The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-03-28
DIRECTED A VERDICT

JOdQe Maxwell DlrcCte0 d VeruICt
Of Not Guilty in the Mt. Ayr
Case. What Court IS Doing.
Court adjourned last Thursday
evening until Monday evening, when
the bottom fell out of the big GRIMM
al case brought here from Mt. Ayr
for trial, in which r. H. Spence, A. l..
Smith. Geo. w. Kelley and G. P.
Bresee were indicted for conspiracy
to Obstruct the administration of
justice, it being alleged that they
had tried to induce the prosecuting
witness in the rape case against Geo.
. w. Kelley to leave the country and
not appear against him. The prose-
cution received a hard blow when
Judge Maxwell ruled out most of the
states testimony. 1t appears that a
part of the aestimony against the de-
fendants was taken before the Sep
tember grand jury at Mt. Ayr, but
no indictment was returned. When
the November grand jury met some
additional testimony was introduced
and then the testimony taken before
the former grand jury was attached
that only the testimony of the wit
lesses who appeared before the
grand jury which returned the in
,dictment could be introduced, and
when this ruling was made it left
the prosecution with practically no
case. They introduced what testi-
gnony they could, but it was not suf-
Aicient to warrant a conviction, and
ton motion of the attorneys for the
defendants Judge Maxwell instructed
the jury to return verdict OF not
guilty Thursday, and the defendants
were all acquitted and discharged.
The case has attracted much atten-
ton at Mt. Ayr and public feeling is
divided, many claiming it was perse-
cution of the defendants by Sheriff
II. w. Terrill, while others said that
the sheriff was only doing his duty
II the matter. We leave that for the
citizens of Ringgold county to de-
eide. But the case has been an ex-
pensive one for the taxpayers of
that county.
Judge Maxwell returned to Leon
Monday evening and court was again
commenced Several criminal cases
we're disposed of by the defendants
pleading guilty, and Tuesday the
trial of State US. Glass Finch,
sarmer living southeast of Leon, was
commenced. He is charged with
the crime of seduction, to which he
plead not guilty and the case is be-
ing tried before jury composed of
G. w. fBlakesley, J. p. DObsOn, p. A.
Pace, Sifas Hopkins, s. d. Miller, E.
SE. Smith, Roy Harper, w. M. Nc
Phetridge, G. M. Hamilton, W.. c..
Wood, w. A. Curry and G. "A. Elwell.
1t will probably 60 to the jury this
Wednesday evening. The state, is
represented by county attorney E. H.
Sharp and J. S. Parrish and the de-
fendant by C. w. Hoffman and V. r.
kcGinnis.
The grand jury adjourned last
Thursday, returning total of six
! indictments, but the names of the
indicted parties have not yet been
made public.
The following cases have been dis
posed of since our report last week:
= Criminal.
State VS.. Pearl Steen. On motion
Of county attorney indictment dis
missed and defendant discharged.
State vs.. Geo. M. Jennings. Plea
of guilty of assault and battery, fine
Of $50 and costs paid.
State VS.. Orville Wills. Plea of
guilty of selling liquor. Fined $3.50
and costs and in default of payment
to be confined in Jail at hard labor.
Law and Equity.
Bowsher & Bowsher VS.. l. N.
Rogers. Settled.
n Il. p,,%1 ~ o1
liam Butcher ct. al. c. W. Hoffman
appointed guardian 'ad litem for
Grace and Ray Miller. Decree OF
partition.
Samuel P. Bennett vs. Mary E.
Bennett. Decree of divorce.
Luella Frees VS.. Herndon Frees.
Decree of divorce.
f.. A. Greenland VS.. r. J. Munyon.
Continued to August term and in
case defendant is not present at that
time plaintiff may proceed to prove
his case.
J. G. Eaton VS.. Cora Leach ct. al.
Sale and deed to Theodore Merrifield
approved.
Farmers & Traders Bank vs.. En-
met Gore ct. al. Dismissed at plain
tifl's cost without prejudice.
3 May Hutton vs.. James Hutton.
Decree of divorce. %
r. H. Garner vs.. Ida Garner. De-
cree of divorce.
Probate. -.'.
Guardianship of Mary Ethel Nc
Jimsey. Final report as to Mary
Ethel McJimsey approved and guard
ian discharged. Final report of
guardian as to Nealy A.. Lillian D.,
Velma p. and Clarence r. McJimsey
approved and accepted. A. e. Price
appointed guardian for above named
minors with bond of 5000: -s.
Estate of J. M. Li1lard. G. w.
Hoffman appointed guardian ad, IL
TEN, for M: M. Lillard. Decree Of
partition. ~. y re- @a
Guardianship of Benjamin H.,
James F., and Elsie G. Pierce. An
nual report approved. as.