The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-02-03
WHERE is JAMES COURTNEY,

In the Stark County DEMOCRAT Of December 23f
appeared an account of an aggravated assault
upon James Courtney, laboring man and ma
i've OF ireland, saying that since the assault Court
ney had not been seen nor yet heard Of The
name OF the assaiant was not given. In the
DEMOCRAT Of December SOth reference was again
made to the affair with view of giving Il greater
publicity. that the whereabouts of the missing
man, II alive, might be ascertained, These arti.
ces were Inserted at the urgent request of citl.
zens and others In authority, some of whom knew
Courtney and commended him as worthy In.
dustrlous man. We regret to say that to this time
nothing reliable has been heard OF Courtney.
ltseems the Grand Jury sought to investigate,
as VIII be seen by the following card, which ap.
peared In city paper last week:
"A CARD,-As certain reports have been exten.
sively circulated regarding an unpleasant incl
dent that Is alleged to have happened at my resi-.
dence several weeks ago. and as the Stark County
DEMOCRAT has seen fit to give credence to the ru.
NOR by publishing TWO sensational (Y) articles in
reference to the affair, viz on the 23d and 8Oth Of
December, thus giving 1t still more publicity and
as the reports so circulated and published were
undoubtedly the cause Of myself and neighbors
being brought before the Grand Jury this term OF
Court to have said rumored charges investigated
and as said Grand Jury honorably acquitted me
OF any criminal ofiense l deem 1t matter of JUS
tice to my family friends and customers to also
give publicity to the facts.
Nearly two years ago stranger, young man,
calling himself James Courtney, applied to me for
WORK. gave him situation through that sum.
mer at wages satisfactory 10 him. He made my
house his home, and was treated as member OF
the family, In the winter did not particularly
need his services, but told him he could stay and
do the chores about the house for his board until
he got some work. That winter he got job, but
made my house his home. had him again In
my employ last summer, and this winter offered
him the same opportunity to stay with me, which
he accepted. One evening, between the 9th and
10th of December, after he had retired, learned,
through my wife, that he was endeavorlng to ruin
one ofmy children. Acting upon the impulse of
the moment, ran up stair, seized him and sent
him down stairs rather unCeremOniously in fact,
handled him rather roughly, but had no inten-
ton, nor did in any way seriously injure him.
One ofmy neighbors coming in, l informed Kim
OF what had happened, and also told him of my
intention to have Courtney arrested. After Court.
ney had packed up his clothes this neighbor and
myself started up town. Near DR.. Writings cor.
ner Courtney plead not to be arrested, and prom.
ised to Immediately leave the town. Not wishing
to have the affair made public after few mo.
mentS studying over the case, consented. We
saw him start down East TuSCarawas street, and
have not seen him since. Though we have since
learned that he was afterwards seen in Alliance,
where he said he was going East.
"This is the whole truth ofa matter about which
a reporter, who publishes items without learning
the facts, has made such fuss about. will now
offer this boated, beer jerking reporter, or any
ether person, S25 reward for any witness they can
bring to swear that the said Courtney was drag
ged' from my house." And S25 more for any evi-
dence that he fell exhausted at the corner of Pop
lar and West Tuscarawras street. Now, il this
No. Beat of newspaper writer needs few
dimes to enable him to pay for his beer, here is a
chance.
Thanking my friends and customers for their
endeavors to contradict the absurd rumor of mur.
der, and hoping to continue as a good citizen, to
merit their friendship and patronage hereafter
II am respectfully yours,
~. HUBERTY."
Not wishing TO do Mr.. Huberty the least injus.
tice, we cheerfully inser! his card" His abuse
of the local reporter Of the DEMOCRAT was alto
gether Superauous and perhaps would apply
with greater force elsewhere. The real point in
issue s-Where is James COurtneyi Let Mr.. HUI,
berty inform us who saw him at Alliance. Let us
know where he got his information that Courtney
had been seen there. The neighbors of Mr.. HUI
berty gave the information we published in the
DEMOCRAT of December 23d and 3Oth, and they
thought and still think the man was seriously, II
not fatally, injured.
We call upon any person at Alliance or else.
where, who has seen James Courtney since the
night of the assault, about the middle of Decem.
Der last to send word Immediately to this office
By so doing they will greatly oblige and relieve
Courtneys friends, and also Mr.. Huberty.