Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-05
FOUND NOT GUILTY
Jury Returns Verdict for Defend
ant in Sabbath Breaking Case.
TRIAL OF ]. H. SPRINGER CLOSED
Testimony for Defense Showed That
He Had Sold Meat on Sunday-PIea
of Necessity Advanced by the De-
Tending Attorneys.
(From Wednesdays Daily.]

[From Wednesdays Daily.]
Not guilty was the verdict rendered
in the case of the State of Iowa VS..
John H. Springer, in which the defend
ant was charged with breaking the
Sabbath. The trial OF this case was
begun in Justice Billiards. court yes
terday afternoon and was given to the
jury at noon today After short con-
sultation the members agreed on the
decision of not guilty and returned a
verdict in accordance Herewith. Con-
siderable time was spent yesterday af
ternoon before jury could be secured
and by the time for adjournment last
evening the testimony was all in and
this morning set as the time for the
presentation of the argument.
Charged With Sabbath Breaking.
At o'clock this morning court con-
vened and the attorneys were called
upon to present their case to the jury.
Throughout the pleading the question
of the construction that should be
placed upon the statute of the state
and the question of how a
certain ordinance of the city
of Ottumwa affected that law
was discussed pro and con with
all the earnestness and eloquence of
the speakers Attorney Geo. F. Helm
del, in speaking for the prosecution,
contended that the law of the state
was in no way affected by the city or
dinance and that inasmuch as the
statute specifically prohibited the
buying and selling of property on Sun
day, without reference to the necessity
of such action, the defendant was gull
ty of the charge He also contended
that inasmuch as witnesses for the
state testified that they had seen the
ldefendent sell meat to customers on
Sunday, May 1S, and witnesses for the
defense stated that on said date they
had purchased meat of Mr.. Springer,
that he was guilty of breaking the
said statute and should be found gull
lty. The question of necessity, said
Mr. Heindel, should not enter into the
consideration of the case, inasmuch
as the buying or selling of property
on the Sabbath was in direct opposi-
| ton to specific provision of the law.
Claims of Defense.
The defendant was represented by
Attorneys Cornell & Norris. Mr..
Cornell opened the argument for the
defense and in lengthy speech at
tempted to show that the proper con-
struction of the statute under which
1 the action was brought, admitted of
| the sale of meats wherever it could
be proven that it was done to meet
the necessities of the people.
Attorney L. M. Morris closed for
the defense and in a short speech
brought forth as his main argument
/ that if the defendant in this case was
found guilty of the act charged the
people of the city of Ottumwa could
all be found guilty of acts mentioned
lin the provisions of the law under
which the defendant was arraigned.
/ Verdict Surprise.
1 This case has been watched with
great interest by many people in OF.
ltumwa and during the progress of the
trial there was quite large audience
|. in the court room. The testimony was
! listened to- with interest and after the
: presentation of the argument to the
Hurry persons who has listened closely
Throughout the case seemed satisfied
] that the verdict would be returned fol
the state, However, after q short con