Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1921-08-04
HEARING OF
CHIEF PEL7'0N

hall. City Attorney ". H. Cady pre-
sided at the meeting and the Bara
boo police commission acted as. the
jury. The commission is composed
of Will OFT, Oscar Altpeter, Il. r
Deppe, F.. M. Arndt, and r. t. Peck
The chambers were crowded with
spectators and many we're obliged
to seek standing room only. The hear
ing was called. to. order at 1880 and
was adjourned at 10: 80. All but two
Of the witnesses called on were. there
to testify. The hearing has been con
tinued to Monday, August s.
w. T.. Marriott and M. H. Mould
were the witnesses not present.
: The attorney for the defence made
continuous objections to testimony
submitted by witnesses at first and
ruling was made that all charges
intending to show the incompeteney
of the defendant and leading to the
general charge could be submitted by
citizens called to the stand. Some
of the material submitted by those
called was found to be heresay and
no definite proof of foundation.
The attorney for the plaintiff sta
ted the charge in the case, inability
on the part of Chief Pelton to hold
the Office and added that they be-
lieved he was not the right man for
that particular position
G. S. Johnston Testifies
E. S. Johnston, cashier of the First
ational bank, was the first one call
ed to testify. Mr.. Johnston stated that
Chief Pelton looked at the note sent
by D. H. Rivers to the cashier of
the bank as practical joke. He adj
ded that Rivers was apprehended by
Detective VIM. Burke and later SEN
fenced to two years in the peniten-
.tiary Rivers sent a note to the: bank
demanding that the officers of the in
stitution deliver $4,000 at certain
place. The letter also contained a
threat if they did not comply.
The above witness also stated The
police officer does nothing to curb
fast driving up Ash street. n
He also testified that young men
intoxicated at football games at the
local fairgrounds were not taken
into custody.
Mrs. Emery Stiles was next called.
The witness said she was insulted
by Chief Pelton when reprimanded
for driving on the wrong side of
the street with her horse and buggy.
A. Ch Reisz was next brought to.
the stand. Mr.. .Reisz stated the chief
was tardy in acting on the suspected
burglar charge when Chief of Police
Curry of Portage notified him that
a Portage jewelry thief was believ-
ed to have gone to Baraboo The thief
was in the Reisz place of business
and offered to sell some jewelry. The
burglar was a. girl, who was later
caught at Elroy.
Mr. Reisz also testified nothing was
done to stop an ice slide in his neigh
borhood that caused his wife to
slip and fall on the sidewalk.
Ill., Letter Not Admitted
Chief of Police Curry of Portage
was not able to be present and act
as, a witness in the case. He submit
ted a letter but it was not admitted
as testimony and placed on file.
James Fay stated he had a con-
troyersy with Chief Pe1ton. Mr.. Fay
charged the chief with threatening
slap him. The argument was based on
the officer refused to stop children
from sliding in front of Mr.. Fay's
premises, it was revealed in the tes-
timony. ,av,e a,-a, $50. s
Former Lieut.. Gov. 3. F. Diithmar,
when called on, told of his experiences
with Chief Pe1ton when his house,
was robbed. He also stated that Mr.
Pelton did not act in the. matter as
far las he knew. f. 20
= &c. Peck. former Third ward merj
chant, when called on, testified con-
corning the robbery at his store in
1912.
He stated for several days after.
the occurrence he did not see any
of the police officers near his place
to look into the matter. Sheriff Leon
ard Meyer was the only officer that
responded.
Mrs. Gus Ringing stated the de-
PENDANT shrugged his shoulders when
asked what could be done to appre
bend the parties who. made themsel-'
yes at home in her house while she
was away. She also testified that five
years ago local party, now deceased,
was suspected of taking many use
full articles out of her cellar. The
thief was never brought to justice.
she said
French Robbery Reviewed
City Engineer II. E. French, when
called, said that as far as he knew
there was no definite action taken by
the police force to apprehend the
parties who burglarized his resi-
dnnon Mr. EHronoh stat ho 0ffnrad