The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-03-23

| idAiIy IN the performance OF thelr
duties, and it was talked generally
upon the streets, in public places, and
i everywhere where the work of the
grand jury was mentioned, that some
of the officials of the city and county
OF Kenosha were more or less inti-
mately allied with those who Were
making it a practice and business of
violating the laws for profit.
Hard to Secure Evidence.
The numerous unsigned communi-
cations which came to US, of course,
were of little benefit in procuring
the definite evidence necessary to q
formal charge of criminal conduct.
Had the identity of the writers been
disclosed, there might have been some
information gained through them that
would have been benefit to the coun-
ty, but the fear which they exhibited.
IN failing and refusing to opened stand
back OF any support their statement
was characteristic of the attitude of
the great majority of the people of
the county, and little assistance was
given by citizens who would probably
boast that they knew all the time haw
bad things were, but who would alb
sent themselves from the jurisdiction
rather than be known as inforners or
witnesses testifying under oath to
actual facts.
Then, too, the work was impeded,
rather chan aided, by people who were
known to have knowledge of wrong
doing that was being sought by the
grand jury, but who refused to testify.
Many witnesses would withhold posi-
tive evidence and make indefinite,
evasive and unsatisfactory statements
to avoid disclosure of their names in
connection with charges against wrong
doors, and so made ineffective our eff
forts to learn the truth from many
who we were sure actually knew the
| truth.
Little Aid From Officials.
1t may also be said that little as
4 sistance came from any of the. public
officials of Kenosha County Certain
members of the Police Department
showed willingness to aid and gave
valuable assistance, but we felt that
we had scant support from public Off
Gals, and the only way evidence was
secured was by the most persistent and
determined efforts on the part of those
connected with the grand jury.
The only united effort on the part
of the public or any of the citizens
of Kenosha with reference to the work
of the grand jury seems to have been
on the part of those opposed to the
disclosure of facts that would support
indictments.
A great many of the citizens Of this
city who have profted by wrong-doing
and who have some financial and some
political strength were as one in their
determination to prevent evidence from
reaching the jury and in tdenouncing
and belittling its efforts, to the end
that it's work might prove Intellectual.
Had there been the same determined
effort on hte part Of those who might
have helped, the county would have
been saved expense, the proceedings,
we are satisfied, would have occupied
a much shorter period of time, and
the results would have been more gen.
eral and inclusive; and all who should
justly have shared the blame might
have been cTassed with those against
whom we were able to obtain the
proof.
Disregard for Law General
After listening to the mass of evil
dence producedS we are satisfied of
conditions generally, and we can but
conclude that the disregard for law
has been widespread and of long
standing 1t has so long been the Gus
tom in this connty1to make no effective
pretense to- enforce some criminal
statutes, that officials shared the same
spirit of lawlessness that actuated the
perpetrators of the offenses committed
at least to this extent, that some of
them seem to feel that they were justi-
fed in assuming and in acting upon
the assumption that the criminal code
of Kenosha County was deleted, for
many offenses openly committed went
unnoticed and unpublished.
The Fire and Police Commission is
not without its share of blame and
needs to earnestly devote its energies,
first to clearer understanding of it's
OullS5 anu pOWSISS anu SGCOuu, 10 d
more determined effort toward the
faithful performance thereof.
Police Department Disorganized.
We are satisfied from the evidence
that has reached our ears that the
Police Department has been in more
or less serious state Of disorganiza-
ton; and, while the department had
many men who could have been efficient
and capable officers, there was no or
ganization calculated to bring into
public use their bailities.
We are satisfied there are many in
Kenosha county today who believe that
it is out of the question to attempt
anything more than pretended and
half effectual enforcement of some
laws The law viloators have been
so numerous and so united that they
have constituted a political force in
Kenosha county, and we are satisfied
that they have not only influenced the
!, opinions of many citizens, but that
many times public officials have been
chosen with their aid and for the rea-
son that it was known in advance of
election, that once in office the men
supported for Office would prove tract
able;. and it would seem fair deduc-
~ IL