An "Arrested for Bastardy" Update

When last we saw Jerome Chester, he was out on bond pending a new trial, charged with having fathered an illegitimate child on Mary Kovanek, one of the Chesters' maids.

The new trial took place before Judge Tuthill in the Porter Superior Court on February 24 and 25, 1909. The child was then a year old, and Jerome about 28. Arguing the State's case were attorneys Peddicord, Conroy, McMahan and Burkhart, while Jerome was defended by the partnerships of Fetterer & Hall and Bozarth & Bozarth. Several witnesses from Hobart were called.

The trial came to a close by mid-morning of the 25th, and the jury retired to deliberate around 11:00. They deliberated until 11:05 and then came back with a verdict against Jerome.

His attorneys immediately moved for a new trial. He was required to post $1,000 bond.

Within two weeks Judge Tuthill had determined the amount of support Jerome owed for the child: $350. Whether that was a single lump-sum payment or a yearly amount is not specified in the report. (I don't think it could have been a monthly payment, since it represented about $7,663 in today's dollars.) He also had to pay the costs of the trial.

We may hear more on this if the new trial ever goes forward.

I wonder what the redoubtable Henry Chester had to say in private about all this.

Sources:
♦ CPI Inflation Calculator.
♦ "Decides for Plaintiff." Hobart Gazette 26 Feb. 1909.
♦ "Local Drifts." Hobart Gazette 12 Feb. 1909; 12 Mar. 1909.