Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1902 — The Case of Babcock vs. Jasper County. [ARTICLE]

The Case of Babcock vs. Jasper County.

The case of F. E. Babcock, publishers of the Jasper County Democrat, was tried at Monticello, Tuesday, before Judge Palmer, without a jury. Last August The Democrat published the notice of filing estimates, before the county council, and the notice, as it appeared, made 12jsquares, or practically that, and the charge was 312. The notice as set showed a large proportion of white space and the commissioners, following a recent custom of tbeir’s in similar oases, as applied to other publishers, out the claim to $9. The Democrat publisher refused to accept the 39 and sued for the 312. At the trial it was shown, by the same notice set in a different width, that it could be set in eight squares. Judge Palmer held, however, that a notice of tabular form which cannot properly be set in one column width, should be set in the width of two columns, and pay be allowed for that width. He therefore gave plaintiff judgment for 312. All the same, the fact remains, that had the same rules of measurement been applied to this notice, that the Democrat has insisted should be applied to other papers here, the judgment would not have been greater than the amount allowed by the commissioners. Judge Palmer made no order as to the costs in this trial, and will consider that at a later date. It is claimed by the defense that in this case the law will require all the costs to be taxed to the plaintiff.