The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-08-24

A new attack to rid Kenosha county
Of the necessity of paying the expens
es Of some of its citizens serving. long
terms in the House of Correction in
Milwaukee was launched at Madison
this morning when applications were
made to have Governor John ]. Blaine
grant free pardon to Nathan Gordon
and Joseph Filko. The Filko applica-
tion is made by Attorney John ]. Kri-
EEK of Milwaukee while the request
for a pardon for Nathan Gordon is
sponsored by Attorneys Ruppa and
Bortin Of Milwaukee, the attorneys
who were successful in securing the
release of Joseph Ruppa some time
ago. 1t is stated in the application
that both requests for pardon will be
presented to the governor on the
morning of September 9th, the day aft
er the primary election and the first
day available for such appearances be-
fore the governor following his recent
order that he would hear no pardon
applications until after the primary
election is over. Several other re-
quests of Kenosha inmates of the
House of Correction are slated to be
taken up by the governor on the same
date.
Expect Vigorous Opposition.
1t is expected that the requests for
the pardon Of Gordon and Filko will
be vigorously opposed by the local
court officials and that Judge Belden
will send a5statement to the governor
outlining the facts in each case and
protesting with all the vigor possible
against the issuance of any pardons.
Nathan Gordon was regarded as one
of the ring leaders in the liquor bust
ness in Kenosha and his name decor
ates~many indictments returned by the
grand jury in Kenosha county. He
drew next to the heaviest sentence i'm
posed by the court following the trial
of the cases here. Gordon did not
plead guilty to any of the charges
against him but was convicted on a
large number of counts following a
trial by jury which took up the time
Of the court for the better part of a
week.
Sent Up for Fifteen Months.
Gordon was convicted on charges of
having in his possession, transporting
and trafficking in Intoxicating liquors.
He was found guilty on seven counts
and on each count he was sentenced to
pay fine of five hundred dollars. In
addition the court imposed sentence in
the House of Correction to the extent
Of fifteen months. Gordon did not pay
the fine assessed by the court and un-
der the court order he must serve
some thirty months more for non-pay
ment of the fine. The appeal to the
governor, if granted release him from
the service of the remaining eight
months of his sentence and release
him from the payment of the fine. 1t
Is not known what will be argued in
the Gordon case. Gordon has been re-
ported to be wealthy and there has
been no claim that members of his
family have been in want" as a re-
suit of. his being punished by the
court. Gordon is the uncle of Harry
Gordon who received the longest SEN
tence imposed by the court and who
some time ago made an application for
a pardon. The supreme court denied
an application of Harry Gordon for a
writ of mandamus which was expected
to free him and the other Kenosha
prisoners. After this motion had been
denied Harry Gordon renewed his eff
forts to secure a pardon from the gov
ernor and his application is among
those pending.
Gordon Oldest Offender.
In point of years of age Nathan Cor
don was the oldest of the prisoners
sent to Milwaukee from Kenosha. 1t
is said that he has suffered great men
tai pain on account Of his incarnation
but that he has been a model prisoner
at the institution.
The application for Gordon is being
watched with Unusual interest by