31 Jan 1857 Morgan Circuit Court, May Term, 1857 Civi Action - Thomas Collins vs Joseph Teahan, et al The above named defendent, Joseph Teahan, is hereby notified that said plaintiff has this day filed his complaint in the Clerk's Office of said county, together with the affadavit of a dis-interested person, stating that said defendent is a non-resident of the State of Indiana. Therefore, unless he appears in said Court, on the 2nd day of the next term, hereafter to be held at the Court House, in the town of Martinsville, on the second Monday in May next, and answer to said complaint, as required by said Court, said cause will be heard and determined in his absense. Attest: J.K. SCOTT, Clerk. W>R> Harrison, Attorney for Plaintiff January 14, 1857 21 May 1857 CIRCUIT COURT PROCEEDINGS The present term of court has been a very busy one. There were preferred by the Grand Jury, fifteen indictments. embracing every grade of crime, nearly, from murder down to larceny. The following causes have been continued: State vs Flynn, murder; State vs Miles Overton, petit larceny; State vs Pointer, grand larceny; State vs Samuel Line, petit larceny; State vs Alexander Spencer, petit larceny; State vs John Brown; State vs Hezekiah & Fielding Carpenter, assault and battery with intent to murder, trial and acquittal, same, noll. pros. entered; State vs Mary Powell, larceny, acquittal; State vs James Burns, murder, continued; "CIVIL CAUSES": Robinson vs Hadley, a change of venue to Owen ordered; McCollum vs Myrick, slander, trial and acquittal; Sheerer vs Hendricks, civil debt, judgement for Sheerer, of $282.70; Montgomery vs Knight, suit on a note, judgement for $114.45. 9 July 1857 ADMITTED TO BAIL Adam S. Wise, indicted by the grand jury of this county, at the late term of Circuit Court, as an accessory to the murder of James Sloan, has at length been admitted to bail. After his imprisonment, he was conveyed to Franklin, on account of the in-security of our jail, where he was taken out on a writ of habeas corpus, a few days since, and his bail fixed at the sum of $1000, which was redily given.The Franklin Jeffersonian says that on the hearing before Judge Hardin, not the slightest evidence of complicity was shown against Wise, and thinks it a very strange thing how an indictment was found on such evidence. We presume the Jeffersonian man heard only the bright side of the story. 13 August 1857 ASSAULT AND BATTERY A serious case of assault and battery occurred near Hall, in Gregg township, on Wednesday the 12th instant. The main facts of the case, as near as we could learn them, are as follows: Isaac Garrett was present at a thrashing frolic, and while seated upon a wagon tongue, near where the work was going on, George Adams came up behind him, armed with a pitchfork, and struck him a severe blow up on the head, inflicting a gash some three inches in length. Garret, we understand, gave no provocation - - he had difficulty, however, with Adam's father, some time since, and the assault is supposed to have grown out of this. The case was tried before Justice Hinkle, at Hall, on Monday last, and a fine of $20 assessed against the defendant. 19 Nov. 1857 MORGAN CIRCUIT COURT The case of the State vs. Jas. Burns, for the murder of Jas. M. Sloan, will probably be taken to another county on change of venue. State vs. Adam Wise, for stealing three chickens from an honest Dutch tailor of our town, was tried on Tuesday. The state was represented by Sam'l Buskirk, and the acused by Messrs. Colburn and McClure. Previous to entering on the trial, one of the defendant's attornies moved the Court to quash the indictment on account of its not setting forth, with sufficient certainty, what kind of chickens they were - - that they might be animals fera' natura', in which case they would not be the subject of felony. The Court, after due deliberation, overruled the motion. The jury being sworn, the evidence was proceeded with, after the closing of which, the interests of the State were ably advocated by Mr. Buskirk. Hon. Dan'l McClure made an eloquent appeal on behalf of the prisoner, and the jury after retiring for a short time, returned with a verdict of "not guilty". If all the stories are true in regard to Adam's partiality for his neighbors' chickens, corn, and other moveable property, he should most undoubtedly have been "sent up for sixty days" at least. 26 Nov 1857 MORGAN CIRCUIT COURT State vs. James Burns, et al. Case Continued -- as to Wm. Burns and Blevin Asher. A change of venue was granted to James Burns - his trial will be held at May term of Owen Circuit Court. State vs. Wm. Gibson - the defendant was let to bail in the sum of $3000- It was $5000 before. State vs. Andrew J. Adams, grand larceny, defendant was acquitted. State vs. Thomas Grancy, petit larceny, Defendant acquitted. State vs. David R. Neavitt, forgery- There were two cases against David, both of which were continued. State vs. Adam S. Wise, petit larceny, Adam was charged with theft in three instances, but was luckily acquitted in all --This may be set down to pure luck- nothing else-- There were several other cases on grand and petit larceny pending, all of which were continued until May term of court. State vs. Miller, Hubbel, Fisher, et al, on charge of nuisance, for selling liquor alias, "democratic sarsaparilla", were heard and the merits of the law of 1853 ably discussed; but the Judge declined giving an opinion at this time. What his policy was in so doing, is unknown. Perhaps to await the determination of the Supreme Court or perhaps again to feel of the nation on the subject. A number of divorce cases, as usual, occupied the attention of the Court, and in several instances the marriage contract was annulled. The looseness of our laws, on this subject, makes it an easy matter for husband or wife to slip off the matrimonial noose at their convenience. We wish it were otherwise. In reference to the county-seat question, it will be recollected that the contract between the County Commissioners and P. M. Blankenship, was appealed from. The Court decided that the case was not an appealable one. It was also decided that the Auditor should issue the warrants. This leaves the matter just exactly where it stood before. 13 May 1858 MORGAN CIRCUIT COURT The spring term of Morgan Circuit Court commenced on Monday morning last, Judge Claypool presiding. A large amount of important business has been cut out for settlement during the present term, and has consequently drawn hither a goodly number of lawyers from various localities. Among those present, we notice the following - - Messrs. O'Neil, Coburn, Porter and McClure, Indianapolis; Messrs. S. H. and G. W. Buskirk, & Hunter, Bloomington; Col. Nave, Danville; M.M. Ray, Shelbyville; S. P. Oyler, Franklin; S. K. Harryman, Mooresville; J. S. Hester, Nashville; W. E. Dittemore, Gosport, and - - Pierce, the Prosecuting Attorney, Terre Haute. The forenoon session was principally occupied with the calling of criminal cases, the answering of attached persons from the last term, and the entering of a nolle by the Prosecuting Attorney as to Wise in the indictment for murder as accessory in the Sloan case. A fine of five dollars assessed against Michael Stipp for contempt in not attending as a juror at the last term, for which he professed to have no excuse. -- This afternoon session opened with the case of the State vs. Gibson. Gibson, it will be recollected, was tried, convicted and sentenced to the state prison, in 1856, for the murder of Robert Mann, at the old line barbecue held in this place at that time; and, after spending some time in durance vile, under the state, his case was reversed by the Supreme Court and sent back. On Tuesday, the case was submitted to the jury, without argument, and a verdict of acquittal returned. We presume Gibson feels considerably relieved.