Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-12-06
DEFENDANT CLAIMS.
AL|b| IN ''CASLESS.
SUNDAY" SHOOTING.
YOUTH CHARGED WITH ASSAULT
ON FARMER DENIES ANY PAR
TICIPATloN IN ATTACK OUT OF
WHICH GREW $4,000 SUIT.

Opening statements in the $4,000
"gasless Sunday" damage suit, were
made in the circuit court this morn
ing. Attorney L. o. Browne, who is
representing the defendant, Louis Al
leman, declared that he could intro.
duce evidence to show that his eli
ent was not guilty of the shooting
with which he is charged, and that at
the time he was not near the place
where the shooting occurred.
The plaintifl, John Heusel, was shot
while en- route home from Camp
Grant, H., where he had been called
by the serious illness of his son, who
was stationed there Heusel was
driving his auto on the first Sunday
the government had requested that
no cars be driven except in cases of
the most stringent necessity.
Attorney A. II. Shay, who repre-
sents Heusel, in his opening state
ment told of the shooting, and how
Mr.. Heusel was shot through tho
back just below his shoulder blade,
while en- route home from the en-
campment. The shooting occurred
about three-fourths of mile north
of Tonica. The effect of the bullet
wound. disabled the plaintiff for a
long time, the attorney declared.
Louis Alleman, the defendant, is
now about % years of age. AT the
time he was master scout, and had
been operating a farm for two years
according to the statement made by
l. eel ~ x.I
that on the night of Sept. %, 1918.
when the shooting occurred Louis
took his % rifle and started to a ra
vine to hunt.
He then changed his mind, and
went into town with his brother, he
alleged. He took his gun with him,
thinking if he got back before dark
he could hunt, Mr. Browne stated
that the plaintiff claimed the shoot.
ing took place about S:15 or 500 in
the evening. He stated that he could
introduce testimony to show that at
sos when the church bell rang in
Tonica, Louis was on the street talk
ing to some other young men
He stated that the defendants un'
Gle and hiss family, Amos Alleman,
left ToniCa shortly before o'clock, |
and that on the road home, they
heard what they belevede to be shots
and were then passed by an auto.
which they believed was the Heusel
car.
Evidence will be introduced, it was
stated by the defense, to show that
at this time Alleman was nowhere
near the scene Of the shooting.
The twelve jurors were selected by |
both the plaintiff and the defendant
yesterday afternoon. These men
were Rasmus Benson, Ottawa: Ber.
nard Griener, Mendoza; F.. ]. Carter,
South ottawa Charles Sabo, Utica;
Christ Byrne, La Sale; John Lar |
son, Fall River; Ed Brown, Wallace;
Ernest Schroeder Fall River; Chas !
Mathiesen, Dayton; Harry Seidentop,
Allen; John Lehman, Meri9en; Frank |
Collins, ottawa.
Plaintiff or Stand.
The plaintiff was the first witness
called to the stand. He testified that |
on Sept, %, 1913. while he was re.
turning to his home from Camp Grant |
where he had beon summoned by the |
Illness of his soa, some one threw a |
rock through the Windshield of his |
automobile He alleged that they |
brought their auto to a stop. but be- |
fore ii was perfectly still a shot was |
fired. The bullet entered his body |
he alleged just below the shoulder
blade and lodged some place under
meath his shoulder.
He tCld of the illness which result
ed from the shot and of the doctor
and hospital bills he was forced to
pay as a result of the injury.
EImira Nattinser Will Filed.
The will of the late Elmira Nat |
finger, prominent Ottawa resident. |
who died at her home in this city on |
5th, leaving her entire |
estate to her sister, Miss Mary T.. Nat |
finger, was filed for probate today. |
Miss Nattinger specified that both her |
real estate and her personal property |
go to her sister, who should be ap-
pointed Administrative without bonds. |
The petition making public the pro-
perty held by Miss Nattinger at the
time of her death, was not entered
on the court records. The will was
drawn on August "A, 1897, and was
witnessed by Cornelia Simon and
Gustave Fuchs.