The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-02-16
Mike Johnovicz Found Not
Guilty by Jury Late Sat-
urday Night.
STEWART REAL FRESH
Defense Attorney Says Things
to District Attorney and
Fight Is On.

torney Symmonds and Attorney
Calvin Stewart enlivened the trial of
Mike Johnovicz of 33 North Main
street, which ended in an acquittal late
Saturday night. Johnovicz was charg-
ed with illegal possession of moonshine
following a police raid on the prem
Uses August 5th, when quart of
moon was captured.
The liquor trial was the usual kind,
testimony by police officers and denial
by the defense, but the amusing part
for the audience was when the attor-
neys in opposition crossed swords. So
pronounced was the hostility that the
real issue at stake was almost lost
sight of, as the court room was trans
formed into a miniature boxing ring.
Women Witnesses Start Trouble.
Two witnesses called by the\ state
started the annoyance for Mr.. Sym
monds. They were Martha Constantine
and Christina Ladewig, who testified
that they were in the saloon at 33
North Main street on the evening of
the police raid. Incidentally, while on
the witness stand, the women gave a
vivid description of the operations of
the police in making a raid.
"While we were there" testified
Martha Constantia, "Charley Rock
came in and in such rush that it
gave me an awful scare. l thought
something had happened"
The women testified that they had
entered the place to inquire about some
premises that were for rent. Both tes-
tilted that they had not seen the de-
PENDANT Johnovicz in the saloon. This
testimony obviously netaled the dis
trict attorney, and he sought to ply the
ladies with various questions which
the attorney for the defense declared
was cross examination.
This is Where the Play Begins.
81 object" cried Stewart. ''The dis
trict attorney cannot cross examine
his own witnesses"
Stewart also objected to the pro-
longed examination.
81 don't want this record so large"
he said, 'that it's going to cost $500
to get transcript. Let's get on with
this case"
"Thats what I'm trying to do, your
honor" cried the district attorney.
"When he quits snorting and blowing
around here, well proceed"
, Stewart retortedy with an animated
version that startled the spectators in
the court room. av
The district attorney declared him.
self surprised at the testimony given by
his own witnesses and asked the courts
leave to cross examine them.
Martha Contantina and Christina
Ladewig told me different story" he
said, "and l am surprised at their tes-
timony given here. 81 beg leave to
crosg-examine."
"That's what you have been doing
ever since they came on the witness
stand," declared Stewart.
Judge Slater said that the state
ought not be permitted to cross ex-
anime its own witnesses unless they
showed themselves hostile. He held
that the two women had not showed
themselves clearly hostile witnesses
and denied the request of the state.
In the closing argument the dis
trict attorney appealed to the reason
Of the jury not to regard The by-play
in the court room which he held was
beneath their consideration, the only
issue being whether Johnovicz was
guilty or not.
Stewart in his closing argument once
more attacked the prosecution in a
manner that was well-nigh rude, MAX
ing several personal reflections upon
the district attorney. The latter
sought TO block this sort Of argument,
but Judge Slater held that an attorney
was entitled to argue without Interrupt
ton and over-ruled the objection.
The case went to the jury at $50
o'clock Saturday afternoon and about
$3.50 o'clock verdict Of not guilty
was brought in.
Meanwhile Martha Constantia and
Christine Ladewig had left the court
room.
Goodbye Queenic," said the former
to the latter.
Goodbye, kid" was the reply.