Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1908 — COCKED GUN BUT DIDN'T SHOOT [ARTICLE]

COCKED GUN BUT DIDN'T SHOOT

Chas. Hammond Has Difficulty in Disposing of Undesirable Tenant on the Yeoman Farm. The trouble between Chas. Liston and Chas. Hammond, briefly mentioned In a previous issue, was of far greater magnitude than was generally understood. As nearly as can be learned the facts of the case are as "follows: About two months ago Liston hired to Hammond to work the coining season and Liston and wife moved to the house on the Yeoman farm In Newton township formerly occupied by Mr. Hammond and about a half mile from the former James Yeoman farm house where Mr. Hammond now lives. After Liston had worked for two months he called for an accounting saying he wished to jffuit. Mr. Hammond paid him and he agreed to move and Mr. Hammond hired another man and wanted the house for him to live In, but Liston refused to move and Hammond Instituted evlctment proceed’ lngs in Squire Irwin’s court and Liston did not appear and judgment was rendered by default, granting Hammond possession of the house and assessing damages in favor of Hammond in the sum of $lO. The Listons went to Mt. Ayr, but left their household goods in the Hammond ten ant house, and a few days later Constable Oliver Robinson went out and took possession of the goods and they were taken to the shed near the house where Hammond now lives. The object in moving the goods was to make room in the house for the new tenant and the wood shed was the closest available dry place for them. Hammond feared that Liston might again try to occupy the house and his fears were grounded on certain rumors that had reached his ears and so he and one of the boys went to the tenant house and built a fire and took some bed clothes and prepared to spend the night there. Along about 8:30 o’clock Liston and one of the Bicknell boys went past the house and some words were exchanged Hammond giving them to understand that he proposed to retain possession of the property at all hazards. Later at night the coast seemed clear and Hammond and son went to their own house but slept With their clothes on and one eye open and some time between 12 and 1 o’clock Liston and four other parties, said to have been John and “Stub” Bicknell, Milo Miller and Merle Marlow. They were making arrangements to come 'into making arrangements to come into the yard, so Mr. Hammond alleges, when he halted them and demanded

what they wanted. They called out that they had come after the Liston household goods and that they were going to get them. Hammond told them to go and get them and they invited him to come out to the fence and have the court order for the release of the -property read to him. They said they had an officer with them and Hammond told them to send the officer to the steps to read the order. Milo Miller, claiming to be the officer, come to the house and started in but Hammond told him to stay on the outside, that he was not entertaining in the house, and the other four men made a movement toward the house. Charlie had the family shot gun loaded to the muzzle and cocking both barrels he or-

dered a halt and then a retreat. Miller still parleyed about wanting to enter the house to get warm and said he could not see to read the order outside, so Mr. Hammond’s boy got the lantern and read the order. Mr. Hammond told them to go and get the goods, but It seems that the five men were traveling in a spring wagon and could not have possibly carried the goodß and It looks very much as tbo thoy had come out looking for trouble and Charlie would have been very busy with the shot gun If they had been much more aggressive than they were.

Listen appealed from the decision of the Justice and the circuit court BUBtained the decision of Squire Irwin, with the exception of reducing the Judgment to fG. Mrs. Liston then sued to replevin the household goods, which have all the time beon In the Hammond wood shed and asks damages for -Injury to the goods, which Hammond did not move himself but which were moved by the constable. The suit to replevin has been postponed a time or two owing to a pressure of other court business and is now expected to come up for trial Friday morning. Mr. Hammond claims that Liston Is htiag urged to this action by other

parties and that he has never sought to restrain them from getting the goods, and that they can have them at any time. He alleges that his action In trying to defeat the Mt, Ayr saloon license application has incensed several of the boozers of Mt. Ayr against him and that they are back of the movement to cause him trouble.