Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1908 — JURY DISAGREES IN BABCOCK CASE [ARTICLE]

JURY DISAGREES IN BABCOCK CASE

Democrat Editor Faces Criminal Libel Suit and the Jury After Long Delay Disagrees... - The case of the state against F. E. Babcock, editor of the Jasper County Democrat, wherein he was charged with having criminally libeled E. T. Jones, a printer formerly in his employ, came up at Kentland Tuesday and occupied the entire day in court. The jury was out all night and the following morning reported that they could not agree on a verdict. That was all there was to it, and as to how the jury stood is largely problematical. From one source it is stated that the jury stood at one time 11 for conviction and 1 for acquittal and that it later hung for a long time 10 for conviction; while from the editor comes the statement that he had advices that there twas only one for conviction and that all the others stood for acquittal. Editor Babcock returned Wednesday evening and he is about sick, having an attack of the grip. . It Is probable that the case will be tried again at the next term so court and there are one or two other cases pending against the same defendant.