The Tipton advertiser., 1876-12-07

DISTRICT CoURT.-As predicted, the
present session of the District Court
has been necessarily protracted an d
will at least consume the rest of this
week. The number Of important and
closely contested cases render Judge
Shane's constant cndeavor to eXpe-
dite matters all the more needful, and
evening sessions have been and are
being held right along.
The first Of the numerous State
cases brought up for trial was that of
Rob't Johnson, charged with the lar
ceny of five calves-a lengthy trial of
which, six months ago, it will be re-
membered, was concluded by hang
ing jury. This time, after hearing
pretty near all Jones county, from
whence the case came, and good
part of Cedar as pro and con witnesses,
the jury agreed within an hour after
leaving the box and brought in ver-
dict Of mot guilty." This cause has
been pending a long time, and the
prosecution has been pushed vigor-
ously if not bitterly by parties in the
neighborhood from whence it came.
Mr. Johnson was therefore, very
much rejoiced to learn from good
men and true' that he didn't steal
the calves, and to 60 to his home free
from any accusation therefor.
In the case of State vs.. A. S. and Ira
ONO, defendants plead guilty to as
sault and battery and were fined $40
each and costs.
Friday the court was occupied with
the cause of State vs.. Joseph Fritz,
charged by young woman named
Mary Plank with being the father of
her illegitinate child, now nearly two
years old. The jury rendered ver-
diet Of guilty. upon which no judg-
ment has as yet been entered. Itisper-
haps only fair to say that Mr.. Fritz is
a middle-aged man and man Of FAM
lly; that he has lived in this vicinity
for q number Of years and has born an
irreproachable character; and that
some Of his neighbors who are most
conversant with the circumstances
have full faith that the solemn denial
of guilt in the premises which he
made upon the witness stamp was the
honest truth. If unjustly accused, he
is certainly deeply wronged man;
ana in any event, his innocent family
are entitled to sympathy and consid-
Grafton.
Three State cases grew out of the al
legged banging up prisoner arrested
by the Marshal of Clarence one night
last Spring-some of the circumstan-
ces of which readers of the ADvERTIs-
Err will be sure to remember. Some
Of the 'knew the COW would eat the
"grind-stone" sort of people were sure
a murder most foul had been commit
ted and kept incubating horrid tradi-
ton concerning 1t until story of
blood and death spread clear over the
State which would hold its own along
side of first class Louisiana bulldoze.
Well, of course the Grand Jury had to
sit on these eggs of rumor, and that
body brought forth indictments
against VIM. Penny and John Cos
grove for assault with intent to kill
and against Murphy, the Marshal,
for inhuman treatment of prisoner
Saturday, day and evening, was de-
voted by the District Court to the fur
ther ventilation Of this mares nest
The net result of all the scare yarns,
when brought to the light Of open
court, was the conviction of Cosgrove
of simple assault. None Of the cases
would bear their own weight, that
against the Marshal being dismissed
by Dist. Atty. Smith before 1t went to
the jury.
There still remain at least four
State cases to be tried-the court this
week, up to date Of this writing, have
been devoted to cause Of Elizabeth
Jayne, VS.. Iowa City, suit for dam
ages on account of injuries received by
having been thrown from buggy by
alleged fault Of the city street eros
sings. The same case was tried here
in 1874, the jury returning verdict
for p'ff in sum Of $500, which, upon
plea of new evidence, was set aside by
Judge Rothrock and new trial or
dered. 8. II. Fairall and A. b. Cor
nell, Esq, appear for p'ff, and Hon.
Rush Clark and Wolf 4 Landt repre-
sent the interests of the corporation.
In addition to the cases indicated, a
large number Of defaults and other
routine business have of course been
gotten out Of the way by the Court.