Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1906 — THE CIRCUIT COURT. [ARTICLE]

THE CIRCUIT COURT.

A jury trial which was tried Thursday attracted considei able attention, was one in which Miss Belle Dickenson, a comely and hon. est lookinfi young woman was plaintiff, and who held her three or four months old baby in her arms. Henry Barger, a prepossessing but unhealthy looking young fellow was defendant. Both live in Jordan township, and belong to highly respected families. The plaintiff told a straight story, and it was, as might be said, a continued story. The defendant denied her allegations poinf blank. and set up the claim that her charges were impossible from his physical condition, he having long been afflicted with rheumatism, and being permanently crippled by it. The interesting features brought out by this phase of his defense, were a deposition from a former physician of Rensselaer, now locat ed in Chicago, who supported the claims of the defendant. In reply to this the plaintiff’s attorneys placed two of Rensselaer's present lead ing physicians on the stand, and they both positively contradicted the Chicago man’s statements. In addition to this the plaintiff also called two of our best known busi ness men r gnd they swore the Chi cago man’s reputation for truth and veracity was bad. The jury brought in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding her a judgment ol SSOO. The defendant gave notice of intention to appeal, and gave the necessary bond to secure his release.

Another jury trial was the case of Benj. J. Gifford vs John Bingham. The defendant occupied one of the plaintiff's farms, and his time ex pired on Feb Jst. Mr. Gifford rented the farm to another man a d brought suit for ejectment in a justice’s court, and a w’rit of ejectment was issued. The defendant’s wife and child were sick and he refused to budge, and took an ap peal to the circuit couat. He mov ed out before the case came to trial, but Mr. Gifford 'wanted the point decided whether sickness in a fam ily was a valid reason for refusal to surrenders house when the time was up, and therefore the case was tried on its merits. The decision of the jury was in favor of Mr. Bingham. Mr. Gifford will take an appeal, as the point whether sickness in a family is a valid excuse for not surrendering leased property when the lease has expired has never been decided in this state and Mr. Gifford wants to have a decision on it.