Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 109, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1899 — A May Day in Court. [ARTICLE]

A May Day in Court.

The cases against James A. May usually known as Allen May and his son Frank May were tried Tuesday, before Judge Thompson and without a jury. The Mays live in Prinoeton tp., White county, and not very far away, but in Milroy tp., Jasper county, lives Jacob Dluzak. Frank May farms part of his father’s big farm. He went forth to plow early in the morning of June 22nd. last and discovered that during the night some one had driven up to a corn crib a mile from the house, and stolen a wagon load of ■helled eorn. The wagon tracks were still plainly visible and young May went at once after his father and mounting their horses, they took after the fresh wagon track. It pursued a circuitous course of about 3 miles but finally brought up at Dlozak’s place. The Mays tied their horses, went in, saw a load of lately unloaded com in the crib and corn in the corners of the wagon box They found Jacob Dluzak at a grind-stone grinding a mowing machine sickle, or pretending to grind it, according to Mr. May’s testimony, whb swears that Mr. Dluzak did not have any 'water on his grind stone. The Mays told Dluzak the corn was theirs, and that he go with them and prove where he got the corn. He said he got it at Gilboa, *and said he would not go. He raised the sickle in motion to strike Mr. May. Young May pulled a revolver and pointed it at Dluzak. The testimony as to what foltow ed and even as to what preceded this situation is very contradiotoi y According to the Dluzaks, and their step daughter Mary Nowickie and her brother, the Mays beat the old man oh the head with a hammer thumped and kicked him, smote the old lady hip and thigh, kicked young Nowichie in the .stomach threw two or three little crying kids over the fence, called all of the Dluzak generation, old and young, male and female, male offsprings of female dogs etc. Also that they dragged old Dluzak out to the road by the legs, while he was lying on his back. The Mays ewore they hit the old man a couple pretty good taps with the flat side of the hammer, that Nowickie, never got within kicking distance, that not eventhe smallest child was called a —, that the old man walked oat to the road and was not dragged at all.

Dr Clayton, of Monon, who treated Mr. Dlnzak, and who could have proven the extent of his injuries did not appear at the trial. Dr. Walker, of Woloott, testified. He saw Dlnzak after the fracas, and found, one bump on his bead and his abdomen swelled np. At the trial he examined Dlnzak again and found a small hernia, at the former swollen place.

The Mays walked Dlnzak about a quarter of a mile to Mr. John’s jdaoe and there got a conveyance and hauled him to Woloott, where he had an examination on the corn stealing charge and was’ Released. The evidenoe was closed about 5 o’clock and the ease submitted without argument. The attorneys for the state were Prosecuting Attorney C. E. Mills assisted by A. K. Sills, of Montioello and Moulds, of Woloott. Mays, attorneys were Sellers of Monticello Beard of Woloott and Kurrie of Rensselaer. Sills and Mould are attorneys for Duzak in a SIO,OOO damage suit against the Mays, in White county and they appeared in this evidence for the damage suit! There were four indictments against the elder May.

One for assault and battery with intent to kill Jacob Dluzak and the other three for assault and battery on ihe other members of the family. Against young May there were five indictments. One for drawing and flourishing a deadly weapon and the others for assault aud battery. The Judge tried the whole lot of indiotments at once. He found Allen May guilty of an 'aggravated assault and battery, on old Dinzak, but without intent to kill, and acquitted him of all the charges of assault on the female Dluzaks and the kids. ' He was fined SIOO aud costs. Frank May was acquitted on all the charges of assault and battery but found guilty of flourishing a deadly weapon and was fined SSO and costs.