The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-10-31
(From Saturdays Daily.)

L
when the final testimony in the first
days hearing of the case of the State
! VS.. John Caster was received and the
case was adjourned until next Mon
day morning, when the fight will be
renewed. John Kleist, Alderman from
the Fifth ward, was the last man on
the witness stand and his Testimony
was so vital to the proof of the con
spiracy which is alleged by the State
that we produce it in part.
| Alderman John Kleist, being duly
sworn, testified in part as follows I'M
j der examination by District Attorney
| A. E. Buckmaster:
Q. Do you know the defendant,
John Caster?
! A. Yes sir.
0. Have you at any time previous
to the commencement of this action
had any conversation with Caster?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Did this conversation refer to
the charges which have now been
brought:ag ainst him?
A. Yes sir.
O. When, if you remember, was the
first the first time you discussed with
Mr.. Caster anything connected with
the street railway franchise IN Ke-
nosha?
A. Was in April or in May, 1900.
O, What was the substance of that
conversation?
| A. He told me that there was going
to be a street railway franchise passed
in this city, and there was going to be
Doodle in it, and named two gentle
men that were supposed to handle the
money.
O. Who were they?
A. O'Br1en and Sershon.
O. What O'Brien and what Ser
shon?
A. Alderman James O'Brien and
A1dermansS ershon.
O. What did he say with reference
to that matter further?
A. He stated that they were to dl-
vide as much as possible among them
selves and they were going to let him
out of it, and if they didn't give him a
slice of it he was going to prosecute
| them.
O. Was that all the conversation had
at that time?
A. Yesssir, all that remember.
| O. State the next conversation that
you had with him, that you now re-
member.
A. l think it was on the End or 3rd
day of July, 1900.
O. Was it before or after the fran
chise wasspassed?
A. 1t was before it was passed.
O. What was the substance of that
conversation?
A. He came to my place of business
and he wanted me to change fifty
dollar bill.
Q. What did you do?
A. ] refused.
O. What did he say with reference
to that fifty dollar bill, if anything?
A. He says he got it on the railroad
question or the franchise.
Q. Did he say anything with refer
ence to his vote?
A. Yes sir.
Q. What did he say with reference
to that fifty dollars?
A. He said he got that fifty dollars
in good faith, and he promised to vote
for the railroad franchise.
Q. Did he say who gave that fifty
dollars to him?
| A. Yes sir.
Q. WhoIdid he say gave it to him?
| A. Gustave C1ausen.
Q. Have you stated all the CONVEX
sation that you had at that time with
Mr.. Caster?
| A. No sir.
| Q. State it'al1, as you remember.
A. I told him to be careful and not
to get mingled in with anything that
was dishonorab1e, because it would be
no credit to him, and he says he was
going to go up town and have it
changed. think that is all that oc-
Cured on that day.
! @. State whether or not there was
anybody else, present at that time?
A. They were, but I couldn't re-
| lIember
| Q. None within hearing distance of
what he said?
A No sir.
| Q. Only yourselves?
A. Only myself. He called me to
the end of the counter and he kind of
slipped it around SO that nobody could
see him.
Q. Did he say where Clausen had
i given him that money?
/ A Yes sir.
Q. Where did he say?