The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-10-06
(By Associated Press Leased Wire.l

(By Associated Press Leased Wire.l
Madison, Wis.-Martin Lemberger,
father of Annie Lemberger, seven year
old Madison girl who was killed here
in ta4s, was iseszssd tS.ss gE ng2 LII
wsk,rant charging second degree
murder. The warrant was sworn out
in the Dane county superior court by
Judge A. C. Thompson.
This action came as the climax of
the hearing on application of John A.
Johnson for pardon, after serving ten
years in the state prison for murder
of the girl, whom he had confessed
killing. o. A. Stolen, attorney for
Johnson, said that he was prepared to
prove that the father of the girl had
caused her death by blow, while in
toxicated, and that Johnson was inno-
cent of the crime for which he has al
ready served ten years in prison.
The big crowd which packed the SEN
ate chamber of the capitol as the sec
ond week of the hearing opened, burst
out in cheering when the warrant was
served on Lemberger as he sat in
the witness stand.
Lemberger on Witness Stand.
In answer to a question of Attorney
Stolen, asking whether he knew how his
daughter had come to her death, Mr..
Lemberger had just replied that he had
no knowledge. Following this state
ment on his part the attorney said
that he was prepared to prove that the
father had killed his daughter, and
asked the sheriff to serve the warrant
charging second degree murder.
Mrs. May Sorenson, neighbor of the
Lembergers and friend of Mrs. Lem
berger was the witness who testified
that for ten years she had kept silent
the truth concerning the murder of
Annie, fearing that Mr.. LemDerger
would carry out his threat to "choke
her to death if she ever told anybody"
She said that on the night of the
killing the husband had sent the girl
to get liquor for him. On returning
she is said to have tipped over the
pail, which angered her father, who
then struck her on the head with a
stove poker
The girl was dead before she was
placed on her bed, she said Mrs. Lem
berger had afterwards told her. Her
night clothes were then burned, and
her body carried to the lake.
Says Priest is in Kenosha.
The story of the happening as
known by Mrs. Sorenson was told to
Attorney Stolen in anonymous letter
received last week. She said at the
hearing this morning that she had been
afraid to sign her name, fearing that
threat of Lemberger would be carried
out. She explained that she had con-
fessed to Father ]. N Koe15er of the
St. James Catholic church, Madison,
who is at present in Kenosha, her
knowledge of the affair.
(Dogskin) johnson has served for
ten years in the Waupun state prison
for killing Annie Lemberger in 1911.
His confession was made, he has since
maintained, because of fear that mob
was about to lynch him for the crime,
and then repudiated his confession as
soon as he had left the city.
During those ten years in prison he
has continually maintained his inno-
cence but no effort to pardon him was
made until an application was placed
before Governor Blaine two months
ago. At the original hearing on this
application the governor decided on a
public hearing, since the man had been
! sant 70 nrison for life on his own
confession and without a trial.
Hearings for Week.
The hearings have been held during
! The last week and were resumed today
before Court Commissions Rufus B.
Smith. Mr. Lemberger, Mrs. LENDER
ger and their son have sat throughout
the session and have stoutly maintain
Continued on page 81