BOYS WHO FREED LIVE STOCK-Riniker, Junk & Ellis 1931

RINIKER, ELLIS, JUNK, COOK, NELSON, GREEN

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 3/1/2017 at 14:26:15

Dubuque Telegraph Herald – November 1, 1931

BOYS WHO FREED LIVE
STOCK ARE GIVEN SENTENCES

Plead Guilty to Charge Before
Justice Green Friday

Elmer Riniker, 19, Holy Cross, and George Junk, 19, Rockford, Ill., were given their choice of small fines or jail sentences when they pleaded guilty before Justice of the Peace, J. W. Green Friday to a charge of releasing restrained livestock. The two youths decided to serve the jail sentences, Riniker being given a three day sentence in default of a $10 fine and Junk taking a two day sentence in default of a $5 fine.

Authorities who filed the charges against the two youths said that some weeks ago horses owned by Riniker’s father strayed onto the neighbor’s farm owned by John Cook, causing some damage. Cook, in accordance with the state law, put the animals under restraint and notified the trustees of the township. The trustees fixed the amount of damage done by the animals and under the law Cook was authorized to hold the animals until the damages had been paid, however, the horses were released by someone.

Later hogs from Riniker’s farm strayed onto Cook’s farm and the same procedure was followed with the hogs being released before the damages had been paid. Cook at that time filed an information with Justice Green charging the younger Riniker of releasing the hogs. Hearing was set by Justice Green for last Thursday. In the meantime, authorities said, cattle from Riniker’s farm strayed onto Cook’s farm and again the restraining law procedure was started. Again the livestock was taken from Cook’s farm before the damages fixed by the trustees was paid.

Cook charged that in releasing of the cattle that the younger Riniker was assisted by his relatives, George and Harold Junk and John Ellis, all of Rockford. An information charging the four with violating the restraining law was filed by Assistant County Attorney Al. J. Nelson, but Ellis and Harold Junk managed to escape arrest by going to their homes in Rockford.