Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1920-02-26
JOHNSON CASE.
JUVENILE COURT
One of the Traedies of Sauk Coun-
ty Being Disposed Of through
Legal Process

One of the tragedies of Sauk coun
! ty is the Johnson case of the town OF
Merrimack, which has been in the
courts for some weeks and will not
reach final conclusion until some
disposition has been made CT the
father, now in the county Jail. His
case will come before Judge James
| O'Neill at the March term.
! On Thursday Judge August c.
Hoppmann of the municipal court at
Madison presided in the Juvenile
court here, in place of Judge James III.
Hill. The hearing was to determine
whether or not the mother, Mrs.
James Johnson, was competent to
care for her children. This question
had arisen when the mother was ex-
amined in court some days ago, her
case being continued for the time
being. The testimony taken at the
hearing for the children will be sub
mitted to Judge Hoppmann and he
will then decide.
Former Husband A Suicide
Mrs. Johnson has been twice marri-
ed Her first husband was Gustave
June z, 1912 The death certificate
filed in the courthouse states the
cause of his death was unknown but
the undertaken says it was evidently
a case of poison. He was buried in
Oak Hill cemetery.
- fw
is married and two of the children,
incompetent, are in the home at
Chippewa Falls. There are Two 9TH
er children, daughters, by Mr.. and
Mrs. Raatz and two children by Mr..
and Mrs. Johnson. 1t is these four
over which the hearing took place On
Thursday. There is a farm Of $50
acres, in which the mother has
dover right, but this farm should pro
vide proper care for the chiltlen. The
mother and children have boon at
Baraboo hotel while the case Las been
pending. Poor Commissioners ". II.
Ode claimed the children we've nc
elected and this brought the matter
into court.
The decision will either take the
children from the mother or leave
them with her.
Father With the Sheriff
Not many days ago daughter,
Miss Meta Raatz, died and this
brought the authorities into the case.
It appeared the step-father in way
was responsible for her death and he
is held on serious charge. II is
alleged previous to the death Of this
daughter an infant child mai bcea
buried in the garden, child of Mrs.
Johnson, no doctor being notified and
no birth certificate being filed, ac-
cording to law.
Besides the above there is said to
be a child with the -parentage in
question.
1t seems to be one of those cases.
an official says, where it has been i'm
possible to- find way out of the d1tii-
Guilty on account of tour present laws
but one in which drastic action should
have been taken long ago The Off
ciaI believes, with many other peo-
pie, that society should be so regulat-
ed the home at Chippewa Falls is
not crowded with those who are in-
competent to play their parts in the
world drama.
In the meantime, while the father
is being held and the mother detain
ed, the family broken up, care is
being given to the stock on the farm:
until such time that matters can be
definitely and satisfactorily adjusted.
Among the witnesses at the hearing
were Poor Commissioner W. IT. Ode,
Sheriff William Tarnutzer, Justice
Adolph andre, County Nurse Miss
Palma Grain, DR.. Fl. J. Irwin, Or. Ed
ward McGrath, Mr.. and Mrs. !f'hnBon,
Robert Fogle, Mr.. and Mrs. ]. Roach,
and two Of the children.
The county was represented by Dis
trict Attorney H. J. Bohn and the
Children by Ruggles & Eyenscn.