Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-20
OF FAMOUS CASE
Unique Chapter in Iowa Court
Records.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LITIGATION
Legal Controversy of the Jones
County Calf Case, How the Row
Began and the Fortunes It
Demolished.

Four calves. the market value OF which
was t25, were the cause of the greatest
law suit in the history Of American juIis-
prudence. The litigation started by their
sale extended over a period of twenty
years, was tried in seven different counties
before ia jurors, was four times appalled,
to the supreme court of the state. wrecked
the fortunes Of eight men, entail.ng rees
amounting to $4,000 for an army Of law
yers, and concluded with a final Judgment
for 1000 and court costs amounting to
50, $50 "a.
This litigation-a monument to the cost
at which legal redress may be secured by
a persistent litigant-is known as the
Jones County Calf Case, from Jones
county. Iowa.
Robert Johnson Of Anamosa, to vindicate
himself Of a criminal charge preferred
against him by a Horse Thief association
Of pioneer days, fought through this Ing
period against seven opponents. Since the
conclusion Of the case five Of the defend
ants nave died without property and two
yet live, but have never regained a foot
hold since the famous law suit consumed
their wealth. Johnson has pr0spered, but
by strange destiny of fate in his every en-
terprise he must cross swords with the
opponents in his long legal duel. When
he became a candidate for mayor of this
city last spring, fifteen years af.er the
settlement OF the suit, his opponent was
b. II. Miller, a relative of enc Of the de-
PENDANTS in the twenty years litiga ion.
Johnson's record in the "calf case" for
being a persistent fighter, together with a
platform for strict law enforcement and
a moral city, won him the election. He
is mayor today.
c. e. Wheeler OF Cedar Rapids, as a
young law graduate OF Notre Dame, re-
ceived his first retainer from Robert John
son. He made his maiden speech in the
calf case" and remained in the litigation
from beginning 10 end. He won his We
tory after opposing before the juTies such
brilliant orators as Ex-Governor Horace
Boies Of Waterloo. When final judgment
was rendered he was a gray-haired old
man and a lawyer Of experience.
How the Row Began.
In the early days of lowe r bert John
son was a stock buyer in Jones county,
In June, 1874, he sold to 5. ID. Potter in
Greene county, fifty head Of calves. A
short time later John Foreman, enc Of his
~neighbors. asserted that four Of the calves
belonged to him, and in a Greens county
justice court, by repleyin proceedings, re-
covered their possession. To reimburse
Mr.. Potter for the value OF the calves Mr..
Johnson gave him his note. He explained
that he had bought the animals from a
granger who gave the name Of Smith.
In a country store at Olive. the proprietor
and several l~oungers heard the bargain
made between Johnson and the stranger.
shortly after this proceeding a. indictment
was returned in Jones county against
johnson. charging him with having stolen
the four calves. Johnson and a brother
then went 10 Greene county and had Pot,
ter point out the four claimed by Foreman.
They proved 70 be high-grade ealve
whereas Johnson had bought scrubs OF
smith. Then Johnson discovered for the
first time that he had not handled the
Foreman calves at all and began to be-
heve he VAS the scapegoat for another's