Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1900 — A Love Affair in Court. [ARTICLE]

A Love Affair in Court.

The surety of the peace case of the State vs Frank Jones, was tried Wednesday afternoon, before Squire Burnham and a jury. Briefly related, the facts, as developed at the trial, are these: Frank Jones* a young man of Hanging Grove Tp., worked until July 4th, this season, for bis neighbor John Pierson, a Swede. Jones is 21 years old and Pier-, son has a daughter, Ethel, 16 years old. According to the evidence Ethel was previously going with a young map. named Stewart, but her parents told her, instead, to go with Jones. Later, as the parents claim, they learned that Jones was rather tough, and ordered the girl not to go with him. At that time Jones quit working for Pierson, and it was in evidence that on July 4tli, in Rensselaer, he said he would “fix” Pierson. Last Sunday Jones and Miss Pierson happened to meet, and the young lady suggested a buggy ride in the near future. The suggestion met Jones’ approval and it was agreed he should meet her, Tuesday night, at the home of J* Eyestone, a neighbor. The arrangement was carried out, but as soon as Mr. Eyestone learned the couple were out riding he went to and informed Mr. Pierson, the girl’s father. The two men armed themselves with revolvers and started to look for the young people. They met them about 11 o’clock p. m., riding along over near the old oil well, in Pulaski Co. Pierson and Eyestone flashed their guns and ordered the girl to get out. She refused uness they would put their guns away. Eyestone then took her out of Jones’ buggy. Jones then told Pierson that the next time they met one or the other would get licked. The guns then came up, again, and the two men sent the girl home, by a boy, and they brought Jones to Rensselaer, and turned him over to the sheriff. In the morning they procured a warrant, which was served on J ones, in the jail, by Constable Vick. The trial took place Wednesday afternoon, where the above facts were brought out. There was some evidence that Jones is pretty hard, but the girl swore that he always treated her like a gentleman. The jury got the case late at night. At first they voted 7 for acquittal and 5 for conviction. Later they voted 5 for acquittal and 7 for conviction. On Thursday morning they met again, and their first vote was also 7 to 5 in favor of acquittal. After a few more ballots they all voted for acqnittal, and Jones was discharged. The verdict throws the costs, some f4O in amount, on Mr. Pierson, the complaining witness.