The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-10-05

There are no criminal proceedings
against Bancroft" said ~Mr. Sigler,
'but we in Michigan do not treat our
officials with the harsbness you folks
of Kenosha county do"
In the petition Bancroft is charged
with having on several occasions ac-
cepted money from defendants in
criminal cases when he himself was
assistant district attorney On one of
the nine counts, Bancroft is charged
with improper dealing with a client,
Berghoff. Berghof had claim
against the Detroit railway and Ban
croft was his attorney 1t is charged
that Bancroft forged a release from
Berghoff to the railroad company and
secured $500. Of this he paid moth
ing to his client until about year
later when under pressure from Berg
hoff he handed over $3.50, retaining
the sum Of $3.50 for himself.
On another occasion Bancroft is al
legged to have induced a young man to
commit perjury to suit his, Bancroft's
ends.
"All this is matter of public rec
ord" stated Mr.. Sigler, "and Bancroft
himself has admitted the charges
That IS, he admits in part of his an
swer that he was guilty of wrong
doing but pleads that his transgres-
sions were due to his indulgence in
Intoxicating drink"
| Sigler announced that the Kenosha
county witnesses had been of material
assistance to the Barry County Bar
association in their efforts to disbar
their former district attorney, and re-
fused himself to give the information
which the three Kenosha county resi-
dents had vouchsafed These, how
ever, were obtainable in the docu-
ments of the case, in the affidavits
made in Cook county, H., by James
Martin, Launcelot Button and An
thony Dvorak and in the dispositions
taken in Justice Carlson's court this
week which was substantially the
same testimony.
Button on Forgery Charge.
The dispositions of James Martin,
Launcelot Button and Anthony Dvorak
were taken in Justice Carlson's office
Thursday. Launcelot Button testified
! that he was arrested at Hastings,
Mich, August 5, 1921, on warrant
charging forgery on the thirtieth of
! July previous with the Lyceum COM
pany as complaining witness. He
pleaded not guilty to the charge and
was released on bonds to answer to
the circuit court.
On September 12, 1921, expecting
his case to come up, Button was in
Hastings looking about for an attor-
ney to help him in the case. With
him at the time were his brother-in-
law, James Martin, and Dvorak, the
tenor of the company. When the trio
were looking about for an attorney,
someone suggested to them that they
go to Gould and Bancroft.
Accordingly Button and his Friends
went to the law offices Of Gould and
Bancroft, partners, and Button told
Bancroft that he was the person ar
rested for forgery and about to face
trial, and said that he was looking for
legal assistance.
Prosecutor Asks for $10O.
Bancroft, according to the sworn
statement Of the Kenosha county man,
then told him that he, Bancroft, was
assistant district attorney and couldn't
legally represent him. Then Bancroft
called in his partner, John M. Gould,
who was at that time prosecutor of
Barry county, and Bancroft left the
office. Gould, according to Button, adj
vised him to pay him, Gould, sum of
500, and said that he would see what
he could do, At the same time, Buff
ton testified, he, Gould, told him to
enter plea of guilty to the. charge
when he came into court.
When the forgery case was called
in the circuit court of Barry county
before Judge Clement Smith, Button
entered plea of guilty to the charge,
the Judge ordered him to pay fine
of $95.21, which Button did, and the
case was dismissed.
Bancroft Also to Enter Sum.
/ Launcelot Button, after the case was
over, together with Martin and
Dvorak, went with Attorney Gould
to the Gould and Bancroft Of
fee. Button had left securities for
his appearance in court in the Shape
of Liberty bonds and cash with Gould,
and these securities the latter pro-
ceeded to take out of his pocket.
Button said that Gould counted out
500 and then handed the balance of
the securities to Button, giving him
no receipt for the $500 which he kept.
ACCORDING to Button, Gould then adj
dressed his partner, Bancroft, who was
also assistant district attorney, and
the defendant in the petition for dis
barment, and told Bancroft to make
the entry of the money, that is the
$500 on the books, saying that Ban
croft and not himself was the book
keeper.
James Martin and Anthony Dvorak,
who were present during the several
alleged transactions, testified in sub
stance to the same facts as given UNI
der oath by Button.