Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1903 — The Showman Not Guilty [ARTICLE]

The Showman Not Guilty

S Smith, manager of the ‘'Little World 1 ' and trained animal show, of the carnival company, bad his trial Tuesday afternoon, before Squire Troxell, in the ladies’ waiting room, in the court house. The prosecuting witness, F. E. Babcock, editor of tbe Democrat testified that the show obstructed about two thirds the width of tbe street. That it concealed the view of his office, aod also shut the fresh south wind that erstwhile fanned his fevered brow. B. Forsythe, whose grooery entrance is right opposite the Democrat office, said the show did not interefere with his business any and that there was still ample room for.teams left in the street. A. B. Oowgill, the undertaker, whose office is two doors north of the Democrat diji not find the tent any detriment to him. Marshal Abbott and Bussell Harmon testified that they bad made a measurement and found there was still 24 feet of clear street way, alongside the tent, or almost half the width of the street, and plenty of room for two teams to pass each other. The evidence beiDg thus overwhelming that there was no obstruction of the street to anyone’s detriment, the Squire so deoided and pronounced the accused not guilty.