The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-10-09
SERVE SUMMONS
FOR LAWSUITS
Three Kenoshans Start
Suits Against Publishers
of Tolerance"
FALSE STATEMENTS

Three damage suits against the
American Unity Publishing company,
publishers of the paper Tolerance,
were started by Kenoshans on Monday
evening when summons were served
on r. E. Shepherd, manager of the
company, to appear in circuit court
within twenty days and answer each
of the cases. The suits were brought
by Harry A. Bruner, Charles l.. Hold
erness and John w. Klema.
The copies of the complaints in the
suits were not made public and only
the summons was served in each IN
stance. 1t was stated, however, by the
plaintiffs that the suits were brought
in connection with the publication In
Tolerance" an anti-Klan paper" OF
their names listing them as ION the
roll of the Ku Klux Khan"
Sheriff Fred Pabst served the sum-
mons in each case on Mr.. Shepherd as
the representative Of the defendant
company. Mr.. Shepherd, whose home
is in Chicago, was in Kenosha for the
meeting of the Kenosha branch OF the
American Unity League held Monday
evening at the Elks club and he was
summoned from this meeting to have
the summons in each of the cases
served against him.
It was intimated that in each in
stance large damages would be sought
but no statement as to the amount
asked in the complaints was made pub
lie. It was declared that the suits
were brought more to clarity the sit
uation and bring out the real truth
before the courts more than because
of the monetary damages claimed.
Much interest is being shown in the
three Kenosha suits as it is stated
that they were the first suits of the
kind to be filed in Wisconsin. "Toler-
ance," it is known, has published many
lists of names of alleged members of
the Khan and several suits have been
started in other states, but one as
yet decided.
The three Kenosha plaintiffs each
declare that they are not members OF
the Khan, here or elsewhere, and that
there is absolutely no basis for the
publication of their names in the way
that they were published. They are
basing their suits on the claims that
the statements and differences which
may be drawn from it are false.
The filing of the three suits this
morning, following the serving of the
summons on Monday evening, came as
real sensation here, bringing the as
surance that the question involved
would be threshed out in the courts
in Kenosha.
Charles L. Holderness, ore of the
plaintiffs in the suits, in signed
statement given to this paper, today
stated his stand as follows:
II am completing six years of service
as county clerk and have always tried
to be fair and courteous to all regard
less of politics or creed. l have al
ways played the game square and
clean and do not like the underhand-
ed and dirty politics being used in
this election.
at seems, however, that because a
paper, printed in Chicago by people
unknown to the citizens of Kenosha
county, has listed my name as one
which appears on the roll Of the Ku
Klux Khan, the people Immediately
want to find me guilty and ready for
sentence. Ordinarily when a man is
accused of anything, he is given a
trial before a jury and judge where
evidence must be produced to prove
him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
That is all / ask of the people in my
case; have taken my case into the
courts where the evidence can be
sifted legally. Meanwhile l will ap-
point Judge John c.. Slater, E. T.
O'Brien and City Attorney C. E. Ran
dali as a jury and will deposit $1,000
in the First National bank at Kenosha
which / will give to the publisher of
Tolerance or any man or woman who
can bring evidence before these three
men which will prove beyond rea-
sonable doubt that / am a member Of
the Ku Klux Khan or ever have been.
This same offer to give $1,000 to any
firm or person who can bring evidence
that / am a member of the Ku Klux
Khan will hold good for evidence
brought into the circuit court.
(Signed) C. L. Holderness,
County Clerk"
Harry A. Bruner, of the Bruner
Dairy company, made the following
statement today:
at have repeatedly been charged
within the last few days of being a
member of the Ku Klux Khan.
emphatically deny that am a member
of the Ku Klux Khan, or that have
attended meeting of this organiza-
ton. Neither have paid, directly
or indirectly, to the Ku Klux, any
money for dues, membership fees or
financial assistance.
Tolerance paper published in
Chicago, and circulated in Kenosha,
in its last issue, carried my name with
the statement that was on the roll
of the Ku Klux Khan. i have brought
suit for libel in the circuit court for
Kenosha county, against the publishers
of this paper.
"I have lived in Kenosha for twenty
one years and for nineteen years /
have been in the business of milk
dealer / have attempted at all times
to be honorable in my dealings and
haven ever participated in any religi-
Gus or racial discussion. The charge
that is made against me is untrue,
unfair and unfounded.
81 will pay 100000 to the Salvation
Army if any one can prove to the
satisfaction of any court in Kenosha
county that am a member of the Khan.
Harry A. Bruner."
Statement made by John w. Klema,