Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1902 — Jury Failed to Agree. [ARTICLE]

Jury Failed to Agree.

The jary . which tried Jerry Karsner, Monday afternoon, co aid not agree on a verdict, There were no witnesses on either side except the colored girl and Jerry According to the girl’s story Jerry picked up the butcher knife and gave her a slash with it, intentionally and with but little provocation. According to Jerry’s story the girl came at him with the knife and he took it away from her. Then she followed up the at tack with a beef-steak pounder, and, still according to Jerry’s story, out herself with the knife, while he k was holding up his hand to ward off a smash with the meat chopper. The jury stood eight for acquittal and four for conviction. Jerry conducted bis own defense and made a pretty good lawyer for himself as well as a cracking good witness. Considerable amusement was had during the trial, but in nothing more than in Jerry’s describing the road which he took »to get out to Alf Donnelly’s the day the girl was out. He followed up the Monon railroad as far as Bowling Green school and then went straight east to Alt’s place. The distance is more than twice . the straight route but Jerry con'tended it was the best way, and would not even admit it was longer unless he first measured both routes. While the jury was out Jerry k and his guardian, Constable Zea, 'got separated in the court house, and several jocular individuals kept Jerry slipping about from room to room, cut of Lyman’s sight, until the latter was a good deal worried for fear his prisoner had escaped. This morning Lyman wanted to have County Surveyor |Price arrested for concealing Jerry but was talked out of that idea. Mr. Price had nothing whatever to do with Jerry’s hiding, it being the work of some young fellows.