The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-09-05
ARRESTED ON SERIOUS CHARGE.
Two Stoushton Men Engaged in a Hold-up
and Plead Guilty.


/! and Plead Guilty.
| John and Fred helms of Evansville
were attacked and badly beaten by two
! robbers on Wednesday night while re
turning from Stoughton, where they had
been to secure wagonette. The next
day james Bailey and JOS. Baker were
arrested and when taken before the mu-
nicipal court at Madison, pleaded guilty
to the charge of highway robbery. The
alleged holdup is said to have taken
! place about mile from Stoughton and
the two victims were roughly handled
by the highwayman. Part of the stolen
goods was found upon the persons of the
| two men arrested. The helms brothers
were IN Stoughton to procure a carry all
with which to take crowds to the Rock
County fair at Evansville this week.
Baker and Bailey sought to bring about
a game of poker. The brothers refused
to gamble, but drank quite freely. They
left Stoughton for Evansville at $50 in
the evening. Fred carried the money
that was left after the purchase of the
| carry all, S130.
When mile from the city they were
attacked by two men, who climbed very
stealthily into the rear of the vehicle.
They used rocks as weapons. Before he
was overpowered helms threw the money
! bag out of the rig. The robbers went
through the pockets of their victims,
and started the team towards Evansville.
A gold watch, valued at S25, was taken.
When the brothers finally got to Evans
vile it was found that John had on the
hat of stranger. He recognized it as
that of Baker and asked that Baker be
arrested. Marshal Cal Broughton of
Evansville drove over to Stoughton and
arrested Bailey without difficulty. At
his home was found laprobe belonging
to the helms boys. He professed to be
entirely ignorant of the trouble and did
not know how he came by the property
Baker was also arrested and in his pos
session was found picture which had
been in the case Of the gold watch that
was taken. The money bag was found
at the roadside where Nelms threw it in
the melee. Baker is "A years old and
Baily so. Both men have families.
Sentence was passed on Bailey and
Baker by Judge Donovan Tuesday morn
ing upon their pleas of guilt. Bailey,
who had kept his nerve ever since the
arrest, buried his face in his hands and
his frame shook with sobs at the courts
announcement of judgment. Both men
seemed to have been firm in the hope
that their story that they were suffering
from strong lapse of consciousness at
the time of committing the crime would
be believed.
Though somewhat crude in their work,
Bailey and Baker made a genuine at
tempt at highway robbery. The offense
for which they were put on trial is one
of the most serious under the statutes of
the state. The fact that they were not
armed with murderous weapons saved
them from possible fifteen years SEN
tence. AS it is, assault and robbery with
bearing arms (the offence for which they
were put on triaD, places the limit OF
punishment at seven years. Judge Don
ovan, on account of the fact that the
men both have families to whom they
may be of assistance when they have
served their terms, gave them just half,
the sentence possible under the law