Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1921-08-11
HOW. IS DISMISS
ACTION in CASE
OF S. A. PELTON
From Tuesdays Daily

Chief of Police S. A. Pelton was con-
tinued Monday evening at the city
hall Monday, August 1, the case was
opened and continued for Monday,
August 8. The action involves the dis
charge of Chief Pelton.
When the hearing opened Monday
night the attorney for the defence
motioned to have the action dismls-
sed againsed Mr.. Pelton on the ground
of insufficient evidence and because
of the fact that Roy T. Peck, one of
the commissioners who sat in judge
Enent was related to one Of the petit
TONERS, F. G. Peck. The attorney de-
sired to have him removed as one of
the Judges. Both claims were denied
by the commission.
E. S. Johnston, was recalled to the
stand to testify concerning the letter
received by the First National Bank
from D. H. Rivers. He was examined
and cross examined.
New Witnesses Called
New witnesses who appeared on
the stand include: J. Won Orden, presi-
dent of the Bank of Baraboo; M. II.
Mould, former member of the Pc
lice commission, and president of the
First National bank; Lee Jefferies,
alderman; G. w. Andrews, T. M. Mould
and F. E. Settergren. The witnesses
testified concerning Mr.. Pelton much
the same as those who took the stand
the first night. M. H. Mould was of
the opinion that the chief was too
old man for that position. Jacob
Van Orden, thought the officer was
inefficient in case of an emergency.
Lee Jeffries stated he did not shout
der the responsibility.
Defence to Dismiss Act on
The attorney for Chief of Police
Pelton again motioned to have the
action dismissed on the grounds of
insufficient evidence after the witnes-
SEES were heard and again the motion
was denied by the commission
Chief on the Stand
Chief PelUon was called to the
stand by his attorney after all the
witnesses had been heard and gave
his side of the case Mr. Pelton stated
he thought he did all that was in his
power concerning the threatening let
ter received by the First National
Bank in as much as members of the
bank did not desire a uniformed man
on the case. The chief also related
his attempts to apprehend the gull
ty parties in many of the other recent
rObberies. The question of cases which
he had taken to the court of H. J..
Halsted was brought out and the
chief told of some 500 cases taken to
the court of Police Justice VIM. Rit-
chic and Justice Adolph andre, during
his term in Office.
After a cross examination by the
attorney for the plaintiffs the case
was continued until this evening at
1880
(From Wednesdays daily
Tuesday evening at the city hall the
Police commission of Baraboo sat as
judges for the third time to listen to
the continued case of S. A. Pelton,
chief of police in BarabOo.
The BaraboO chief is charged with
much but it is offered in many instan-
ces only as heresay testimony and can
not be of use in a court proceeding v.
Fl. Cady presided at the meeting Tues
day evening as also on the previous oc-
-casions.
The next hearing was set for Friday
evening when it is expected the affair
will be brought to finish. Council for
both sides have agreed to file briefs
for the next meeting. The briefs will be
short and contain principally citations
from the Wisconsin statutes. al
Tuesday evenings proceedings passed
off smoothly with the exception of an
occasional tilt between attorneys on
some points where "irrelevent, incom-
petent and immaterial" or mot the
best evidence" came in.
Attorney G. NJ Hill for the defence
advanced the idea that another patrol
man should be added to the force this
permitting Mr.. Pelton to remain at the
central office where he can be located
Witnesses For Mr.. Pelton
Chief S. A. PeltOn, DR.. L. w. Sayles,
Patrolman ]. E. Buckley. Patrolman
Frank Schuster, ex-Ald. A. P. Cheek,
w. d. Stanley, A. Dixon, Sam Neitzel,
Under Sheriff VIM. Welk, DR.. A. L.
Farnsworth, Patrolman Otto Harmed.
Dist. Atty. H. J. Bohn, City Treasurer
John Fiber, DR.. Edw McGrath, Sheriff
Herman Neitzel, Chief of Police Curry,
Portage; Street Commissioner John
Steinbrink, Police Justice w Richtie,
and Carl Isenberg, Ex-Sheriff w. Tar
nutzer was called last, but was out of