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

/ VIII never relapse TO the c0nQlJlonS
existing before the Grand Jury sat.
You have accomplished much for this
county and state. The influence of
your accomplishment reaches far be-
yond the confines Of Kenosha County
and to my certain knowledge has had
wholesome effect and appreciation in
other communities of our common
wealth.
Dated March 10, 1922.
E. B. BELDEN,
Circuit Judge.
Report Is Also Made Public.
Of equal interest is the final report
made by the grand jury to Judge Bel
den which was also made public to-
day. 1t recounts in detail the barriers
which they were called to surmount
due to the fact that the county had
been stepped in law violations for
years and shows how they secured evil
dence despite these discouraging cir
cumstances. This report reads as fol-
lowsA
To the Honorable Circuit Court for
Kenosha County, Wisconsin:
The Grand Jury duly empaneled by
! this court on the 14th day of May
A. D. 1921, begs leave to report that,
as directed by this court, and required
by law, it proceeded at once to per-
feet it's organization by the election
of William D. Martin, foreman, George
H. Cook, clerk, and by the appoint
ment of Charles H. Welch and Joseph
Carney as official stenographers, and
thereafter, and on the 18th day of May,
proceeded to the taking of testimony
The grand jury has been in session
the total number of Al days, has exam
ined more than two hundred witnesses,
and, as the court is advised, has re-
turned to this court number of in
dictments. The records of the clerk
of the court show that arrests have
been made on about 80 capias issued
upon indictments returned; the num-
Der of counts contained in these in
dictments numbering about $50.
Kept Oath In Mind.
In considering the evidence and in
voting indictments, the grand jury
and every member thereof, has had in
mind the obligation of the oath ad-
ministered in the empaneling of the
jury, "to diligently inquire and true
presentment make of all matters and
things given in charge; to keep secret
the counsel of the State of Wisconsin
and each other, and to present no man
for envy, hatred or malice, and to leave
no man unpresented for love, fear,
favor, affection or hope of reward
but to present things truly as they
came to our knowledge, according to
the best of our understanding
The indictments returned, it may
properly now be said, inasmuch as
trials have been had in most of the
cases, were founded upon what seemed
to us to be evidence that left US no
choice but to make the formal charge
or charges stated therein.
More Indictments Possible.
From the nature and abundance of
the testimony heard, there was ample
reason to conclude that many other
offenses than those indicted for
against the laws prohibiting the sale
of liquor had been and were being
committed continuously within the
County of Kenosha.
Many more indictments for the IL
licit sale of prohibited liquors could
have been returned by continuing the
efforts to secure the definite evidence
f-of that no member of this jury has
any doubtful it was concluded that
if we continued in work of that charac-
ter and sought to present indictments
against every such violation of the
law, indictments would be multiplied
to the point where the time of this
court would be occupied in the trial
of such offenses to the exclusion OF
all other business for a long period
of time to come.
Hands Off Federal Cases.
In view of the fact that the whole.
sale dealers in prohibited liquors were
many of them indicted in the Federal
Court and the most serious cases hac
been reached by indictments of this
grand jury, we turned our attention
to the conduct of the city and county
officials who were charged with the
| duty of enforcing the law, believing
that we could more efficiently and ex-
peditiously perform our duty by as.
certaining the facts and presenting
the proper charges against those pub
lie officials, if any, who were abettine
rather than suppressing crime, real
izing that if change of public officials
should become necessary, it would b.
desirable that they be installed in of
fee and the task of enforcing the Law
, commenced by them without unneces
sary delay, and when that was done
and it became known that the law:
, were to be enforced, the continuation
/ of these violations would end
Probed Bribery Charges.
, 1t came to the attention of the mem
bers of the jury that it was being
, charged repeatedly in public places
} that certain officials were being ant
} had been paid to keep their hands of
violators of the law. Aside from tn,
! fact that there was a general epidemic
Of law violations in Kenosha County
l and that few of the many persisten
: and habitual violators were punishe,
for their offenses, we had no direc
evidence or definite proof, though
r from time to time, we received man,
r communications chraging various off
y 1