Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1898 — The Circuit Court. [ARTICLE]

The Circuit Court.

Court adjourned Thursday night, until Monday to give everybody a chance to attend the farmers’ institute. The last jury trial was the insanity case of Henry Brockway. He is an unmarried man, 29 years old and lives in Keener Tp. The case attracted a good deal of interest, and large numbers were present from the vicinity of lus home. He has queer freaks, such as uttering loud whistling like sighs in church, singing parts of songs one after the’ other, laughing loudly for no apparent cause, buttoning and unbuttoning his overcoat in rapid succession, loudly banging doors etc. His physicial condition is also badly dilapidated. Several physicians testified as expert witnesses, pro and con,’ and as usual, they differed considerably in opinion as to the condition of his mind. The man does not seem to be dangerous and is said to work and take care of himself. The jury found him insane however, and the court appointed C. E. Mills guardian of his property, and turned the young .man himself over to the care of the poor farm superintendent. It would have been vastly better to have proceeded against him in the usual manner and got him into the insane asylum a few months, for treatment.

Tom Johnson, an old offender from Remington, got $5 for gambling and $lO for keeping a ginning house, with costs in both cases.