A man named Potter, of Green county, travelled
through that section buying young stock. Among
the rest live calves were bought of ono Johnson,
who has been the prominent figure in tho litigation
which lias consumed so much time. The calves
which were sold were afterward identified as belong
ing to farmers in tho vicinity. At a meeting of tlio
Jones County Anti-horse Thief Society held soon
afterward. It was determined to charge Johnson
with the theft of the animats, and suit was accord
ingly entered. In December of 1874 he was indicted
by tile grand jury in session in Jones county, but
the court set tho indictment aside. In Fcbuary of
the following year ho was again Indieted by the
grand jury, and on this indictment ho was twice
tried, taking change of venue to adjoining coun
ties, In tlio first trial the jury disagreed, one man
remaining firm tn favor of conviction. But in the
second trial, which occurred iu 1876. he was acquit
ted
Soon after Johnson’s acquittal ho began suit
against farmers named Miller and Foreman, ami
six other prominent members of the society, claim
ing $10,006 damages for malicious prosecution. This
case ujiou a change of venue from Jones county to
Clinton. There it was twice tried, and then remov
ed to Benton county on a change ot venue, w here
it was once more before tlio courts. In each of
these trials the fury returned a verdict in favor of
Johnson for sums ranging from $3,500 to $7,000, and
each time the trial judge set tho verdict aside on
account of alledged errors
The ease was next taken to Black Hawk county
tn 1883, cn another change of venue, and there
tried. A verdiet of $5,000 was rendered by the ju
ry, and judgment entered. From this, however,
I an appeal was taken to the supreme court, tho de
| rlssion was reversed, and the case was remanded
I l ack for trial in 1884.
