The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-08-13
0verWorksd District AttorneyCon.
fined to His Bed Threatened
With Typhoid Fever
ARSON CASES ARE CONTINUED
May be Necessary for the County
Board to Name New Attorney to
Take Charge of Trial of
the Important Cases

Robert Verne Baker, the overworked
district attorney of Kenosha county,
has been forced to give up at last and
this afternoon he is confined at his
home on Durkee avenue and threatened
with typhoid fever. Inc report from
his home is that he may not be able to
be in his office again for many days.
The district attorney had been showing
signs of illness for several weeks and
Notwithstanding this fact he had in
sisted on Remaining at his Office in
order to get the facts in regard to the
burning of the fFFour Corners resort.
He has been at work practically con-
tinuously since the burning Of the place
and there is little doubt but that the
attack of fever from which he is
suffering was brought on by his close
following of this case. Mr.. Baker was
taken sick last Saturday evening and
has been suffering since from intense
weakness. Yesterday afternoon he ap-
peared in Justice McCarron IS court in
minor action for the state and was
so weak that he. informed the court
that he would have to be excused from
arguing the case. He went to his
home at once and has since been in
bed under the care of the physicians.
The illness Of the district attorney
forced continuance in the hearing of
I'D Ashman and Mike Griffin, the two
Milwaukee men, charged with arson
who were brought into court this morn
ing. It was expected that some sensa-
tienal revelations would be made in
connection with the case, but when the
case was called the severe illness of
the district attorney was announced
and w. J. Kershaw Of Milwaukee and
Calvin Stewart who appeared for the
defendants consented to a weeks ad-
journment of the hearing without any
question, The men were returned to
Jail under bonds of $4,000. It is very
doubtful if the district attorney will
be able to appear in court at the adj
journed date and it is thought that it
will be necessary for the County Board
to be called together in order to secure
the appointment of an assistant dis
trict attorney. The case has been en-
tirely worked upby District Attorney
Baker and Deputy State Fire Marshal
End Of Milwaukee and it is declared
that the interests Of the state will not
suffer through the illness of Mr.. Baker.
Deputy End was here this morning and
he stated that he would be ready to aid
any attorney named to prosecute the
cases in the name of the state. It
seems pretty certain that the condition
Of Mr.. Baker is such that it will be
impossible for him to go into hard
term of the Circuit Court. He has
large number Of important cases slated
for trial at the coming September term
and even if he should get out of bed
within the next two weeks it is pretty
certain that it will be impossible for
him to take care of these cases.
The condition of Mr. Baker is such
as to make his friends very uneasy and
they fear that it will be necessary for
HIM to take rest Of several months.
The illness of the district attorney
has given the men who were supposed
to be connected with the burning Of
the resort a breathing space and it is
feared that before he is able to- get
out again a great effort will be made
to get rid of all the evidence against
the people mentioned in the case,