The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-02-02
(From Fridays daily.l

Joseph Meyer former sheriff of Ke-
nosha county, was found guilty on four
counts Of taking brides from Louis
Schrayer for the purpose Of granting
the latter gambling protection, by a
verdict returned by the jury in the
case late Thursday afternoon. A de-
cision was reached after just one
hours deliberation. After a two days
trial, the case went to the jury at five
o'clock Thursday afternoon, and at six
o'clock they returned to the court room
with a. verdict, finding the defendant
guilty on all counts as charged. It
was rumored that the jury had reach
ed an agreement on the first ballot
taken
Meyer showed no emotion as the YER
dict was read in open court, but as he
left the court room, he remarked to
some acquaintances who stood in the
doorway, "Never mind, boys, this is
only the beginning" 1t was taken as
hint that Meyer would not rest with
the verdict but would seek to appeal
the case. f7'
The finding of, the jury in the case
came at the close Of days testimony
which showed up the glaring corrup-
tion of Kenosha county as it had ex-
listed prior to 1921, and showed the
work done by the grand jury and the
special prosecutor, Mortimer Walker,
in laying bare the evil and ferreting
out the evidence against the ill-doers.
Attorney for the defense, F. r. Case
of Chicago, sought as a weapon for
his argument, an attack on, the special
prosecutor and the special probe, de-
claring that Joseph Meyer had been
made goat Of.
"They picked out this man and made
a goat of him." declared Attorney Case,
in arguing to the jury, land he was
made goat by certain political ring
in your town. had meant to go into
this, but was denied the privilege by
the court"
The attorney for the defense re-
ferred to the time when he was pre-
vented from asking Meyer when testi-
flying on the witness stand questions
relative to visit to his house by Mr..
Walker and Mr.. Burgett, detective of
the Russell agency in the employ of
Kenosha county.
Just as Case said, that he was "de-
MED the privilege" Judge Belden in
tervened sharply.
"You are ALSO" Judge Belden said,
denied the privilege of making such
comments to the jury"
Chicago a City of Law-Breakers.
Special Prosecutor Mortimer Walker
in closing the argument for the state,
opened fire on the character of the
courts Of Chicago, where, he intimated,
Attorney Casesh had not learned to dis
tinguish good'efrom evil. The special
prosecutor, with strong case for the
state as the basis of his argument,
made one Of his most stirring pleas
for conviction
This is a plain case Of official cor
ruption,"' said Walker, "and one sell
dom equalled in this or any other
county. We have been shown the rot
tsnness that existed here under the
sworn to support the constitution and
the laws Of this state.
Are you to accept these laws as
they are, or the Interpretation put up
on them by this attorney from the
city of Chicago? He comes from a
place where the laws are violated and
the courts uphold the violations of the
law, Why? Because a custom of law
violation has grown up in his COM
munity which renders the officers help
less before the law breakers.
GOD grant that this never occur in
the city of Kenoshal If this should
happen, it were better that we close
our court houses. This is the sort of
thing that would happen if this de-
PENDANT has continued his reign.
Hard Time for Mr.. Case.
Counsel claims that there has been
some great conspiracy to undermine
this man and do him harm. If you
think that there is any justification
for any such statement, then condemn
the state, and let the defendant, no
matter what he has done, go free. No
charge could be made comparable to
it, and if you believe us guilty of this
charge, condemn US eternally by your
verdict"
The opening argument for the state
was made by District Attorney Frank
S. Symmonds, who summed up the tes-
timony of the different states wit
nesses, showing that the evidence had
proved the. states case beyond doubt.
BE described the collecting of bride