More Trouble for Jerome

Early in the morning of Wednesday, July 30, 1909, Hobart's Nightwatchman Gill was hailed by a hatless, coatless 16-year-old boy who had come to town to complain of an assault and battery. His name was John O. Peterson; he was an orphan, supporting himself by working as a farmhand. His assailant, he said, was his employer, Jerome Chester.

The nightwatchman fetched Jerome to appear before Judge John Mathews that same day.

It isn't clear whether Jerome pled guilty or was found guilty. The upshot was that he had to pay a fine and costs totaling $15.95. Then he and his victim left the courtroom together, the boy stating an intention to go collect his pay and his clothes, and then find another job.

They may have worked things out — the 1910 census shows a John Peterson working as a farmhand for Jerome. On the other hand, that's not such an uncommon name, and his age in 1910 is given as 24.

(Let's just pause here to remember that while all these arrests were going on, the other seven Chester children, as well as Mary Chester, were apparently conducting themselves as peaceful, law-abiding citizens.)

Sources:
♦ 1910 Census.
♦ "Local Drifts." Hobart Gazette 2 July 1909.