The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-03-27
SON ONLY REPRIMANDEO
In Sentencing Pioneer for Attempting
to influence Juror, Judge Belden
Declares Case Most Reprehensible
one-Juror Is Honored by Court.
(From Monday s Daily,


Christopher D. Holt, confessed him
self guilty to charges of criminal con-
tempt of court in the circuit court just
before noon today and Judge Belden
sentenced him to pay a fine of $3.50,
this being the limit fine under the
statute. Frank Holt, who had been
cited with his father on the same
charge, was released with reprimand
and Edward and Earl Holt, the two
grandsops, who had also been connect
ed with the case, appeared in court
and told the whole circumstances at
tending the writing of the letter to
Juror Edward Holloway. After their
stories had been told in a straightfor-
ward manner Judge Belden excused
them from blame and compimented
them on the manner in which they had
presented the facts to the court.
The sentence of Holt brought one of
the most dramatic incidents seen in
the circuit court in Kenosha county
for years and the court room was
packed to the doors at the time sent
ence was imposed. Before taking up
the matter Judge Belden examined
each of the members of the jury which
had been called to hear the charges
brought against Holt in connection
with his alleged exposing of poison for
dogs. All of the jurors declared that
they believed that they were able to
proceed with the case regardless of the
revelations that had been made At
torney R. v. Baker, who appeared for
the defendant, declared that he would
not permit the case to continue under
the circumstances with the jury and
after the jury with the exception of
Edward Holloway, had been excused,
the court took up the hearing of the
contempt charges. One by one the
members of the Holt family were call
ed to the stand and they told the story
of the writing of the letter. At last
the aged defendant was called and he
appeared defiant. He declared that he
was willing to take upon himself the
blame for the entire occurrence and
his only plea was for a prompt dis
posal of the case. Judge Belden at
once took up the matter and in given
Holt the limit sentence under the
statute, he said:
Upon the evidence presented, it is the
Judgment of the court that you, Chris
topher D. Holt, are guilty OF contempt
Of this court in that and because you
did knowingly Intentionally, willful-
ly and corruptly, cause communication
with and did communicate with juror
Edward Holiday, duly empanelled
and sworn in this court to try the
cause State of Wisconsin VS.. Christop-
her D. Holt, in which cause you are
the defendant, soliciting said juror to
improperly exercise his personal in
fluence in your behalf with and upon
the jury duly empanelled and sworn to
try said cause, thereby intending and
corruptly designing to corrupt said
81 .pd said jury and to impede, OBJ
struct, pervert and prevent the due adj
ministration Of justice and the due,
orderly and honorable conduct of this
court in said cause.
Your offense is the more reprehen-
sible because you solicited and in
fluenced your young grandsons to CO.
operate with and do for you this dis
honorable thing, thus debating to and
causing them to do that which their
own consciences and sense Of honor
told them was irregular and wrong,
that which you know was dishonorable
and corrupt, and which they did, in
spite of their natural repugnance there
to, because you, who should have been
to them an example of uprightness and
honor, influenced them to do. Shame
on you for it.
Your offense is the more reprehen-
sible because it was knowingly and
willfully, done, with appreciation Of its
improperly and dishonor, directly in