such as “old hound,” “hypocrite” (fee. and derided and scoffed at him when he attempted family worship. In fact he testified on the witness stand that he could not hope to get to heaven unless his matrimonial bonds were separated so that he might live in accordance with the requirements of his church.

The trial of Sherman Cooper, charged with' helping Joseph Conrad stejd several hundred pounds of bacon from James H. Comer, of near Blackford, was concluded last Thursday night. The stealing took , place about two years ago. The evidence was not only conflicting but even very contradictory. Also, as is apt to be the case, in trials from that vicinity of it was of a sensation-' al character. Such as impeaching the moral characters of witnesses &c. A very criminating letter from one Edward Griggs to the wife of Cooper, before she was divorced, was put in evidence. It was full of ardent love and proposed to “turn down” Cooper by swearing him into the penitentiary, for the stealing that had been going on around the neighborhood. Cooper and his sister swore to the genuinness of the letter, while Griggs and Mrs. Cooper, now Mary Bruner, i wore it was a forgery. Strong witnesses for the defense were Joseph Conrad and his wife. Conrad was

sent to the pen a year ago, for this same stealing. He was sent for a year and his term is out and he is now living in Boone county. He and his wife were brought to testify, on bench warrants. The jury was out about hours, and brought in a verdict of acquittal. It is said that at first they stood 9 for acquittal and three for conviction. This verdict in Cooper’s case virtually declares that COnrad, his alleged partner in the crime, was unjustly convicted. Yesterday only one divorce was granted, that of Philip Balser from Margaret Balser. The "charge was cruelty, and the cruelty was in only one particular, but was of a nature to be sufficient to entitle the plaintiff to his divorce. The parties have only onerminor child, which lives with its mother, and for whose custody no action wa3 asked. Court adjourned noon until Friday. ‘