Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1899 — The Circuit Court. [ARTICLE]

The Circuit Court.

Indictments By Grand Jnry. Editor Babcock Tried For Libel. The beating administered to Jacob Dluzak, of Milroy tp. by James A. May and his son Frank some months ago resulted in seven indictments against them, Frank has two for assault and battery, 1 for drawing a dangerous weapon and one for assault with intent to kill. James A. has two for assault and batters and one for assault with intent to kill. Bail was fixed at SIOO in each of the assault and battery cases and SSOO in each of all the others of which was furnished and the defendant released. Wm. Fry, of Rensselaer plead guilty to selling liquor on July 4th and was fined $lO and costs. Geo. Meyer, of Remington was indicted twice for selling liquor on election day and once for selling on Sunday. John Johnson also of Remington for selling on election day. All the above have been arrested and given bail. The first jury trial was that of the State vs. Frank E. Babcock editor of Rensselaer Democrat for libel, on affidavit filed by G. E. Marshall. The jury brought in a verdict of guilts and assessed the penalty at a fine of five dollar and no costs. The case of the State vs. John Jesson, for libel was continued to the November term. Roy Blue, who has been reading law for some time past in the office of Hanley and Hunt was formally admitted as a member of of the Jasper county bar. A regular court reporter has been appointed. It is John W. Walker whose home is at Bloomington, this state. The trial of James A. and Frank May, for the Dluzak affair is set for Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. Wm L. Nowels, of Jordan tp. was tried Tuesday on charge of malicious trespass, on complaint of Daniel Way mire. Nowels while tenant of a farm put a pump in a well and left it there. The farm was sold to Mr. Way mire and Mr. Nowels went upon the premises and removed the pump, which under the law belonged to the farm. Nowels showed that he had no criminal intent in removing the pump, and the court stopped the trial and directed the jury to bring in a verdict of not guilty. Jake Melcer, of Wheatfield had his trial on his already much tried case. The original trouble began in a dog fight and ended 'in Melcer striking one Clinger a bad blow on the forehead with the butt of a gun. He was fined for assault and battery by Squire Spriggs, and* in this trial the assault and battery charge was ruled out, and he was’tried only for assault with intent to commit murder, and on that charge was acquitted. John W. Baker has been granted a divorce from Stella Baker, upon payment by him of the costs of the case; which he seems in no hurry to do. One of W. B. Austin cases against the DeMotte Canning Company was venued to Stark county; and to White county were > sent the oases of Huston vs. Fatke let al, and the Newton county case of the Bank of Brookston ms. f red Gilman. In the Scott street case of Rosa Seib vs. City of Rensselaer, the city made an appearance and the case was continued. One E, F. Johnson, is charged, on affidavit with having forged the name of Marcus Reed, trustee of Jordan ty. to an order for a set of Indiana histories, of the value, or alleged value of $100; the case is Li n QOC* *

The case of tjie State exrel Grace L.HopkinsTvs. True Woodworth was settled by the parties and dismissed. Settlement was effected on a S3OO basis. In the seven times complicated case for dissolution of partnership and settling of accounts of F. W. Bedford vs. Marshall P, Warner, Judson J. Hunt was appointe receiver to collect the accounts and settle the debts of the old firm. The back tax cases against Wm McElfresh and D. A. Si oner were dismissed on motion of the prosecuting attorney. In the store account suit of Anna Tuteur vs. Anna K. Ritchey, appealed from justices court the plaintiff is given judgement for $25.96, and the plaintiff is to pay the cost in the circuit court and the defendant in justice court. The Jasper County Telephone Company has begun suit to enjoin the county officers trom collecting certain claims for additional back taxes namely on property to the amount of $3,865 for 1896, $4,775 for 1897 and $4955 for 1898. Rensselaer City Commissioners were appointed as follows: James T. Randle, Henry Grow, Felix French, John M. Wasson and Lucius Strong. Judge Palmer of Monticello, will hold court next week, to try 10 or 12 cases in which Judge Thompson is disqualified.