Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-06-06
THREE MEN SENTENCED
Ohnstadt Gets Three Years: Geo.
BaCker Five Years: and Albert
Krutz Five Years.


VS.. M. L. Ohnstadt, returned a
verdict of guilty to the charge of
breaking into the office of the Oftele-
Stondahl Land Co., in the city of
Pittsville, and stealing about $4,000
cigars. Onhstadt, it will be recalled,
has been engaged during the past
three or four years in drilling wells in
and around Arpin, and because of his
business has become very well known
to the people of Wood County. No
one suspected him of ''crooked work. "
No one thought him guilty of burg
airy. And yet the evidence against
him was so strong that there was no
doubt in the mind of a single juror.
During the trial of this case crowds
of people were visitors of the circuit
court room, and it was no surprise to
find the name of Geo. Backer coupled
with that of the defendent. In fact,
the testimony showed that this Geo.
Backer, the man who resided alone in
shack near Bethel, and who had
"donetime'' in states prison some
years ago for stealing butter from a
Marshtield creamery, was a close as
sociate of Nj. L. Ohnstadt, and the
circumstances surrounding the case
tended to prove that Backer was more
or less of an influence in the life-at
least the recent life-of the accused
man. Backer was with him the night
he took the cigars. Backer was with
him on his trip to Minneapolis
Backer returned with him after help
ing to dispose of the stolen goods, and
it was Backer who was entrusted with
his private affairs while he was away.
In fact the life of the one as revealed
by the trial of this case, was almost a
counterpart of that of the other.
On this trial also it developed that
Ohnstadt came from a family of
well respected, well meaning, and
fairly well educated people. In the
religious colleges of the country he now
has three brothers studying. Also one
brother, doctor, resides in ST. Paul.
and it was only to be expected that
they should not believe him guilty of
the crime with which he was charged.
Wednesday, May %. Judge Webb
called both of these men before him
to receive their sentence. One found
guilty" by jury, the other guilty
for the second time, by his own plea.
One man twenty-eight years old, the
other twenty-six. Backer, Judging
from the hardened cynicism showing
in his face, and his contenance all a
flame with hardened smiles, received
his Give years in states prison, with
out so much as turning color. Ohm
stadt however, protested his innocence
when asked if he had anything to say
and as the ''three years in states
prison. fell from the judges lips, his
face turned ashy pale. AS he turned
to go and was met by the extended
hand of friend who waited in the
court room nearly two hours to say
goodby, he broke down and sobbed
ike child.
There is of course a moral to every
event in life. In the present case
there is little hope apparently, for
the man who at twenty-eight can face
a states prison sentence of five years,
on his own confession of guilt, with a
smile; but the man who feels the dis
grace which attaches to such culmi-
nation of his tweny-six years "may yet
seek to lead useful life," as the
Judge who sentenced him declared.
Immediately following the sentenc-
ing of Ohnstadt and Baker, Judge
Webbcalled Albert Krutz. 1t will be re.
called that Krutz is the eighteen year
old lad who criminally assaulted an
eight year old Kellner girl recently.
The penalty for this crime is from
five to thirty years, and Judge Webb
let the prisoner off easy with the
minimum term of FIVE years in states
prison.