Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1897 — The Mansfield Ditch Muddle. [ARTICLE]

The Mansfield Ditch Muddle.

Winamac Republican Gifford, the famous land owner in Jasper county has been here a part of the time this week pushing a remonstrance against the joint ditch petitioned for in this and Jasper counties. The Jasper county commissioners dismissed the case last week and Mr. Gifford undertook to get our commissioners to do the same. Atty. Douthit, of Rensselaer, appeared for the petitioners of the drain and took the ground that Jasper county had no right to dismiss the case since according to statute original jurisdiction lay in the county in which the ditch had its source or head. In this position our commissioners sustained him. After a long and stormy argument on the part of both sides Gifford’s remonstrance was admitted and on the strength of the same reviewers were appointed. Jonas Werner, Lewis Shriner and Chas. Needham were appointed to act on the part of this county.