The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-04-18
Criminal Charges in the Circuit
Court Must Receive the
Proper Punishment
cUMMINS PLEADS "GUILTY"
Criminal Cases in the Circuit Court Be-
ing Rapidly Disposed of Today
and Calendar Soon to be
Cleaned Up

Judge Belden of the Circuit Court
speaking from the bench on Thurs
day laid down rule for the consider
alton of people in Kenosha who are
accustomed to break the law with the
understanding that they will get off
with fine when he said that in the
future the court would not take into
considere ton any immunity promised
by police officers or attorneys and
that people pleading guilty to charges
in the Court must expect to do so with
the full knowledge of the penalties
for the crimes with which they are
charged. This rule is to go in force
with the close of the present term of
the Circuit Court.
For years it has been custom in
the Court to allow defendants charged
with serious offenses to plead
guilty" with the understanding that
a fine would be imposed, but In the
future these people will be in danger
of prison sentence. 1t has been OH
cially given out in court circles that
in the future special attention will be
given to cases of assault with intent
to do great bodily harm where knives
are used and the Court has specifical-
ly stated that the wielders of the
knife, if the facts warranted it, will
not be released with fine, but will
be sent to the State prison to pay the
full penalty of the law. The knife
has become favorite weapon in Ke-
nosha during the past few months
and the Courtis determined to put an
end to such assaults.
Mary Cummins Pleads Guilty'
Mary Cummins, the woman who
formerly kept the saloon on Main
street, was arraigned in the court
on charge of Keeping a dis
orderly house, and after consid-
cradle delay she entered plea of
equity" to the charge and was fined
$175 and the costs of the action. The
case against c. L. Edwards, who was
arrested with the Cummins woman,
was nolled, it being shown to the
court that Edwards was dying from
consumption, and that he would
probably never be able to face jury
in court.
Before "Mary" was sentenced At
torney Stewart, who represented her
in court, made an impassioned plea
for her release on a small fine, de-
claring that she had been more sinned
against than SHINING and declaring
81, laa he SOfS nf
prosecution. In reply to this state
ment by Attorney Stewart the dis
trict attorney terribly arraigned the
woman and declared that the ''dive'
over which she had presided was the
most notorious ever known in Ke-
nosha and that it was in a class with
the dives in the larger cities. Dur
ing this arraignment Mary sat be-
fore the bench weeping copiously.
The court stated to the attorney for
the woman that he could not consider
his statement on account OF the fact
that if the statement was true the
woman should not plead guilty. He
offered to allow the woman to with
draw the plea and stand trial, but she
declined to do this. The fine and
the costs were paid.
Peter Makowski, arrested on a
charge of burglary last December
when it was alleged that he entered
the house of William Ernst, pleaded
guilty" to the charge, but sentence
was suspended and the boy, who is
but nineteen years of age and said
not to be overly strong mentally, will
be given chance to reform.