The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-10-08

The whole session of the court on
Monday morning in the Caster case
was devoted to the selection of the jury
and it was not until the special venire
had been nearly exhausted that twelve
men were finally secured to try the
| case,
The Monday Afternoon Session.
| The session of the court on Monday
afternoon failed to bring up anything
of sensational nature. The case
seemed to drag and was devoid of in.
terest. There was little Of the story
Of the conferences Of the promoters
and the accused alderman in Langan's
Saloon and the story Of Casters con-
fession to j. S. Newberry was told to
the jury.
The most interesting part of the af-
ternoon session was the fact that the
rulings of the court showed that he in
tended to be very technical in the
matter of admitting the confessions to
the jury and if this point is pushed too
far it may result in tks case Of the
state failing. Judge Williams gave
out the idea that it must be shown
that the confessions of Caster were OF
a purely voluntary nature and not
brought about by promises of clemen-
cy before they would be admitted as
evidence in the case.
| After the district attorney had made
his opening statement of the case to
the jury, City Clerk Gus. Jacob was
called to the stand. He was called to
give evidence in regard to the passage
OF the ordinance and as to the manner
which the defendant Caster had
voted on the measure on the two coca
sions. Johnson Jackson was the next
witness called but he failed to give
much testimony as at the outset the
attorney for Caster objected to any evil
dence in the way of the admissions OF
Caster being introduced until it was
shown that the statements had been
made without any promises of clemen.
Icy. Jackson was not clear on this
point and he was withdrawn from the
stand by the prosecution and Jesse S.
Newberry called. With Newberry on
the stand the prosecuting attorney
managed to get little evidence as
Newberry testified that Caster had on
several occasions told him of the deal
that had been made to secure the pas
sage of the ordinance and had told
him that he had received the sum of
1888 for his vote on the mes sure. Gas
ter had told Newberry further that a
thousand dollars had been divided be-
tween himself, Peter Pirsch and Albert
Smith and that the money as turned
in had been given by C1ausen. The
evidence Of Newberry went in without
being challenged by the attorney for
Caster and it was the first evidence of
the crime charged.
The Tuesday Session.
| The second day of the hearing of
the Caster case proved to be of much
greater interest than the previous day
and the crowds that gathered at the
court house to hear the evidence pro-
duced by the state we're more than re-
paid for their trouble if they we're
for the sensational. The morning
session opened with former Alderma q
Jacob Schlenker. on the witness stand.
The evidence of Schlenker was unim-
lportant except that it showed that at
one time Caster had told him that he
had received more from the passing of
the ordinance than any of the other
| ~ q ~ ho~c ~ Tho Co,1nrs1 tlsAa
When the district attorney called
John Kleist to the stand there was a
general pricking up of ears as it was
generally understood that the evidence
of John Kleist and the silent evidence
of the confessions made by Caster
would form the greater part of the case
made by the state. Caster was notice
ably nervous when Kleist went on the
stand and not once while the former
alderman Of the Fifth ward was telling
the story of the Doodle did Caster take
his eyes off the witness.
The testimony of Kleist was most
damaging to Caster and while it was
in way REPETITION of the testimony
taken at the preliminary hearing it
Drought out pretty good story Of the
whole case. Kleist told nothing from
his own knowledge but simply told the
story of the alleged bribing as related
to him by the defendant in the present
action. Most Of the evidence was
given in the saloon owned by the wit
ness. Kleist told Of the famous CON.
i ference with Caster in which he ad-
uitted that the swag had been divided
between himself and Aldermen Pirsch
and Smith and that he received the
sum of $500.
Kleist also told of how iReinardy
had stood behind the door and listened
to the recital of the facts in the case
by Caster and how Caster had thrown
down his hat when Reinardy appeared
and had asked that the district attor.
ney be sent for in order that he might
make statement of his connection
with the case. Kleist went further
and told Of the conference in Langan's
saloon and of the alleged meeting be.
tween the men at the blacksmith shop
i ~ here thew ntnnd ~ fha shadomsne AL,