Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1902 — That Three Hundred Dollar Hog. [ARTICLE]

That Three Hundred Dollar Hog.

The “celebrated hog case” from Union Tp., ended io the circuit court Tuesday evening, after two days’ trial. Hugh Bresnahan bought 47 sboats of J. L. Babcock for stock hogs, and one big sow, weighing about 250 lbs, for pork. He drove the hogs home, assisted by Mr. Babcock’s hired man. When they had reached Parr, it was found that the big porker had taken a sneak and could not be found. Later he thought had located the hog at Charley Lakin’s. The latter said it was not Brosnahan’s hog, but one he had bought of Nelson DuCharme. Brosnahan replevined the hog, and in a trial before Squire Fay, at Parr, the decision was in his favor. Lakin appealed to the .circuit court and the trial, ended Tuesday evening. Brosnahan, Babcock and hi? hired man, were all positive it was Brosnahan’s hog. DuCharme and Lakin were equally postive it was Lakin’s hog. Some 22 witnesses in all were called. The hog itself was not sworn, but from descriptions given it was about the right weight for the Babcock hog, and too small for Che DuCharme hog; but a certain scar on its throat, made by Mr. DuCharme’s poke, came within a few inches of being where he thought it was. "The trial was before a jury and a special judge, and five lawyers were engaged upon it. The decision reversed Squire Fay’s, and awarded the ownership of the hog to Mr. Lakin. The original value of the hog was about sls. Mr. Bresnahan’s costs will reach about S2OO, and Mr. Lakin’s lawyer’s fees, and the cost to the county for jury, special judge, bailiff’s etc., will probably raise the whole cost of the hog to about S3OO or more