Dallas City Review
Dallas City, Illinois
Tuesday
April 26, 1938
Page 4
Columns 1 & 2JESSE STIDUM
IS EXONERATED
IN U. S. COURTTracy Wright Sentenced
On Plea of Guilty To
Counterfeiting(From Thursday's Hancock County Journal)
A federal district court jury late Thursday took only about two hours to acquit Jesse D. Stidum of Burnside of charges of counterfeiting United States coins.
Stidum's brother-in-law, Tracey C. Wright, also of Burnside, had previously entered a plea of guilty and he was sentenced by Judge J. LeRoy Adair to serve two years and nine months in a federal penitentiary for counterfeiting. Wright pleaded guilty on his arraignment but was held in jail for several months pending sentence. In view of the time he has served in jail, the court curtailed his sentence to two years and nine months instead of three years.
Stidum went on trial in federal court Wednesday morning before Judge J. Leroy Adair and a jury on charges of counterfeiting United States currency.
Ed Martin Defense Attorney
In his opening statement, United States Assistant District Attorney Paul Plunkett told the jury that Stidum and Wright had passed several counterfeit 50 cent pieces in and near Hamilton on December 27, 1937.
Defense Attorney Edward S. Martin of Carthage said the defense would show that the defendant, a former farmer and road commissioner, had been engaged in the trucking and that Tracey had been taking his meals with his brother-in-law and sister. On December 27, Attorney Martin said, Stidum and Wright took the truck owned by Stidum out for a trial following repairs. The truck developed a knock, the attorney added, and the men decided to drive to Keokuk, Iowa, and consult with the dealer from whom the truck had been purchased.
On their way from Burnside to Keokuk, the men stopped in Oakwood on the outskirts of Hamilton where Stidum purchased cigarets, tendering a 50 cent piece in payment. The government charges this 50 cent piece was counterfeit.
Later the men continued on into Hamilton, Attorney Martin continued, where the men stopped in a tavern, Stidum buying a soft drink and Wright a glass of beer. Stidum also paid for this, and the government contends passed another counterfeit piece of money.
The men then went across the street to a book store where Wright purchased a magazine and Stidum a tablet. Stidum handed the proprietor a 50 cent piece which was dropped as the store owner reached for an electric light switch. The proprietor called Stidum's attention to the fact that the coin was counterfeit and the latter handed the proprietor another coin, placing the counterfeit 50 cent piece in the pocket of a jacket. Stidum lingered to talk to the proprietor while Wright departed.
Victim of Circumstances
A few minutes later, Attorney Martin continued, Stidum saw Wright running up the street while a woman cried "stop that man." Stidum continued to stand on the sidewalk outside the store for sometime waiting for his brother-in-law to return, the government charges and was finally arrested by the town marshal. He was lodged in the Hamilton jail, still having the 50 cent counterfeit coin in the pocket of his jacket. Some time later, the attorney added, the marshal asked Stidum for the coin which was surrendered. Later, Stidum was taken to the Hancock county jail in Carthage. Wright was arrested later. The defense contends Stidum was a victim of circumstances and had nothing to do with the manufacture or passing of the counterfeit coins.
Thomas Hosclaw testifying for the government, told of Stidum's purchasing cigarets at his store in Oakwood and offering a 50-cent piece in payment and also of finding a counterfeit 50-cent coin in his cash drawer soon after the sale. Ervin Hartrick of Keokuk, a bread salesman, told of tracing Stidum and Wright to several other places where counterfeit coins were passed. Roy Fleming of Hamilton, an employe in a tavern, also told of the men's visiting that establishment and the discovery of a counterfeit half-dollar in the till of the cash register after they had departed.
J. C. Kincaid, employed at the E. M. Hardy store, also told of Wright's passing a counterfeit coin in exchange for a package of cigarets and R. D. Gordon of the men's visiting his store were Wright purchased a magazine, offering a fifty-cent coin in payment. He also told of Stidum's buying a tablet and offering a half-dollar in payment, which when dropped on the counter aroused Gordon's suspicion and refusal to accept it. The witness said Stidum then gave him a legitimate 50-cent piece in payment for the tablet.
Loren P. Jackson, a secret agent told of going to Carthage after being notified a man was being held in the Hancock county jail for counterfeiting, of receiving a quantity of the counterfeit coins from Hancock County Sheriff Earl Main, and of visiting the Stidum home, where he found a quantity of metal similar to that used in manufacturing counterfeit coins. Mr. Jackson and Everett S. Anderson, chemistry instructor in Quincy Senior high school, had testified as to an analysis made of the coins and other metals introduced as evidence. Sheriff Main and the Hamilton City Marshal also testified.
Following the completion of the government's case, Defense Attorney Edward S. Martin entered a motion for a directed verdict in favor of the defendant on all five counts in the indictment. The court sustained the motion as to count 2, the government having failed to connect the defendant with the passing of the coin involved in that part of the indictment.
Six Character Witnesses
The defense put six character witnesses on the stand who testified as to the reputation of the defendant. These witnesses included Ernest Northup, William Hunter, Homer Thompson and Dr. C. B. Tyler all of Burnside; Sheriff Earl Main of Carthage and John Earlston of Ferris. Other witnesses included William Jordon of Burnside, operator of a general store and Carl Bideaux, also of Burnside, who told of making repairs to the Stidum truck.
Tracey C. Wright, brother-in-law of Stidum and a co-defendant in the case who entered a previous plea of guilty, refused to testify when called by the defense, standing on his constitutional rights.
Stidum was the final witness, telling of the trip Wright and he had taken from Burnside to Hamilton, and denying he knowingly possessed any counterfeit money or that he had passed any with intent to defraud.
The case went to the jury at 3:43 p. m. Thursday and a verdict was returned shortly before 6 p. m.
The jury hearing the case was composed of Edward W. Bollman of Payson, Ernest Kesting of Mt. Sterling, W. C. Morrow of Rushville, Russell O'Donnell of Winchester, Wren Scott of Virginia, Guy Scherer of Forest City, Lee Stice of Jacksonville, Ernest Wiebel of Quincy, Tom Daniels of Quincy, William Davis of Ursa, Edward Gaines of Quincy and W. H. Janssen of Quincy.
Hancock County Historical Society
Siegfried VI
Page 173Rites in Carthage
For Jesse D. Stidum,
Burnside ResidentFuneral services for Jesse D. Stidum of Burnside were held Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 2 p.m. in the Kilgore Memorial Home in Carthage, the Rev. John Lyon, pastor of the Burnside Christian church officiating. Music was furnished by Mrs. Ralph Denison at the organ. Casket bearers were Chester Todd, Floyd Vaughn, Will Hunter, Wendell Thompson, Homer Thompson, and Guy Thompson. Interment was in McKay cemetery.
Mr. Stidum died Saturday, Jan. 11, in Memorial hospital in Carthage. He had been in failing health for several years but hospitalized only since Jan. 6.
Born in Durham township, Oct. 5, 1880, he was a son of William and Sarah Shinn Stidum. He married Pearl Wright Oct. 9, 1900 in Carthage.
They farmed in the Burnside community until 1932 when they moved to Burnside where he engaged in business. He served Pilot Grove township as road commissioner for 17 years and was active in community and political affairs. He was a member of the Burnside Christian church.
Surviving are the widow; a sister, Mrs. Stella Bassett, of Dallas City and a brother, Roy, of Des Moines, Ia. A niece, Mrs. Waldo Harrington, who spent her early childhood in the Stidum home, also survives with other nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter; a brother, William, and his parents.
Hancock County Historical Society
Misc Red Book
Page 24Jesse D. Stidum
Of Burnside Is
Dead at Age 77Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon in the Kilgore Memorial home at Carthage for Jessie G. Stidum, 77, prominent Burnside citizen, who passed away after a week's illness in the Carthage hospital on Saturday, January 11, 1958. Rev. John Lyon officiated, and burial was in the McKay cemetery.
Mr. Stidum, a son of William and Sarah H. (Shinn) Stidum, was born on October 5, 1880 in Durham township. He was married to Pearl Wright on October 9, 1900.
A retired farmer, Mr. Stidum had engaged in various business activities the past several years and had made his home in Burnside for the last five years. He was much longer a resident of Pilot Grove township, however, which he served as road commissioner for 17 years. He was a member of the Burnside Christian church.
Left to mourn are his wife; a niece, Mrs. Waldo Harrington of Carthage, who spent her childhood with the Stidums; a sister, Mrs. Stella Bassett of Dallas City, and a brother, Roy. One brother is deceased.
