The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-02-23

JuQRo LanQlS Will nave virtually
completed seventeen years as judge
for the Northern district Of Illinois
when his resignation becomes effec-
tive.
Many Rumors of Retirement.
Rumors of the resignation have been
current for months and intimate
friends have known for some time that
the action was imminent.
1t has been generally understood
that Judge Lands would have resigned
some time ago but for the attacks made
on him by Senator Dial of South Caro-
lima on the notoriety brought through
his handling the case of Willie Dalton,
II year old bank robber. On the
verge of resigning when these things
came up, the judge changed his plans,
informing friends that he would never
resign under fire" Senator Dial had
attacked the judge because Of the lat
ter's statement that bank officials some
times were partly responsible for rob
berries by boys because they did not
pay adequate salaries. Senator Dial
and Representative Welty of Ohio lat
er brought impeachment proceedings
against the judge, the representative
basing his case on the holding Of two
jobs by the judge. Both cases were
dropped.
Shortly before Dalton robbed local
bank, Judge Lands had made his re-
marks about the salaries of bank
clerks. Various newspapers quoted
Dalton as saying that he had commit
ed his robbery because he felt, through
Judge Lands remarks, that nothing
would be done to him. Dalton never
said this and later in signed state
ment said that he had never before
heard of Judge Lands remarks. The
story had spread, however, and the
Judge was severely condemned as hav-
ing made statements which were de-
clared to have influenced Dalton.
The judge became head Of organized
baseball shortly after the grand jury
investigation into the 1919 world
series scandal. He was offered $780,
600 year to take the position and
after several refusals, finally agreed
under condition that he remain on the
bench too. He insisted that his sal
ary be only S42,500, explaining that
his judicial income would bring the
total to $4,000. Although 56 years
old Judge Lands has always been
known as a boy at heart and lover
Of all forms of sport. The baseball
magnates urged him to re-organize
baseball "for the sake Of the Ameri-
can boy" and it was this plea which
finally won over the jurist.
Both Feared and Respected.
The resignation o. Judge Lands
takes from the federal bench one of
the most feared and at the same time
one of the most respected judges in
the country. His unique conduct in
court where he frequently took the
cases out of the lawyers hands and
took over the examination of witnesses
himself, caused him to be feared by
all law breakers. At the same time
his reputation of administering JUS
tice, regardless of the technicalities
Of the law, Rought him universal re-
spot.
Il, was vigorous in his atti-
tudA against anti-Americans during
the war. His son, Reed Lands, was
serving in the British air service and
the Judge several times tried to OBJ
tain war work which would send him
across, but failed. In every war case
brought before him where the defend
ant was found guilty, the judge inn
nosed drastic sentences ande scathing-
" denounced anyone who seemed I'M
American. This was particularly true
in the trials of I. w. WIS, Socialists
and pacifsts held before him
The resignation of Judge Lands
from the federal bench brought deep
regret in Kenosha. The judge has
been widely known to many Kenosha
people who have had business in his
court and whether they appeared as
witnesses or defendants these men
have been unanimous in their praise
of the fairness of the retiring jurist.
At the present time Judge Lands
has on his calendar a number of
cases in which Kenosha men are nam
ed as defendants and it is expected
that these cases will be disposed of
before he gives up his work in Chi
cago.
Tried Many Liquor Cases.
In the early days Of the enforce
ment of the prohibition amendment
many Kenosha men were brought be-
fore Judge Lands on charges of viola
lions Of the liquor law. The most not
able case which he has handled in
which Kenosha was interested was the
trials Of the members Of the so-called
"automobile ring. Kenosha men who
were listed as defendants in this case
have good reason TO remember the
fairness with which they were treated
by the court. The plea of Judge Ian
dis for consideration Of the army serv-
ice Of a Kenosna man featured the
hearir~ Of The trial Of this casa