The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-05-10
Justice Sturges Discharges Will
son, Who is Alleged to Have
Shot in Tannery Strike
SHOT FROM AUTOMATIC GUN
Wilson Carried an Ivers- Johnson Re.
volver and the Evidence Did Not
Connect Him With the
Shooting of Imerich

Charles Wilson, former mig htwatch-
man at the Allen tannery who was ar
rested ten days ago on charge of fir
ing the shot which seriously wounded
| Mikolas Imerich, striker, was dis
charged at the preliminary hearing
held in Justice Sturges' court on
Thursday afternoon. Wilson had been
held on bonds of $1,000, but the evil
dence produced at the hearing did not
warrant his being held to answer the
charge in the circuit court.
The evidence as produced in court
seemed to clearly establish the inno-
cence Of Wilson, but it left hard
mystery for the solution Of the police
and deputy sheriffs. The examina-
ton brought out the fact that
Imerich was wounded by no ordinary
bullet aud that the bullet which struck
him had been fired by some one own
ing an automatic revolver
This opened the way for the dismis-
sal of Wilson as it was an easy matter
to show that the revolver Wilson car
ried on the night Of the shooting was
of the lvers-Johnson pattern and the
court held that in such case it would
have been impossible for Wilson TO
have fired the shot. It is possible that
Imerich was shot by some. striker who
had armed himself with this danger
Gus pattern of a revolver, but no evil
dence was brought out at the hearing
by which the guilt of the man firing
the shot could be placed.
Imerich was on the stand and he adj
mitted that he did not see the shot
fired and that he could give no evil
dence more than that he was struck
by the bullet while crossing Grand
avenue bridge. 1t was declared that
Wilson and several other men were
standing on the platform of the tam
merry building at the time Imerich fell
wounded, but no one saw the shot
fired. There was several shots fired
but no automatic revolver was in sight
at the time.
The condition of Imerich it is said
is critical. The man tainted when he
started to leave the court room Thurs
day evening, and it was necessary to
summon carriage to take him to his
home.
District Attorney Baker stated last
night that there was grave fears for
the life of the man.
The countrymen of Imerich are
clamoring for further arrests and the
district attorney will Of course act
promptly on any complaint made by
these men. 1t is admitted by the state
that it would be exceedingly difficult
to convict any one of crime in con-
nection with the shooting of Inerich,
as the evidence at the hearing yester-
day showed that there had been a
great deal of rioting about the plant
during the night and it is possible
that jury would find that the men in
charge Of the plant we're justified in
shooting into the rioters.
The evidence showed that as is
usual in cases of injury during a riot
Imerich was an innocent victim. It
was shown that he had taken no part
in the rioting and had started to go to
his boarding house just before the
shooting took place. Hearing dis
turbance on the street he returned to
look on when his movements we're
stopped by bullet.
The fact that Imerich was shot by
an automatic revolver has brought
about new mystery for the police,
as few of these revo1vers are owned in
Kenosha. It is not thought that any
of the watchmen at the tannery ever
carried this sort Of a gun and it is not
thought that such guns are offered
for sale in Kenosha. None are carried
by police officers or deputy sheriffs.
The officers are closely watching the
developments Of the wound of
Imerich.