Clayton Co. Justice & Court Proceedings
... as reported in the 1880 newspapers
~unless otherwise credited, the articles were contributed by Reid R. Johnson for Clayton Co. IAGenWeb
| January M. Dunn was arrested in McGregor last week on a charge of vagrancy and not being able to furnish evidence of his ability to pay for his grub, was sent up to Hotel De Benton on Saturday for 22 days. He will undoubtedly return to McGregor for free lunch after languishing (?) the allotted time. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 01 Jan. 1880. William Henley, a son of "Merry England," imbibed too much "tangle-heels" last Friday evening and his inability to go home he wandered to the residence of Mrs. Samuel Moyer, opened the door and fell into the house, declaring his intention of taking up his board and lodgings there for 3 weeks. Will happened to be at home and marched him down to Capt. Benton's castle, from whence after a nights reflection he was taken before Justice Young, who thought "Billy's" frolic was worth 30 days labor for the county. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 08 Jan. 1880. -State of Iowa vs Henry Voss, selling intoxicating liquors without a license was tried Monday, the jury bringing in a verdict of guilty. Sentence has not as yet been passed. -State of Iowa vs Christian Sachs, murder in the second degree, is on trial as we go to press. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 15 Jan. 1880. District court column. John Diedrich was sent down from Fayette County on Friday, to serve out a sentence of 20 days in our county jail. His offence was larceny. ~Elkader Register Thur., 22 Jan. 1880. Local column. In May last the REGISTER contained an account of the arrest of one Leonard Cook of Elkport, charged with the crime of bigamy on information filed by his lawful wife, who with four children was at the time residing at Lancaster, Wis., but whom Cook had deserted six years before. The case came to trial before a justice, but it was proven that Cook had not married the second woman, but, as was stated by one of the witnesses, was "only supporting her." After this Cook and his paramour, Miss Elmira McManus, continued to revel in each others charms until in October, when Cook's wife again interferred and Leonard and Elmira were both arrested on a charge of adultery. The grand jury at its last session found an indictment against them, and on Monday Cook was tried. The jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to three years imprisonment at Anamosa. Certainly the way of the transgressor is hard and we trust Leonard may profit by this bitter lesson and see the error of his ways. Elmira McManus plead "guilty," but on promises of future good behavior, sentence was suspended and she was told to "go and sin no more." ~Elkader Register, Thur., 22 Jan. 1880. -State of Iowa vs P. C. Young, indictment for killing a dog, which has been on the docket for several terms, was called and the defendant plead guilty. Judgement was rendered for the sum of $5 and costs of the suit. -State of Iowa vs A. J. Hesner, selling intoxicating liquors. Jury brought in a verdict of "guilty", and the defendant was fined $20 and costs of suit, and stand committed until paid. -State of Iowa vs Fred Voss, indictment for selling intoxicating liquor, the jury found him guilty and he was fined $20. and costs of prosecution. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 22 Jan. 1880. District Court column. Jas. K. McCord, alias "Slippery Jim," was brought before justice Galer last Monday on a charge of assault and riot. The evidence proved Jim to be a tough pill. Justice Galer fined him $10. and costs, in default of which he was sent to jail. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 22 Jan. 1880. Elkport column. Thomas McCall and John Kyle got on a "high old lonesome" at McGregor last week and were arrested. The justice thought that 30 days in Palace de Place was about the right figure and sentenced them accordingly. Frank Kelley a "drunk and disorderly," was picked up Monday night by Constable Oglesbee, and Tuesday morning Justice Young sentenced him to 30 days at hard labor for the county. Kelley is suspected of being one of the Decorah jail breakers, and the authorities at that place have been notified of his arrest. Charles McManus and John Hilton were arraigned before Esq. Costigan on Wednesday, charged with petit larceny in stealing a log chain from Geo. Taft. They were found guilty and McManus was fined $100. and costs, in default of which he was sent to jail for 30 days. Hilton, being an old man, the court fined him $10. and cost, in default of which he was sent to jail for 14 days. ~Elkader Register Thur. 29 Jan. 1880 ~~~ March John Timm, who has served several terms in "Palace de Place" for drunkenness, like some others, is well pleased with the bill of fare and kind treatment accorded to the inmates of that institution. John was set at liberty last Wednesday having completed his fourth term of sentence "at hard labor," but his liberty was of short duration. On Friday he played the "drunk and disorderly" again and was promptly taken in charge by Constable Oglesbee and lodged in his old quarters. On Saturday he was arraigned before Justice Papin and sentenced to "30 days at hard labor." ~Elkader Register, Thur., 25 Mar. 1880. ~~~ April On Monday O. Stone, C. Stone, John Ford and Henry Ford, boys residing in the vicinity of Littleport, went into town and got on a high old "bender," and for disorderly conduct were arrested and taken before C. H. Griffith, Justice of the Peace, who fined them ten dollars each and costs. They settled the bill and promised better behavior in the future. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 08 Apr. 1880. State vs J. F. Riegel and J.C. Brown, for assault and battery of Samuel Hyde, Jr., from Osterdock, was tried before Justice Papin. The case against Brown was dismissed and Riegel was fined $25 and costs, amounting to $92. He paid the fine but not the costs. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 22 Apr. 1880 ~~~ May Last Thursday Daniel Perry was brought before Justice Skinner's court charged with drunkenness. He plead not guilty and satisfied the court that he was sober and was discharged, with the costs taxed up to the county. Having escaped so easily, Daniel saturated himself with poor whiskey again on Friday and found lodging in jail. On Saturday morning he was taken before Justice Lewis, charged with being drunk and disorderly. Daniel acknowledged the corn, but pleaded extenuating circumstances. "You see jedge," said the penitent Daniel, "Friday was circus day, and lots of the boys that used to work for me (that was when I was a railroad boss), thought of my kind treatment, and insisted that I must drink with them, and as a result you see me here. I wouldn't have done it but for the boys. At the close of his little speech Daniel put his head in his hands, and tears of penitence might have been observed coursing their way down his cheeks. His honor was evidently moved and it was with a voice trembling that he said, "30 days in the jail; bring on the next." ~Elkader Register, Thur., 27 May 1880 ~~~ July John Schoepf, of this township, was arraigned before Justice Papin on Friday last, charged with wife beating. He was found guilty and given 30 days in the county jail in which to repent of the disgraceful quarreling and fighting, that is so common between him and wife. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 01 July 1880. -S. Harmes was arraigned before Justice Skinner, on Tuesday, charged with an assault on R. B. Hochhaus, of Cox Creek township. He was adjudged guilty an fined $2. and costs. -William Riley, an old offender, was sent to jail for 30 days last Saturday, by Justice Lewis, for being drunk. Riley is the man who skipped out last fall, while serving out a 30 days sentence for the same offence. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 22 July 1880. ~~~ August Last Monday afternoon, while collecting money for cleaning out the graveyard, Homer Ellis asked Franz Hedrick to give something, which Hedrick refused to do. Some loud talk ensued, during which hard names were called, after which Ellis struck Hedrick knocking him down. He was arrested by Constable Oglesbee, and taken before Justice Lewis, where he pleaded guilty to the charge of assault and battery, and was fined $2 and costs. He could not pay and went to jail. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 05 Aug. 1880. Saturday last Warner White, residing at Volga City, was arrested on complaint of John Ehrhardt, for malicious trespass. He was brought before Justice Lewis, where he plead guilty and was fined $3. and costs of $12., which he paid. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 26 Aug. 1880. ~~~ September Sheriff Place started on Tuesday for Anamosa with three persons sentenced at last weeks term of the District Court. They were James Welch, Charles Wood and Louis Clifford, all for burglary, each one to serve one year. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 16 Sept. 1880 ~~~ October Charles Holz, an old soldier of England and a sailor on the high seas, was before Justice Lewis, on Saturday, charged with being drunk and disorderly. Of course the man who served in the Army and Navy of the Queen denied the charge, but the evidence was conclusive, and he was remanded to the bastille, there to languish 30 days, and bitterly mourn the day that he "set foot in such a blarsted country." ~Elkader Register, Thur. 07 Oct. 1880. Home column. ~~~ November On last Sunday afternoon one William Ernst, stole a dress coat belonging to Fritz Zarhock from the brewery. He was arrested by Constable Oglesbee, and on Monday morning was brought before Justice Young for a hearing. Thirty days in the bastille was the verdict. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 11 Nov. 1880. Home column ~~~ December Ullrich Herman was arrested on Thursday last, on the charge of beating his wife. He was taken before 'Squire Costigan, who after hearing the evidence, found him guilty, and sentenced him to the county jail for thirty days. Ullrich has probably realized ere this, that "the way of the transgressor is hard." ~Elkader Register, Thur., 02 Dec. 1880. Elkport column. Clarence Tupper, teacher in sub-district No. 1, of Mallory township, was arrested on Friday last, charged with assault and battery on Jos. Brown. He was taken before 'Squire Jones and fined $1 and costs. It is reported that there was "a girl in the case." ~Elkader Register, Thur., 23 Dec. 1880. Peter Cain and David Wilks, two men from the timber, got full of benzine last Thursday, and defied our officers to arrest them. They were finally captured and taken before 'Squire Lewis, who booked them for thirty days wood sawing for the county. They are now engaged in filling their contract. ~Elkader Register, Thur., 23 Dec. 1880 |