The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-02-22
THE REGISTERS
OF DEEDS WAR
Schmidt Refuses to Certify
to Racine Books Unless
in His Custody.
WANTED TO FINISH IT

The entire morning of the county
board today was occupied over a
wrangle which has developed in the
matter of copying old records of real
estate transfers and deeds from the
Racine books for Kenosha county files,
Register Of Deeds John F. Schmitt, dur
ing the two years interim when he was
out of Office, was engaged in the long
task, which was still incomplete when
he came again into office as register of
deeds on January /, 1928 At that time
the county board hired Bert Shaw, re-
firing register of deeds, to complete
the work.
The county board asked that Mr..
Schmitt certify to the copy of the rec
ords so far as he has gone, and the
latter refused to so certify unless the
books were filed in the office of register
of deeds here. At present some of the
Racine books have been taken from
Racine to the court annex Of Kenosha
and Racine officials were present to
state that they could not certify to the
originals so long as the books were out
of their custody.
Holderness Explains Removal.
County Clerk G. L. Holderness eX-
planned to the board that the removal
of the books from Racine happened be-
cause the young woman who has been
working on the books became physical
ly unable to travel back and forth to
Racine, and a temporary removal Of
the books had been made to facilitate
the work.
Register of Deeds Schmitt pointed
out that under these circumstances the
books "were on the loose He de-
clared that records Of deeds, mortgages
and so forth should not be for a min
ute out of the custody of the officials
who were sworn to their care; the Ra-
cine books should not be apart from
Racine, or books certified for Kenosha
county away from the register Of
deeds office.
viii Certify Conditionally.
The question of the certifying of the
records SO far made for Kenosha in
Racine from the old books when the
two counties were one, was the one
before the board. The board realized
that unless the work was certified, all
the money spent in Racine for the
copying of the records went for
naught, because the duplicates were
worthless unless certified to be exact
duplicates of the originals.
Mr.. Schmitt explained that he had
expected to supervise the work until
it was all completed and expected as
part of his duty to then certify. The
county board requested this morning
that he certify to the work SO far as
he had gone, that is, up until January
/, 1928.
"Conditionally, yes" replied the pres
emit register of deeds, "only if the
books are left in the Office Of the regis
ter of deeds of Kenosha county. / was
willing to complete the work.. without
any extra pay. The girl could have
worked on the books under my super
vision and would have certified to the
whole when it was completed. How
ever, the work has been taken out of
my hands"
Dowse Can't See Why.
"Would you not be willing to certify
to the work you have completed?" he
was asked again.
"Only if the books are turned over to
me for this Office" schmitt replied en-
phatically. "You know that it is no
use certifying books unless they are in
the custody of the regular officials. If
you should wish to see copies of rec
ords in the circuit court, they would be
brought to you, but accompanied by the
clerk or one of his deputies. 1t is just
so with our records. Certified regis
ter's records should be in our hands,"
81 don't think said Supervisor
Dowse, that we should lose sight of