Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-07-11
EGGS AND SLANDER
CONFUSED IN ]. P.
COURT TRIAL TODAY
PRINCETON MANS CHARGES
THAT STATION AGENT APPLIED
"SHORT AND UGLIER" TO HIM
NOT BORNE OUT OF HEARING.

The attempted adjustment of diff
culties over the amount of damage
done to a case of golden eggs was
responsible for the airing out of dis
orderly conduct case growing out of
an alleged slander in Judge Koenig's
Court this morning at 10 o'clock
! }, O. Swartz, of Princeton. who
claims that he deals in produce of all
kinds, land, horses, etc, had a case of
eggs stored in the local Chicago, OF
tawa & Peoria Interurban Station. He
called Monday morning took the case
of eggs and attempted to dispose of
them to local restaurant proprietor
The entire case was refused, SwartZ
claims, for the reason that twenty
eight eggs were broken. He returned
! to the station to enter a complaint
for damages and was told it was his
| privilege but that the agent had to
view the case in question before his
claim could be entered The agent
later visited the restaurant and was
told by the person receiving them that
turned in short time and again ex-
pressed his desire to enter the com
plant. The agent assured that his
claim was unjust, did not pay partic-
ular attention to his demands, which
| were being uttered in boisterouS
and annoying manner During the
pressing of the request Swartz asked
Allen what he thought he was?
Allen made the explanation in a clear
and concise manner, replying that he
thought he was a liar and was
crooked This angered Swartz and
stepping outside he accosted Officer
Jerry Looney and informed him of his
trouble and asked the officer where
he could secure warrant. On be-
ing informed he Immediately had the
writ issued Officer Looney served
the warrant and following this Allen
asked permission of the official to ac-
company him to the restaurant and
witness the statement made by the
person receiving the case of eggs.
In the case this morning Swartz
acted in the capacity Of his own at
tOrney Before he started he asked
to be informed by the court on what
day the trouble took place asserting
that his business operations We're of
such an urgent nature that he occa-
sionally let such things slip his
memory. He appeared on the wit
ness stand himself first and started
that he took the case to the restaurant
but the consignment was refused be-
cause it was found that twenty-eight
eggs We're broken. Upon the refu
sal of the restaurant proprietor to ac-
cept them he went back to the station
and proceeded to enter the complaint
He alleged that the agent called him
n liar and a crook when he demanded
that reparation be made for the dam
aged eggs He said he had not done
anything that would warrant calling
him those names. Swartz finished
and asked that Officer Looney be
sworn in as a witness. The police
man told of what took place stating
that Swartz approached him telling
him of his difficulty and asked him
where he could secure warrant for
the agents arrest. He said he later
served the warrant and accompanied
Allen to the restaurant on the lat
ter's request to witness the statement
of the person receiving the eggs.
Allen then testified and said that
Swartz came in and wanted to regis
ter complaint that a case of eggs
that he had shipped over the Chicago,
Ottawa & Peoria lnterurban line had
been damaged He informed Swartz
that his complaint would be taken
care of in the regular manner after
he had inspected the case involved.
Swartz in the meantime had left
Allen, after inspecting the eggs, re-
turned TO the office and was again in
terrupted by Swartz' demands. and
il was then that he told him that he
was a liar and was crooked
Swartz cross.examined Allen. In
the cross.examnation Allen stated
that ho had heard Of Swartz about a
week before through another agent
but had only became acquainted with
him on the day Of the trouble, Swart2
was interrupted several times by the
court but stated that although he re-
allied that he was delving into the
case to great extent he wished to
straighton out all his relations with
company clear from Ottawa to Prince
ton.
The case which began shortly after
ten o'clock was brought to IA continu.
alton at II O'Clock when verdict of
not guilty was rendered SwartZ fol.
lowing the courts decision entered an
appeal TO the Circuit Court.