Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1906 — THE CIRCUIT COURT. [ARTICLE]

THE CIRCUIT COURT.

The grand jury began wcrk Monday afternoon, with the original panel all present, namely Warren Poole, Walter V. Porter, T. F. Maloney, Harmon Dickinson, W. B. Walters and John F. By an. Mr. Ryan was made foreman. The first batch of indictments to be turned in was on Tuesday, and the first arrest made on any of them was that of Charles B. Steward, of Rensselaer, who was charged with selling liquor without a license. He asked for an immediate trial, by the court without a jury, and the evidence and arguments were heard Tuesday afternoon, and decision rendered this, Wednesday, at 10 a. m. The only witness against the defendant was M. L. Hemphill, of Rensselaer. According to his evidence he and Steward met near the postoffice along about the- first of this month, and after rhe town had been “dry” for about three weeks, and Chailey asked Lute bow he felt, and Lute allowed he needed some whiskey pretty bad in his inner works. Charley then said he was going to Roselawn that day and he would get him some of the much needed elixer ot life, youth and beauty, tho not describing it in just those words. Lute then fished up a dollar and handed it to Charley, and on some joyous day following, perhaps the next day, and perhap i still later, not the same day, sure, Charley handed Lute a quart bottle of whiskey. Mr. Steward took the stand in his own behalf and told a straight story of going to Roselawn and investing the whole dollar in a bottle of whiskey at Kights saloon, and handing it over, in ail its pristine fullness, to Mr. Hemphill. The court took the view that Mr. Steward’s story, which was not materially different from Mr. Hemphill’s was correct, and as there was no 2 vidence that he made any profit on the whiskey, he gave a verdict of not guilty. The grand juiy completed their work Wednesday afternoon and were dismissed. They returned six indictments, all for supposed violations of the liquor laws, and all but one said to have been against parties in the north part of the county. Three of them were against Charles Dresser, of Kersey One is for selling on Sunday, o n e for selling to a minor and one for selling without a license. He was arrested Wednesday afternoon by Dept. Sheriff Joe O’Connor and gave bail of S3OO in each case for his appearance. The grand jury in their report state that they visited the jail and ounty farm. At the latter the farm and buildings were all in good condition except the cellar which needs drainage, and which is recommended to be done. The inmates were talked with and reported to have plenty to eat, good clean beds in warm rooms, and all well satisfied but two, whose complaints were reported as “unwarranted!” The jail was found in the best of condition, all cells being kept clean and in a sanitary condition, and all other apartments being in equally as good condition, could not suggest any improvements in management or in the way the jail is being kept. The rest of their report, which refers to certain charges published against the prosecuting attorney, just before the election, is published in full in another place in this paper. Jasper Cooper, the man against whom the two other indictments were reported, was gathered in He also hails from Kersey and one indictment charges him with selling to a minor, and the ether with selling without a license. He gave bonds of SIOO in each case. His bondsmen were the same as Dresser's namely Frank Stanton and Edward •"Weickum. Stauton is the owner of the saloon.