The Shelbyville Democrat
Monday, September 2, 1907
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JOHN MORAN ACQUITTED SATURDAY AFTERNOON
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Jury Found Boy Not Guilty of Having
Seine in His Possession.
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On the second ballot
Saturday afternoon the jury in the case of the state against John Moran
found the defendant not guilty. He was charged with having in his
possession a seine larger that is permitted by the present unpopular fish laws.
Isaac Schafer, of
Moral township, testified that he was going along the banks of Sugar creek and
saw Moran standing near a seine. He asked him what he was doing and the
boy answered that some men had given him a dollar to go to the stream, see that
the seine was dried, rolled up, placed in a sack and left at the place where
found. Schafer went to Justice Madison and secured a permit to take the
seine. It was put in the custody of the justice, who turned it over to the
state fish and game authorities. Chief Deputy Fish Commissioner
Paulzell was here Saturday.
The boy's testimony did not
conflict with that of Mr. Schafer. He said he did not know the men who had
given him the dollar to look after the seine, but supposed they were from
Indianapolis. He testified that he had not touched the seine and was
merely standing by it when Schafer arrived. Attorney John Walker
represented Moran, while Prosecutor Hack looked after the
state's interests.
The first ballot of the
jury showed eleven for acquittal and one for conviction. The second showed
a unanimous agreement that the defendant be discharged.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
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