Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1893 — In The Circuit Court. [ARTICLE]

In The Circuit Court.

Francis Walters And The Fairies. A FIVE DOLLAR HOG AND A FIFTY DOLLAR LAW SUIT. Only One Divorce This Week. The grand jury finished its work in three days. They found only two indictments. One against Francis Walters for the alleged stealing of Jack Freeland’s harness. The other indictment was also for larceny, and is understood to have been against a young fellow charged with stealing a watch, in Gillam Township. The grand jury’s report on the county poor house, was to the effect that the inmates are well fed, clothed warmly, and everything kept clean and comfortable. The management of Supt. Hardy and of the matron, Mrs. Hardy was highly commended. Everything at the jail was reported in good condition.

The case against Albert Worley, a young fellow indicted for disturbing a religious meeting, in Jordan Tp., was dismissed Monday morning. The memories of the prosecuting witnesses had grown rusty. John P. Gagen vs John Graves, note.. Judgement for pit, for $415, with relief. Reuben R. Pettit vs Oscar M. Vickery, et al; on note; appeal from Justice Chappell. Dismissed at plaintiff’s cost.

John L. Allman, administrator of the estate of Reuben R. Ryan, deceased, vs Jasper county, suit for SIO,OOO damages for death of Ryan, in defective bridge. Venue changed to Newton county. Stephen J. Brown vs John H. Querry, et al; suit on account. Dismissed at deft’s cost.

Jas. F. Irwin, guardian, vs Daniel Hart, note. Settled by parties, and dismissed.__• ...... Francis M. Walters was tried Monday afternoon, for larceny. He is the young fellow from Barkley Tp.'f who was arrested some months ago, charged with stealing a buggy harness from Jackson Freeland, in Newton Tp. Walters was first gentleman in waiting to a peri-patetic horse, of uncertain pedigree, last spring, and sometimes stopped at Freeland’s where he slept with Freeland’s son, the night before the harness was missing. Young Freeland was first to the stable that morning, and missed the harness, and looked for it. Walters came out, and missed his harness also, and helped look; but they could not be found. Walters then rigged up a bark harness and drove away with his prancing steed. The next day he was arrested by Sheriff Hanley and Freeland’s harness found in his possession. Walters’ story at the trial, was that after driving half a mile or so from Freeland’s he saw something hanging from a limb of a tree, and getting over the fence to investigate, he found it was Freeland’s harness, transported there, no doubt, by some good genie, after the manner of Arabian Nights’ adventures, or possibly those mischievous fowls, the Jay-birds, carried it from the barn and hung it where Walters found it. In any case Walters was not slow to exchange his hickory bark harness for the nickle and ivory -bedecked trappings so opportunely offered for his use. He went on to his home in Barkley and, according to his testimony on the witness stand, corroborated by that of his father, a very respectable old gentleman, he told the latter how.the good fairies or the Newton township jay-birds ha int erf erred to enable him to drive home in a manner befitting the owner of a stallion with a pedigree half a generation long. Of course it was not to be thought of, that an article bestowed in so mysterous, not to so supernatural a manner, was not to be returned; and Mr. Freeland should also be paid the i.mountof his board bill, and the money had already been pre* cured for youag J Walters to go back and pay it and return the harness, when the sheriff drup-

ped in, with his little warrant and disarranged the whole] plan. Plenty of unquestionably good evidence was introduced to show that young Walters’ reputation was good in the community where he lived, even to the extent of his having ‘Joined the meeting” a few years ago. This former good reputation, confirming as it did the inherent probability of the fairy-jaybird story, did the business with the jury and they promptly found him “not guilty.” Walters’ own lost harness was afterterwards found in a wheatfield,* on Freeland’s place. It was a queer occurrence to say the least.

The case of Solomon Matterling vs. Jerome 1 Casto, two residents of Hanging Grove tp., was tried by a jury Tuesday afternoon. The property involved was a runty female hog, with one still runtier pig, worth all told $7 or SB. Casto bought the hog of Matterling’s minor son, who has since gone to Missouri, but in the presence and with the consent of the boy’s mother, but while his father was from home. Mr. Matterling asserted ownership of the porker and brought the suit. The jury decided in favor of the defendant, which left Mr. Matterling still bereft of his hog, and with about S3O of costs to pay. A neighborhood ruction was no doubt the root of the trouble over the rooter.

Elhannen Hilton, of Gillam Tp., was granted a divorce Tuesday from his wife, the rather notorious Harriett J. They were married June 30 r 1885, and by the exercise of a rare forbearance, that ought to pretty near put him on St. Peter’s preferred list for a number eight martyr’s crown, Elhannen contrived to endure the eccentricities of his wife’s disposition until the following December, when they separated for good. She called him obscene names, applied opprobrious epithets, threatened to cut his throat from ear to ear, and kicked him out of the house. They had one child, a son, born in April 1886, and of whom the mother took and still retains the custody. The present whereabouts [of the mother and child are unknown to the plaintiff. The petit jury is in attendance this week. Of the original panel of 18, five were excused, and the jury now consists of the following: E. T. Biggs, Geo. Foulks, Leroy Florence, Jas. a W. Kennedy, Geo. W. Burk, Edward Faris, Henry Bonk, Jos. Lane, Otto Clark, I. N. Makeever, M. B. Halstead, Wm. H. Robinson and Wm. Castor. The case of Elmira Monnett vs. W. R. Nowels <fc Son came up for trial, Wednesday morning. The defendant, as operators of a grain elevator, shipped a lot of oats, the joint property of the plaintiff and her tenant, Geo. R. Keever. The agreement was that the proceeds of the oats were to be turned over after the plaintiff and Keever made their settlement. Later Miss Monnett made demand for all the proceeds, before she had settled with Keever, and then brought the suit. Just as the case was going to trial Miss Monnett and Keever effected a settlement, and the case was dismissed at plaintiff’s cost. Miss Monnett is plaintiff in several cases this term, as usual—and we may add that the venerable philanthropist, Michael O’Halloran, is no longer in it as the champion litigant of Jasper] county.

Warner and Shead, the new grocery firm. Give them a trial. See the nice line of fall millinery at Mrs. Leckliders. A few nice residence lots near the business portion of the city for sale cheap, for a few days.' Call on Thompson <t Bro.