The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-06-21
ATEN VS.. JOHNSON.

The last number of the Portsmouth
Times contains minute account of the
recent trial in the Common Pleas Of this
county, oft above case. 1t is full of
Interpretations and malicious false
hoods. From the ungrammatical con-
struction Of the sentences, and the fire.
quent use of The word done for did, our
aversion" of the matter is that it was
written by lawyer of our town who
knew the facts, and that the misrepre-
sentationS are not honest mistakes, but
malicious lies.
The Editor Of the Times says:
Robert Aten is an honest industrious and res
pected farmer--a Democrat In politics. and at one
time Que OF the Commissioners If Jackson county,
That is news to the people Of Jackson
county. When was Robert Aten one
of the Commissioners of Jackson coun-
ty1
The report in the Times, in speaking
of Judge Johnson says that he
Took the key of the cell, and defendant and said
Deputy put said plaintiff into said cell, and took
the KEY of the cell and kept the plaintiff In said
cell all night and until the full five days had expr
cd, and the fine and costs were paid.
1t seems strange how 80 many lies
could be crowded into five lines as is
found in the above The evidence
showed that the key of the cell was
brought back to the Sheriff in a few
minutes, and that Aten was let out Of
the cell next morning, and was never
put back again, and did not remain there
full FIVE days, nor did he remain there
until the fine and costs were paid, as
they have not been paid to this day.
We do not come to the rescue Of
George w. johnson. Heis able to take
care Of himself in any crowd. But we
claim that a conceited ignoramus who
cannot put sentence together gram
matically, nor pronounce the English
language correctly, has no right to as
sail a jury, composed of the best men
in the county, of both parties, and ac-
cuse them of violating their oaths as ju-
rors. The following is the cowardly at
tack upon the jury:
It further appeared from defendants testimony
that he and the plaintiff were of opposite politics,
and that defendant had but little good feeling for
men of plalntilf's g politics. 1t was claimed by
plaintiff S counsel that the testimony In the case,
and the conduct Of the defendant in the premises,
| showed case Of express malice, and warranted
| the assessment of ViudiCtive damages and on the
part of the defendants counsel, that the case was
| one In which the defendant had acted in good
| faith. The Jury had been in attendance, and from
home two weeks, and, it being Saturday evening.
and the last day of the term Of Court, they thought
that $500 would be enough to cOrdeinn the con-
| duct of the defendant 1t Is, at least, supposabe
from their verdict that the Jurors would be willing
| to undergo this acknowledged false imprisonment
| themselves, or either Of them, for S3O0 Such
| was, In substance, their Veldlct. ne laCt lHal
the Jury did not render verdict for vindictlve
damages astonished everybody. Even the defend
ant and his friends were agrceaby surprised at the
lowness Of the verdict. such verdict, however,
in such case ought not to be esteemed remarka-
bic under the circumstances; because, during the
trial the personal and political friends OF tile de-
fendant announced on the streets that there were
two men on the jury who would hold the palhtll
level that two jurors, naming them, would moi
agree to over 500 or 800 ofa verdict lor palntln
When such tinkering and tamperlng with the
rights of citizen and the business OF Court eX
lists, corruption must aud does exist somewhere
Now we demand the names Of these
two Jurors. The Court frequently adj
monished the jurors to have no talk up,
on the subject, and to let no person talk
to them, or in their presence, upon the
merits Of the case, but that they mus
try it upon the evidence, and that they
must hear all the evidence, the argu'
ments of counsel and the charge Of the
Court, before making up their minds al
to the merits of the case. If two jurorI
violated this injunction, give us theiI
names, or acknowledge that you have
lied upon and slandered better men than
you are.