The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-12-01
NOT FOR PUBLIC USE.
JUSTICE WERWlE SAYS POLICE
OFFICE Is PRIVATE.
BARBER FOUND NOT GUILTY
And the Justice Legalized the Work of
the Arrogant Ofic1al.-How Jus
tice May Not be Expected
in Kenosha.

Chief of Police M f. Barber, who
was arrested last Tuesday morning on
a charge of assault and battery, pre-
ferred by the local editor of this paper,
was acquitted by Justice Werwie on
Wednesday afternoon.
In arriving at this verdict Justice
WerWie decided that the police office
is not a public office and no one may
have access to it except by the suffer
ance of the head of the local police de-
partment
The justice admitted that Barber
had been guilty of an assault and
battery but backed up his verdict of
acquittal by adding that the Chief OF
police had right to remove any per-
son he objected to from his private
Office as long as no unnecessary force
was used.
The case against Barber was fully
admitted by the defendant and he Of
fered no justification for the act beyond
the fact that the reporter said things
which he did not like and he refused to
be advised of his faults.
We would not presume to criticise
the action of Justice Werwie in acquit-
ting Mr.. Barber but excuse it on the
grounds of his utter ignorance of
the laws of the state and city.
The decision cannot but be fully
understood by all. During the trial
Mr.. Werwie did not recognize one
single point raised by the plaintiff but
openly favored the defendant by rulings
which were an outrage to any court of
Justice. The plaintiff asked only
fair deal but he was forced to buy
justice, or rather to buy b airing of
his claims, as the justice ruled that he
must give security for costs before he
would allow him to proceed with the
trial AS to the defendant he is too
we'll known for us to add anything
either for or against him. Going into
office under the most favorble circum
stances he has abused the powers in
vested in him to such an extent that
even the name of the chief of police
has become identical with all that is
low and mean and debasjDg. He has
not only far Overstepped MS authority
ID many things but has used The pow
er given him as a cloak to hide useless
and senseless attacks upon homes and
persons whose property and lives he is
sworn 10 protect. In open violation Of
his sacred oath and the laws of state
and city he has allowed the saloons
and other places Of vice to run unmo-
Tested even with his knowledge and
silent consent and has given KenOsha
name as a wide open city.
With such man at the head of the
police force in the city, what protection
can the citizens expect?
We do not say these things through
spite or malice, nor because the Justice
has failed to convict Mr.. Barber on our
personal complaint, but we say them
for the sake of the best interests of the
city, knowing that we are vOicing only
the sentiments of almost every man
who is acquainted with the mismanage-
meNt of police affairs. Every day M. F.
Barber remains in the office of Chief of
Police the city becomes liable for
heavy damages through his grOundless
mistakes, and even now complaints are
ready to be filed were it not that the
poverty of the oppressed makes it i'm
possible tor them to secure legal aid
and advice.
Justice cannot be administered under
such an official, for both the City At
torney and Barber himself have stated
that it was impossible to convict any
man before jury in Justice court on
account of the feeling against the head
of the police department.
These are the things we ask the peO-
pie to consider, and not the fact that
reporter has been technically assaulted
by public official.
The office of Chief of Police is the
most important in the administration of
the city government. Its duties demand
a man, man of honor, man of dis
erection, man who looks ever for the
protection of the city's interests and
the interests of the people, a man fear
less in the discharge of his duty, yet
using the utmost discretion in deter
mining his actions and man in whom
all citizens can place implicit confidence
and trust. is Barber qualified for such
position?