The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-09-28
DIRTY CASE FROT SPARTA
On Trial Before Judge Aungst-
I Not Much Litigation
Court News.

A case that Is attracting a great deal
of attention, especially among residents
OF Sparta and vicinity. is the criminal
SANDER case being tried before Probate
Judge Aungst, in court room No. 8.
About December, 1898, 1t Is alleged
that one Walter Robertson, then living
in Sparta. to divers persons. made GER
tain allegations against the character
OF Miss Chloe Stands, young lady of
that town. There was the usual
amount Of gossip about the matter, and
the stories reaching the ears of Miss
Stands and her father, an affidavit was
filed In probate court soon after the
occurrence, charging Robertson with
criminal slander, Miss Stands being the
prosecuting witness Atlee Pomerene
The case was twice set for trial here
tofore but was on each occasion con-
tinued on the motion of the defendant.
was then prosecuting attorney.
When the date Of trial came on this
assignment both parties were ready and
the case was commenced Monday after
noon. Day, Werntz and Grant appear
for the state In the prosecution, and
Welty and Briggle for the defendant.
CHARACTER WITNESSES.
The first two witnesses put on the
stand were for the purpose of proving
that the statements alleged had been
made by Robertson, and the testimony
was direct enough. Part of Monday af-
ternoon and all forenoon Tuesday was
given to the examination of witnesses
showing what Miss Stands character
and reputation had been previous to
the date of this trouble. A great many
Of the reputable citizens of that town
n I'D Lot, fSxtA hx.xt =
and all tell the same story, that her
reputation was good.
Miss Stands Is q fine looking young
woman, neatly dressed and in the try
Ing ordeal is conducting herself in a
dignified and modest manner. She is
attended by her father. She has taught
several terms of school In that vicinity.
The court room is packed at every
session of the court, and the surprising
thing about the attendance is that in
the throng that is there gloating over
the most vulgar parts Of the testimony
are dozen or more young women, who
seem to enjoy the sallies Of wit among
the attorneys and the choice morsels
of testimony, as well as the men who
are present. 1t is matter that Is gen.
orally commented upon. Some Of the
girls are bright looking and pretty and
look sadly out Of place in the motley
throng.
SPARTA ALL WROUGHT UP.
At Sparta the interest in the case 4,
intense. and a great many citizens of
the town are among the spectators.
The trouble Is freely discussed, and 1t
is stated that there Is q class of young
men In that town who are In the habit
o. making Indecent remarks about the
young women and girls.
Speaking Of this, Emery Howenstein,
rrf ths I>rkz I'll
that vicinity, said Tuesday morning:
II hope that this prosecution will
be lesson to lot of young men who
sit about and make remarks about
young ladies' who pass. They seem to
think that they can say or do anything
short Of murder and escape the PEN
atty"
The case is being tried to a Jury and
may run over into tomorrow. The Of
fense is a misdemeanor and the pro-
bate court has final jurisdiction, but
the defense are evidently getting ready
to carry 1t up on error II 1t goes against
them.
The defendant is a blacksmith by
trade. who formerly lived in Sparta,
MISS STANDS ON THE STAND.
Just before the noon hour, Miss
Stands herself went into the witness
box. She made an admirable witness,
and stated emphatically that the ac-
tions reputed to- her by the defendant
In the alleged slanderous utterances
were untrue.
At the opening Of the court in the
afternoon the state rested, and the wit
Tesses for the defense We're called.
Attorney Wefty stated to a News
Democrat reporter that the line of the
sefense would be that the reputation
Of the young woman at the timc of
The occurrence was not COOL and that
She had no protection under the statute.
REFUSED A DIVORCE.
The divorce case of Willaman VS..
Willaman occupied nearly all of Mon
day in Judge McCarty's court. A num-
Der OF witnesses were examined, but
the testimony adduced did not furnish
sufficient grounds for divorce and
Judge McCarty refused to grant the
decree.