Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-12
Case Against L. j. Tjernagle,
of Story City, Attracting
Much Attention
TRIAL ON IN WEBSTER CITY
Tjernasle is Indicted for the Alleged
Forgery of Certain Power of At
torney and Settlement of Certain
Note for $500 County Attorney
Boeye States the Case.
pecial to Times Republican.

| Special to Times Republican,
/ Webster City, Dec. 12.-The case
against l.. j. Tjernagle for forgery,
! which is now being tried in this city,
lis attracting much attention in this
part of the state. Tjernagle resides in
Story City. He was formerly an at
torney, but was dis-barred several
years ago.
gle is for the alleged forgery of GER
| tain power of attorney and that with
this alleged forged instrument he set
tied certain note for $400. The al
legged facts upon which the Indictment
is based as stated by County Attor-
ney Boeye, in his opening statement
to the jury, are as follows:
That fifteen or sixteen years ago w.
r. Olson of Clear Lake township ana
q certain Mr.. Sampson borrowed sum
of money from Mrs. Christian, of Story
City, giving in return note. That two
or three years later Mrs. Christian
died. The note being still unpaid, the
heirs agreed among themselves that
upon it's becoming due 1T should be re-
newed in favor of Chas. Christian, one
of the heirs. That finally, the note
remaining unpaid, Chas Christian gave
it into the hands of l.. ]. Tjernagle for
collection, That Tjernagie brought
suit upon the note in the district court
in Webster City September, 1889. The
suit went by default and judgment was
entered against Olson for about $500
and costs. This judgment lay upon the
docket until December OF 1901, when
Olson made up his mind to settle. That
he came to Tjernagle and proposed
settlement and later talked 1T over with
Chas. Christian, who 1t is claimed, stat
ed to Olson that he would not allow
Tjernagle to collect or compromise
the case.
Later, upon January 9, 1902, 1t is al
legged that Tjernagle came to Webster
City where he met Olson and proposed
q settlement for $500. Olson demanded
some written proof of Tjernagle's au-
thority to settle the matter whereupon
Tjernagle produced a paper purported
to be signed by Chas. Christian and |
settlement of the case by Tjernagle |
would be satisfactory to them. Upon
authority Of this signed statement the |
case was settled and the papers filed |
in the office of the county clerk. The
Judgment was cancelled and the re-
cords satisfied. The written authority
produced by Tjernagle and purporting /
to give him power to settle the case is |
alleged to be forgery pure and simple,
''of the rankest Sort said County
Attorney Boeye in closing his state
ment to the jury.
The state put Chas. and John Chris
tian upon the witness stand. They
swore that the signatures attached to
the power of attorney were not theirs
nor had they authorized Tjernagle to
sign for them The defense put c. A.
Lenning, bartender at 222 East Wall
nut street, Des Moines, but formerly
Of Story City, upon the stand to re-
but the Christians testimony. He
stated that he had overheard CONVEX
sation between Chas. Christian and L.
+. Tjernagle In which the former gave
he latter authority to attach his sig
nature to any paper in settlement of tile
sase.
In all 40 witnesses have been sub
1oenaed for the case which is assum-
ng the proportions of one of the pref
lest legal battles ever fought before
court in this city. Tjernagle seems
willing to spend his last cent to keep
tut of the penitentiary while the state
s as eager for conviction owing to
he previous unsavory reputation of the {
nan.