The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-11-20
Ignatz Potz, Serving Life
Term for Shooting Off
Ger Seeks Leniency.
DRANK BOOZE HERE
Evidence at Trial Where Potz
Was Convicted Showed He
Had Imbibed of Liquor.

Ignatz Potz, who was convicted at
the 1922 March term Of the circuit
court of Lake County at Waukegan, OF
the murder of William G. Peterson, a
Winthrop Harbor motorcycle police
man and who is now serving life
sentence in the Illinois prison for the
crime, is seeking a Communication OF
sentence or a. complete pardon, accord
ing to messages reaching Kenosha this
morning. Formal notice that he Will
make such application at the 1925
January session Of the State Board OF
Pardons of Illinois, was made by his
sister, Mrs Katherine Strachotic OF
Chicago, and such notices have been
served on the proper court officials at
Waukegan.
Kenosha is interested in the case in
asfnuch as the evidence at the trial
showed that Potz and his companions
had been in Kenosha during the after
noon before the crime was committed
and that they had secured liquor at a
saloon in Kenosha.
The murder of Peterson occurred
on January 10, 1922. Potz and three
Chicago companions, Joseph Brada-
seric, Michael Radich and James Bar
tole, had borrowed an automobile
from a Chicago saloonkeeper and
driven to Kenosha, where it is said
that they imbidded freely of liquor,
They started back to Chicago, Bartole
driving the machine.
Officer RuthlessIy Shot.
The speed at which the car was be-
ing driven through Winthrop Harbor
caused Motorcycle Policeman Peter
sen to take up the pursuit. At a
point near the Mrs. Mary Durkin farm
in North Sheridan road between Zion
and Waukegan, the officer drew up
close behind the speeding car.
Suddenly there was a roar and a
squirt Of fame as shot gun was dis
charged through the rear window of
the machine.\ Peterson, his body rid
died with shot, slumped from his mo-
torcycle and fell into the road.
The four men in the vampire car
escaped to Chicago but eventually
were apprehended and brought to
Waukegan for trial. Kenosha police
furnished the tip which aided in the
apprehension of Potz and his COM
panions.
Bartole swore on the witness stand
that Potz, who had been sharing the
front seat with him, had ordered him
to slow down the car as the police
man arrived close behind them, and
then standing up had fred through
the glass window in the rear.
"Was Drunk" Said Defense.
Potz offered the defense that he
had imbided SO much wine that he
could not remember anything that
happened in the machine after they
left Kenosha. Witnesses testified to
the fact that it was necessary to car
ry him into the car.
The jury found Potz guilty of muir
der and freed the other three oceu-
pants Of the car. The court sentenced
Potz to be hung.
Everything was put in readiness for
the execution, even to the setting up
of the gallows in a room over the cir
cult court room in the court house.
COMMITTED At Eleventh Hour.
Attorneys for Pctz made an elev-
enth hour effort to save his life by
appearing before Governor Len Small
who was in Waukegan at the time. For
hours the attorneys presented their
arguments feverishly.
Meanwhile Potz sat in his cell in
the county jail and watched the clock
tick off the minutes that brought him
nearer eternity. At midnight, six
hours before the hour set for the
execution, Gov. Small swayed by the
plea for <clemency, and the dying wish
of his wife that he prevent the state
from inficting the death penalty, COM
muted the sentence to life imprison-
ment.