The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-12-26
COUNTY MUST PAY SIX PRISONERS
FOR BUILDING SITE BREAK OUT OF JAIL

Kenosha had its first real Jail de-
livery in years this morning just after
ten O'Clock when six prisoners, the
entire population of the county jail,
slipped out the front door of the build
ing and skedaddled. The men all made
good their escape and Sheriff Herr
mann, with just ten day period to
serve, sat back in his roller bearing
chair behind the desk and never made
move to catch them or to stop them.
In fact, as they went through the door
he shouted after them eco as far as
you like boys and Merry Christmas
to you He followed this up with
the injunction that the sheriff who was
to take possession of the Jail in the
near future might not look upon their
escape with the same feeling and he
urged every one of them not to come
back either this year or any other year.
The prisoners ploughed their way
through the heavy snow without even
trying to cover their traces and it was
evident that they were not afraid of
the sheriff and his aids Drawing the
wintery winds to search for them.
1t was not exactly an ideal day to
stage Jail delivery, but just the
same every one of the men who had
been in danger of spending Christ
mas behind the iron bars of Jail,
stuck for the big show.
Smiling over in the corner was the
chief alder and abettor of the jail de-
livery. 1t was Judge James E. Tully
who had turned the key in the lock
and had opened the way for the escape
of every man in Jail. 1t was his
Christmas present to the unfortunates
and it was the first time that he had
used his prerogative as judge of the
Municipal Court to issue free pardons
to men whom he had sentenced to dur
ance vile. The Judge sent for the
sheriff early this morning and asked
for list of all the prisoners in the
jail and for a statement Of the time
they had served and the time they
were expected to serve.
"Jake, how would you like to have
a Christmas all by yourself without
the prisoners butting in9" the judge
suggested. The sheriff admitted that
it was just the kind of a Christmas
that he was looking for and the judge
then announced that he had decided to
grant a pardon to every man serving
time in Jail. Just one of the men was
in for long term. He had served
but twenty of the sixty days imposed
upon him and he was the tickledest
man in town. He had been convicted
On charge of larceny and the court
held that in order for him to get out
he must sign pledge to pay twenty
five dollars to the Patriots Fund.
He not only signed the pledge but he
also declared with his right hand up
lifted that the twenty-five dollars would
be Forthcoming just as soon as he got
job and was able to save the money.
The same Judicial clemency was
shown to the prisoners who were
brought before the judge in the NUM-
cipal Court his morning. The minimum
fine was imposed in every case and in
cases where the unfor tunates declared
that they were unable to pay the fine
the judge directed an order be entered
showing that the fine and costs had
been RENTED by the court. All of the
men left the court room cheering for
the judge and declaring that while
they may be decidedly old in years
they were not too old to believe in
Santa Claus.