Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1904 — An Old Family Row. [ARTICLE]

An Old Family Row.

Aired In Squire Troxell’s Court. Four Persons Convicted of Rioting. ——- A long standing family quarrel was aired in Squire Troxell’s court before a jury on Monday and Tuesday. Briefly and impartially stated the mainjfabts are these. There has been more or less ill feeling in the Wood family, formerly of near Blackford, now of Parr and Rensselaer fora long time past, having seemingly originated in trouble over money matters, and the estate of their mother. Mrs. Linnie Gant, widow of John L. Gant; Mrs. Alfred See and Mrs. Lizze Hurley are sisters of the Woods. Between Mrs. Gant and Mrs. Hurley the enmity seems to have been especially bitxer. When Mr. Gant died about two years there was controversy over who would be administrator for the small estate he left. Dr. S. H, Moore, was his physician a leng time, and his bill for medioal attendance made him the principal creditor. Lcgan Wood, her brother, offered to be administrator, for not more than $75 or SIOO, and said he would have the dootor’s bill cut in half. Mrs. Gant declined the eff*r, and at hsr repeated request Dr. Moore himself acoepted the appointment as' administrator, agreeing to oharge nothing for bis services and to pay half the court costs of administration. His bill was allowed in full by the court, other physicians testifying that it was reasonable. Another oause of trouble seems to have been the money for a horse some S9O which

she sold some time ago. This money she plaoed in Dr. Moore’s hands, and he allowed her 4 per cent interest, and paid it baok, by oheck on the bank, as wanted by her. It was farther in evidence, and not disputed, that Mrs. Gaut is ( permanently in poor health, and ( that she visits Dr. Moore’s office three times a week for medical ( treatment. Some of the evidence as to the language alleged ta have been used by the Wood party, at both the doctor’s cffloe and at the house, would indioate that another and perhaps principle cause of the trouble was their objections to supposed attentions to Mrs. Gant. On Thursday night, July 28th, Mrs. Gant attended the band conoert, leaving a little boy in oharge of her sister, Mrs. Alfred Bee, near her own plaoe in the north east part of town, and with whom he is friendly. She and her six year old girl went to Dr. Moore’s office to hear the oonoert, Mott Ritchey and two or three others being there also, for the same pnropose. Melville Wood, her brother came to the office,(when the oonoert was ont. or nearly so, and offered to take her and the little girl home in his buggy, whioh was nearly two blooks'away. He carried the little girl and Mrs. Gant walked with him. Arriving where the buggy wae Mrs, Gant saw her other'sister Mrs. Hurley, her other brother Blaine Wood, young Will See, all near the buggy, aud declaring she was afraid of Mrs. Harley,"she took her little girl out of the buggy, and went back aud asked Dr Moore’s protection, one of her brothers following her up into the office and beginning to make insinuations aganist her, but the Dootor ordered him out. The dootor then escorted Mrs. Gant and her little girl home, stopping at Mr. See’s to get the little boy. At See’s plaoe he fonnd the whole party that had previously assembled at the buggy and they all followed to Mrs. Gant’s house As a reault of their visit Blaine Wood, Melville Wood, Alfred See,

his son Will See, and Mrs. Lizzie Hurley were arrested on the oharge of riot. At tbe trial the evidence as to what took place was veiy conflicting. There was so much land, and angry talking, sweari ig and threatening toiA people from one to three blocks distance were roused % from their sleep and several woman, alone in their houses, were most terribly frightened. Dr. Moore also either fell or was pushed off the poroh According to the stale’s witnesses the defeudauts did most of the loud talking and young See by a violent push, caused the Dootor’s fall; though there was no denial that Mrs. Gant did her share of talking, and also had a small stick in her hand.

On the other hand, the defendants testified that the doctor ao oidentally felt, and that he and Mrs.Gaht did all the loud talking. Two or three of the neighbors who were wakened by the tumult testified as to hearing some of the defendant’s party talking together after the trouble was over, and hearing them boaßt of what they had done to the doctor, and what worse they would do next time. After the evidence was in the state dismissed the oharge against Alfred See, it being dear that he arrayed on the ecene late, and act ed only as a peace maker. The jary was oat about an hour. Their first vote was 8 for convic tion and 4 for acquittal. After a few ballots, all were for conviction though there were some ballots as to Mrs. Hurley individually. Each of the four defendants were fined $2 and costs. The costs wilt probably reach SIOO. It is understood that an appeal will be taken to the cirouit oourt

The trial attracted a large audienoe, and bad some exciting and some amusing features; one of these being an attempt made by Mrs. Gant to slap one of the attor neys for the defense,.though the offense he gave was through a slip of the tongue and not intentional. Following this Mrs. Gant fainted, she being in poor health aud very nervous. Showiag the long standing nature of trouble in the Wood family was the evidence not disputed, that one of her brothers knocked her down twice 8 or 10 years ago.