Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1920-02-26
BORCHARD TO
Be HELD FOR
MANSLAUCHTER
Warrant Issued for Arrest; Wit
nesses Tell OF Him Bringing
Booze to Party
madison Democrat Saturday

A sensational development in the
investigation of Eiiloy poison wine
Tragedy came late Friday afternoon
when Warrent for arrest OF frank
Borchard of Chicago, a Northwestern
road Daggageman, was issued by JUS
tice of the Peace H. II. Dunn.
Borchard will be held on charge
of manslaughter.
This step followed a solid day Of
John Doe hearings, in which Misses
Mable and Celia Larson and Mrs.
Victoria Larson, the latter of Madi-
son guests at the fatal party held
there last Saturday night, testified
that "Mr. Borchard left the guests
during the evening and returned
with a bottle of liquor"
The three girls told the same story
on the witness stand. They all
agreed that Mrs Nellie Ward, one
of the victims Of the poison liquor.
furnished some homemade wine
during the earlier part Of the even
ing.
'This liquor was drunk and Mr..
:Borchard left us for about half an
hour" Miss Mable Larson told the
court. when he came back, he
brought with him bottle OF what
we all thought was more wine. None
of us except Mrs. Ward and Mr..
Hart drank much of it."
Raymond Hart, son of John e..
Hart, president of the Elroy State
bank, was another victim of the
party.
When questioned where Borchard
went when he left the house after
the wine, Miss Larson said she was
under the impression that he went
to the depot or to his room.
More than 20 witnesses were
called during the day. ]. w. Wight
man, Fred B. Dix, local druggists,
and w. III. Cooper and e. H. Oehlers,
testified that Borchard did not pur-
chase alcohol at the stores. J.. A.
Crosby, general passenger agent, de-
MED that Borchard obtained liquor
Of any sort from the depot Various
night clerks at the passenger sta
ton, freight depots and express Of
fees were called to testify rs to
whether the liquor was obtained from
these places.
No light was shed on the source of
the wine and it is the general belief
there that Borchard brought il from
his room, having obtained it in Chi
cago while at the other end Of his
run.
Drs. F. Fl. Ferguson and C. A. ard
C. C. Vogel were called to the sta9G
this afternoon and testified that tie
deaths of Mrs. Ward and Mr. Hart
were due to wood alcohol POISONING ;.
Await Federal Action
Justice Dunn issued the warrant
for Borchards' arrest this afterncua,
following what Clinton G. Prica,
Juneau county district. attorney, de-
clared to be almost absolute proof
tina Borchard was "the guilty man. :"
Mr.. Price will not serve the warrant
at present, pending Intervention by
federal authorities.
G. E. Martin, federal prohibition
agent, who left there Wednesday FOR
Chicago to analyze the contents OF
two wine bottles used at he part3 !,
has not reported to Mr.. Price but il
is rumored here tonight that he viii
arrest Borchard tomorrow on d
warrant charging him with viola
ton of the federal prohibition law
Borchard is still i'll at his home
according to word received by Mr..
Price from Chicago police, and will
not be able to appear in court here
until early next week.
Trial To Madison?
1T is probable that federal author
tiles will take hand in the matter
before he is brought here for trail"
Justice Dunn said tonight. when
he is brought / will bind him over
to to the circuit court for trial"
Possibilities are that if federal
authorities bring Borchard to trial
he will be arraigned in Madison
Chief of Police Kelley denied TO-
night a report that he had intimated
that the poisoning was Intentional
He said he had no idea where the
rumor started and that he had en-
tertained no such thoughts.
The case will rest for several days
as far as local or state authorities
are concerned according to Nj.
Price. The John Doe proceedings
are ended and time will be given
the federal officers to intervene be-
fore active prosecution on behalf Of
the state begins.