Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1899 — Warren Springer’s Case Dismissed. [ARTICLE]

Warren Springer’s Case Dismissed.

Mention was made some time ago of a suit begun in Chicago by Warren Springer of that city against B. J. Gifford. Springer owns a large tract of land in this county, near to or adjoining some of Mr. Gifford’s lands. One of the latter’s ditohes wept near Springer’s land, and was assessed for benefits, but refused or neglected to pay his assessments. Later Springer wanted to drain his land with an outlet into Gifford’s ditoh through some of Gifford’s land. Mr. Gifford told him nary an outlet unless he paid his assessment on the Gifford ditch. Springer got his men together by night and opened an outlet for his ditoh into the Gifford ditoh. Gifford got his men together by day and filled up Springer’s night ditch, and left stringent orders tbat if Springer or his men tried to open the outlet again they were to be kept off, and if necessary force was to be used to repel force. Springer sued for $25,000 damages, for trespass, in filling up the ditch, aud from damages from the water. The case was heard in Chicago last Saturday. Springer had qoma expensive lawyers, but Mr. Gifford managed his own case. Mr. Gifford won promptly, and the case was dismissed on two groundb, first that the Chicago court had no jurisdiction in the case, and second that Springer had no cause for action. !