The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-03-09
Not Pleasant to be Charg-
ed With Murder He De-
clares Today.
SMALL TOWN STUFF"
Prisoner in Interview Tells of
His Arrest in Chicago and Is
Confident of Release.

"That's not the hand killed Charles
Pacini with" cried Emil Wanatka this
morning as he received visitor on the
second floor of the county Jail and
shook hands. He laughed a bit but
was serious too, and he sat down di-
rectly at the little table and talked
it over.
II can't say that like the position
l am in" he continued soberly. me,
body would. I know that I shall free
myself of this charge, but I shall be
marked for life. There will always be
some people that will think that be-
cause could get a couple of lawyers
and had a few nickels, l crawled out of
it, but they will believe that 1 am
guilty"
Insurance Men Probed.
Wanatka said that he had learned
that the insurance companies were
working ON the case and trying to find
out whether he had any connection
with the murder.
at was about eight or nine months
ago that they called on me and asked
all sorts of questions. But the first
that l heard that was wanted in Ke-
nosha was at o'clock on Tuesday
evening week ago, when somebody
called me by telephone. l came home
at 1880 and said to my wife, 4 have
some news for you When she asked
what it was, told her that they had
warrants for my arrest in Kenosha on
the charge Of having murdered Charley
Facini.
"Of course she took it hard, but l
told her not to worry and said that l
would go to Kenosha the first thing
in the morning. 1 went to bed and
slept and was awakened by the police
at the door at $3.50 in the morning.
1t was the Chicago police, or at least
l thought it was. There were four of
them in plain clothes, and thought it
was the regular night squad down
there. Two Of them were Rock and
Meissner, but l didn't know it then.
"They got me out of bed and com
menced questioning me about the car
had. l told them it was a StudeA
baker six, 1920 model, and l had just
bought it that AFTERNOON. They wanted
to know how much | had paid for it.
and l told them $500.
"'Well, it's stolen car they said,
and you have to come down to thS
police station
81 felt nervous and almost in sfchill.
1t seemed like bad dream. never
connected it with the telephone cab i
had received and didn't think of that
even. 1t just seemed as if l was being
bounded. l said that the man l bought
the car of was worth about $4,000 or
100000 and it was funny if he'd have
stolen car, and l suggested that we
go right down to his house to clear
the matter up. No, it's stolen car
and the chief wants to see you,' they
said, and we drove down to the station
and on the way they kept asking about
the car.
"When we got to the station, MIR.
Symmonds was there. He pointed his
arm straight out at me. You've got
the same shirt on that you wore when
you killed Charley Pacini!' he cried.
I can't tell you how 1 felt. was so
relieved. l saw now what it was all
about and l braced right up. why,
you're mistaken I said, I'm a regular
fellow. own four shirts!' They told
me that l was charged with the Pacini
murder and | said, i was afraid it was
something serious. I knew there was
a warrant for me on the murder
charge
"You lie!' Mr.. Symmonds cried.
You see, he said to the others, he's
lying alreadyi'
'Impossible!" Cries District Attorney.
81 told them that I knew about it at
o'clock, and the district attorney said
it was impossible. He said that no
body knew but himself and the men
with him. l told him that it was out
in the o'clock edition in Kenosha and
that the whole town knew Of it. AS
the district attorney still cried I'M
possible!' l said I'd show him the
paper as soon as we got to kenosha.
Lie NUAASu dolUS " CdIh w lHe OCheE
Kenosha men, as if he couldn't believe
it but wondered if it could be so.
"They wanted to know whether l
would come with them or wait for the
extradition papers. They said it might
take three or four days to get them.
I said I was willing to come along be-
cause I had intended to come to Ke-
nosha anyhow, when 1 heard what I
was charged with.
I'm Kenosha the district attorney
came to me and asked about the fruit
boat l worked on. He wanted to know
where we ate and what we ate, and
about peeling potatoes. Suddenly he
pulled out knife, showed it to me
and said, There's the knife you killed
Charley Pacini With / don't know
whether l laughed or not, but I sud
denly felt like it. 1t seemed so funny
just then, the way he did it. He
spread the knife on his hand and
leaned over and looked into my eyes.
To see how I would take it. of course
ooh, that's pretty small-town stuff,
don't you think it is? He had forgot
ten himself and / reminded him of it.
You're mistaken, Mr.. Symmonds,'
said, 'Pacini was shot That seemed
to hold him for while, and after a
bit he turned to the secretary and
asked him if he wanted to ask anything
and Meissner said No"