The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-03-12
STATEMENT OF HIS CASE.
Lawyer Brandes' Statement to the Gov
ernor and the Kenosha People.

In appealing to the clemency of the
governor and the KenOsha people, |
trust to enlist their sympathy because
there exists feeling widespread
through the community arising from
the belief that Bloch has been too evil
IDENTIFY throughout more a victim than
a criminal; a conviction that, if ac
cording to the letter of the law, justice
had strictly been melted out to the de-
PENDANTS in the case,- merciful con-
sideration of the relation Of the indi-
viduals concerned, their comparative
guilt and the history of the circum
stances leading up to the crime, would
place the defendant, Bloch, in the es-
timation of his EXcellency and this
community, in a far better light than
he stood before the court or jury who
tried the case.
A thorough knowledge Of the history
of the Chicago Bedding Co., enables
me to lay before you an array of extern
uating circumstances, which, undoubt-
edly, would alter the complexion of
guilt in the eyes Of this community with
regard to the defendant Bloch.
[ would submit, that, in the hands
of the young man, Barney I. Bloch,
who in the promotion of the said enter
prise had been persuaded to furnish
the entire capital of the concern, did
not lay the responsibility of control of
the direction of that undue business de-
velopment, which led SO quickly to the
disaster of the final decision, to avert
ruin at the expense of the insurance
companies.
That, in the character Of Bloch, not
yet twenty five years of age, most evil
IDENTIFY throughout, under the sway of
men of much stronger mould, did not
lay sufficient moral force to combat a
final determination on the part of his
associates to commit a crime, in the
execution of which Bloch was eXoner-
ated by a witness of the state from
having taken an active part And al
SO one of the prosecuting attorneys, in
his closing arguments, conveyed to the
jury that poor little Bloch was simply
tool in the other defendants hands,
who riveted their eyes upon him,
watching him carefully lest perhaps he
might speak.
That Bloch, while standing trial, de-
clined to take the stand on his own be-
half, and to add the crime of perjury to
that which he stood under accusation,
and even on the face Of the apparent
effort on the part of the other defend
ants to shift their guilt upon his
shoulders.
That Bloch was simply cats paw
in the other defendants hands! The
following statement, signed by the jury,
will prove:
II, -- who served on the
jury in Kenosha Circuit Court, Septem-
Der term, -Judge Fish presiding and
who found Barney |. Bloch guilty &C.
cording to the evidence introduced,
have since carefully considered the
matter and have come to the conclu-
sion that Bloch was simply tool in the
other defendants hands, and would
therefore recommend that he be par
doned."
Trusting that the above impressions
will be taken into consideration, and
that speedy pardon will be obtained
on account Of his declining health, as
per statements made by leading Hi
nois and Wisconsin physlcian-saying
that if Bloch is not released soon he is
sure to die, as he is not able to stand
confinement on account of his diseased
lungs and enlargement of the heart.
And if released | am convinced he
would, the few years that he may live,
lead an honest, upright life.
Yours truly,
LOUIS BRANDES.