The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-06-01
DAZZLING IN PATENT RIGHTS
RUINS FINANCIALLY JOHN 7. CORN

RUINS FINANCIALLY JOHN 7. CORN
Risked His Ill 10 . Big Suit But Fails ID
Get Enough to Pay His Costs, an
Leaves His Family and Creditors iii
/ the Soup"
Mr.. John I. Corn was one of the
most prosperous farmers, when he
attended strictly to that business, in
Dubois county, and owned one Of
the finest farms, of nearly 300 acres,
worth $12 600. But in an evil day
flor him and his family he became
enamored with the glittering pros
lpects OF money in patent rights,
and bought one after another, ar
Interest in several. He finally bought
an interest from Mr.. Anthony
Miller, Of Huntingburg, in an at.
tachmcnt for sewing machines; and
three years ago, with Miller, brought
suit in st. Louis against the Wheel
er & Wilson Mfg Co.. for infringe
ment Of the patent. The sui,
dragged along in U. S. court, the
Company being wealthy one, evi
IDENTIFY expecting to finally wear out
the plaintiffs, and break them up
Miller had no money to law with
and Corn had to furnish it all. He
claims to have spent $6, 200 in the
litigation, and expense inciden,
Thereto, besides losing his time fol
most Of the three years. He mort
gagged his farm to raise money to
spend, and finally lost the farm
The suit was decided in March last
in Miller e. Corn's favor, and an in
junction issued preventing the Com
pany from further use of the attach
ment.
/ Then came the question of dam.
ages for past use, suit for which the
court at st. Louis decided must be-
brought at the home of the Com
pany in Connecticut. An offer was
made by Corn 4 Miller to compro
mise for 25cts. on each machine
THAT had been sold with it, which
would be about $4,000. This Wa
rejected by the Company, and final
Ily the matter of settlement was left
to their attorneys. Last week Corn
got word to 60 to st. Louis about
the settlement, and left Jasper in
good spirits on Tuesday. On
Thursday his wife got letter from
him with $500, to pay mortgage
on some land of hers, on which he
had borrowed money, and debt to
his daughter for borrowed money,
and saying he would like to come
back to Jasper, but had no money
to pay his debts, and couldn't face
the people, and he would 60 on and
hunt work. The same day Mr..
Isidore Schumacher got a letter
from him with 81 200 to pay some
other debts, and telling him the
same thing. This caused great
surprise to our people, and left q
number of them who had trusted
him, and let him have money, in a
quandary as to the condition OF at
fairs. His brother, James Corn, to
whom he was indebted over 80 600,
started to see him on Friday, and
came back on Sunday with 81, 800
OF his claim, and the information
that John had no more money.
Mrs. Corn received a letter, on
the day her husband left, from his
attorney, Mr.. Paul Bakewell, Of st.
Louis, and upon reading it found
the terms Of settlement, and that in.
stead Of getting $4,000 from the
Wheeler & Wilson Co. the matter
had been adjusted for less than
81, 900, thus leaving Corn out OF
pocket over 90, 900 and three years
work. Mr.. Blackwell puts the taxed
costs at $3OO4.4O, but in fact the
larger part Of the costs in
such actions cannot be taxed, and
lby his statement (Which Corn had
not seen when he left) the taxed
costs paid by Corn, amounted t.
within $1OS.35 Of the sum he re.
lceived, SO that the net receipts t.
Corn Of his three wears having is the
loss Of his farm, a good deal Of his
good name, and sos. We publish
Mr.. Bakewell's letter herewith.
Mr.. Corn left his wife and -four
children without any available
means Of support, and unless ht
gets up the courage to come back
and "iacc the music" and bepir
life over again among his friends
the family will be liable to rather
hard experience. He should come
back. The following is a copy o
most Of the attorneys letter:
PAUL BAKEwELL, ATTORNEY |
AND COUNSELOR At LAW. ]
\ ST Louis. Mo-. Nav 81. 1894