The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-05-12
VERDICT MAY SEND TO PRISON
Attorney for Buttles Announces That
They Will Ask for a New Trial and
Defendant is Released on Increased
Bonds.

John J. Buttles, widely known in
Chicago and in Wisconsin as a real
estate dealer, was convicted of con-
spiracy and of obtaining a deed to
valuable property by Misrepresentation
by jury in the circuit court just be-
fore eleven o'clock Friday evening.
Buttles and his attorney were in court
when the verdict was rendered and
while no motions to set aside the ver-
dict or to ask for new trial were
made at that time Attorney Peter
Fisher who appeared for Buttles gave
notice that he would make such mo-
tions later and Judge Belden suspend
ed sentence pending the hearing of
the argument on these motions. But
ties bond was increased to $4,000 and
it was promptly furnished and he re-
turned to Chicago today.
The verdict of the jury was reach
ed after more than ten hours of wrang-
the jury by the court made possible
action on each of the counts alleged
against Buttles. The first count was
that of conspiring with Christian H.
Mohr to secure deed to the property
of Charles and Wilhelmina Steinke
through fraudulent representations and
on this count the jury found the de-
PENDANT guilty soon after it was given
the case. The second count in the
information was that he secured the
deed to the Steinke property by gross
Misrepresentation and it was on this
count that the jury stuck. The third
count was that he had secured the deed
to the property by false pretenses and
on this count the jury agreed on an
early ballot.
1t is said that the jury quibbled for
hours over the second count and that
at one time the jury stood nine to
three for the conviction Of the defen-
dant on this count. just after seven
O'Clock last night the jury came into
court and asked that the instructions
of the court be read to them again and
after this reading Of the instructions
the jury retired and two hours later
reached a verdict. Hopeful of YER
dict Judge Belden had remained at the
court room.
Buttles had evidently expected YER
dict against him when the jury remain
ed out for so many hours, but he gave
no open sign of his feelings over his
conviction. It is certain that there
will be great legal battle over the
case and should the motions of the
attorney for the defendant be turned
down it. is pretty certain that the case
will go to the supreme court of the
state.
Under the conviction by the jury
Buttles may be given several sentences.
The penalty for conspiracy under the
Wisconsin law. may be a Jail sentence
of not more than year or fine of
not exceeding $780, Under the charge
Of securing the deed to the property
by false pretenses Buttles may be sent
to prison for from one to five years,
confined in the county Jail for not more
than one year or given fine of from
5000 to $500.
Buttles was arrested more than six
months ago on the complaint of
Charles and Wilhelmina Steinke, form
er residents of the town of Bristol,
who charged him with securing deed
to their property in that town by false
representations Christian H. Mohr,
a Wheaton, I'll. man, was alleged to
have been in the deal with Buttles, but
he turned states evidence and was one
Of the principal witnesses for the state
at the trial. The case was one of the
most bitterly contested cases ever heard
in the courts of Kenosha county
AUTOISTS TAKE WARNING