The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-11-15
BURG GETS OFF EASY
John A. Burg, Charged With RObbing
the Mails, Sent to Jail for Thirty
Days and Fined 500.
FRIENDS SEEK CLEMENCY.
Senator Quarles Appeared and Plead for
Burg. While the U. S. District Attorney
Secures Nolle of one Indictment.

John A. Burg, chief clerk of the
Kenosha post office, who was arrested
last August for opening a letter cou-
tanning a 50-cent piece and some other
letters without va1uab1es, and who has
been confined in the Milwaukee county
jail for over two months awaiting the
action of the grand jury, pleaded guilty
Friday in the United States district
court to charge of OBTAINING mail
and opening letters, and was sentenced
by Judge Seaman to thirty days in the
Milwaukee county jail and 800 fine.
Judicial c1emency was exercised III a
marked degree, owing to the extenuat-
ing circumstances of the case.
Ex-Postmaster A. J. Burg, the young
mans father, was in court at SIS when
the sentence was passed. United
States Senator Joseph V. Quar1es ap-
peared for the prisoner. In passing
sentence, Judge Seaman addressed the
prisoner standing before the bar, at
some length.
The sentence of the court was that
Burg be imprisoned in the Milwaukee
county Jail for thirty days and pay a
fine Of $500. The prisoner remained
unmoved but perfectly respectful dur
ing the Judges remarks, but showed
emotion a minute or two later when
Senator Ouar1es shook hands with him.
Then he returned to jail with Deputy
Marshal Durham.
The grand jury returned two indict-
ments against Burg yesterday, one for
opening a letter containing SO cents
and another for OBTAINING mail. Dis
trict Attorney Phillips said in address,
ing thee court that there were some
extenuating circumstances in the case,
and that in view of them he felt JUST
fed in asking the COURTS permission
to enter a no11e to the indictment of
opening a va1ua bic letter. The prison
er, he said, would plead guilty to the
second count of the indictment. ''The
valuable letter., he said, twas decoy
letter, mailed by the inspector, to dis
cover who was opening letters among
the employees of the Kenosha Office.
Senator Quar1es followed. He pre-
Kenosha people, addressed to the court
and asking for c1emency. The me-
mortal was signed, among others, by
Circuit Judge Frank T. Fish, the
County Judge, the Mayor and many
other city officials, as we'll as other
prominent citizens. The memorial at
tested the high standing of Mr.. Burg
and his family. A letter of similar i'm
port from Capt. E. G. Timme, Fifth
Auditor of the Treasury, was received,
testifying to his confidence in Burg.
Senator.Quar1es said:
"Your honor, this is very sad case.
The parents of the young man are
highly respected. His life had been
exemplary, and he enjoyed the esteem
of the citizens of Kenosha, as the me-
mortal which I now submit will testify.
'EI have talked with him ard he has
told me that he fell into bad company,
and these associates induced him to
drink absinthe. Under the influence
of this drug he was induced to open the
valuable letter. He told me that he
didn't want the so cents the letter con-
| tanned, and had no use for it, but was
impe1led to open the letter and take it
/ by some influence that he could not re-
sist.
SIN behalf of this youth, bright
fellow who ought to be saved, ask
that the kindly suggestion of the Dis
trict Attorney be complied with, and
he be allowed to plead guilty to the
second count of the Indictment. He
has already served between two and
three months in the county jail. 1t is
one of the cases where clen1ency will
be mercy, and mercy will be right
eousness. I ask the court to impose
some fine. His father is a poor man,
but he will strain every nerve to meet
the demand. It is a critical point in
defendants life, and it rests with your
honor to say whether he may return to
a respectable and esteemed career"
Judge Seaman said he would grant
permission to nol1e the first count of
the Indictment, and then proceeded to
impose the sentence of thirty days in
the county jail and 800 fine.