Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1899 — Editor Babcock Indicted. [ARTICLE]

Editor Babcock Indicted.

The Grand Jury Finds a Bill Against Him For Libel. Among the indictments returned by the Jasper County grand jury, which has just completed its work, is one aghinst Frank Babcock, editor of the Jasper County Democrat. He is charged with unlawfully, wickedly and maliciously printing and publishing in his paper of Dec. 31st a scandalous and malicious libel on Harry B Murray, auditor of Jasper county. The special act of libel for which the indictment is found, was the assertion by the Democrat that MrMurray had issued warrants to various parties on claims against the county, before such claims had been acted upon by the commissioners. In other words charging Mr. Murray with a ciiminally unlawful act. The penalty for libel is a fine of not more than SI,OOO nor less than $5, to which may be added imprisonment of from 10 days to one year. We do not wish to say anything which could be construed as prejudicing Mr. Babcock’s chances for a fair trial, but we do say, as we said in a previous issue, that these charges made by the Democrat against Mr. Murray were wholly aud eaiiroly false, and are shown to be false by the records, beyond a possibility of doubt. Another sensational indictment was one against John E. Aller, exsurveyor of Jasper county, (Charging him with swearing to c| claim which was not owed. The facts seem to be that some months ago Mr. Alter employed John J Jessen to go out into Milroy Tp., and post some notices in the Coates, ditch matter and made a note on his book of having employed Mr. Jessen for that work. Then just previous to the December term, Mr. Alter, as was his custom in most oases where people worked a day or two on ditches, made out a bill for Mr. Jessen and presented it to the auditor for filing. It seems, however that In this instance, Mr. Jessen had claimed his pay directly against tie ditch, through the auditor’s office, aud had received it. Mr. Alter says he had no knowledge of Mr- Jessen having received his pay, and that he filed the bill simply that Mr. Jessen might receive what was due him, without delay. Both Mr. Babcock and Mr. Alter wfere served with warrants of arrest Friday morning and gave bonds for their appearance at such time as their trials should be set for. August Rosenbaum, a Rensselaer saloon keeper, was indicted for allowing unauthorized people in bis saloon at hours forbidden by law. Three other persons were indicted but have not yet been arrested.