The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-30
COURT WILL HELP
VIRGINIA BROOKS
Get Rid Of the Grafters in
West Hammond.-Dras-
tic Action Is Taken.
palladium Specially

CHICAGO, Aug. 30-Miss Virginia
Brooks and some of her West Ham
mond allies told Judge Owens in the
County court yesterday about some of
the oddities in her town that for sew
eral years have dispended Justice"
When the testimony had been taken
Judge Owens said he did not know
whether to laugh or weep.
Then he authorized the filing of in
formations charging Frank Green and
Charles Wittenburg, justices of the
peace at West Hammond and Burn
ham, respectively, with malfeasance in
office, neglect of duty, extortion, and
several other offenses.
The testimony was so striking that
the Judge and assistant county attor
ney Thomas L. Johnson decided to call
to account all the city officials of West
Hammond and the village authorities
of Burnham. Ducas tecum subpoenas
were issued for them.
Continuance to Investigate Records.
The case against Green and Witten-
berg was continued for two weeks to
give the county officials time to inves-
tigate the records.
According to the report of an &C
counting concern, the police records
show that during the last year fifty-one
cases have been dismissed. The book
of Justice of the Peace Green show
that 127 cases were dismissed. The
police books say seven were held un-
der bonds. Green's books say four.
The police records show that 131
prisoners were released on@payment of
costs; Green's books say eighty-three
paid costs. The police say forty-seven
paid fnes. Green's books say forty paid
fines. The police books show three
cases were nonsuited. The magis-
trate's books say there were seven.
Assistant County Attorney Johnson
said the accounting firm found $164 of
funds unaccounted for by Green.
Forget Their Books In Same Place.
When the proceedings against Green
and Wittenberg began Judge Owens
discovered the two men had suffered
a lapse of memory and had forgotten
to bring along their books, although
mas duces tecum. a-,
had forgotten their official documents
in the same place the office of their
counsel so deputy sheriff had no diff
hculty in bringing the records into
court, where they were impounded
The afternoon was devoted to the tel
ling of strange tales.
Once upon time, according to Miss
Brooks there was a bachelor in West
Hammond named Henry Wolf, who
owned a neat little cottage surrounded
by well kept lawn There was an old
fashioned pump in the front yard, and
the children of the neighborhood Wis
tied VOLTS lawn and pump and water
ed the premises freely every day.
Battle Over Pump Handle.
The water washed most of the grass
away, and the children trampled down
the rest. Wolf fenced in the pump. The
children tore down the fence. Wolf re-
moved the pump handle.
Some of the children happened to
have fathers who were strong politi-
clans. Wolf was arrested.
"Any man who will do such a mean
thing has no love for children Miss
bTOOhS quoted ITeen as saying. Il Will
fine this man $25 and COSTS
This fine never was paid because
Wolf. appealed, and the case never was
taken up in the higher courts.
"On several occasions when the dis
orderly houses Of Hammond have been
raided," said Miss Brooks, "the in
mates have pleaded guilty and have
been fined 81 and costs, the costs
amounting to 81. But when it came to
the owners of the house, Justice Green
has dismissed them without any fine.
He said there was no evidence to
prove that the house was used for i'm
moral purposes. although the girl in
mates just pleaded guilty"
Again Tells Of Sonnastine Death.
Miss Brooks told the story of Mar
tin L. Sonnastines death once more
He died on June 16. The man was in
the best of health on that day when
he entered the saloon of VIII Stevens.
A few minutes later he was carried out
unconscious. His skull was fractured.
his teeth knocked out and his body
covered with bruises.
The man died in a few minutes A