The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-10-02
JOHN KLEMKO IS
SENT TO JAIL
Man Who Violated Law
Time After Time, Gets
Jail Sentence.
SIX MONTHS AND FINE
Had MOOnshine in Somers and
Saloon Running Here on
Rowland Avenue.

Looking like simpleton, with vas,
cant blue eyes, and a blonde NOUS
tache, John Klemko stood before
Judge Slater this morning chargedl
with unlawful possession of moon-l
shine found at his farm on the Som
ers road about a week ago by Sheriff
Pabst. While the man was in Jail
awaiting trial on this charge the po-
lice on September % raided saloon
at 252 Rowland avenue, run under a.
Class A permit issued to Klemko and
found moonshine there. Klemko was
charged with unlawful possession un-I
der the city ordinance as a result OIL
the last arrest.
Klemko in court this morning plead-l
ed guilty to the state charge of un-
lawful possession in the town of Sons
ers. He had nothing to say, but his
lawyer talked at length, pleading, as
he said, not for the man but for his
family consisting of a wife and four
children.
Gets Six Months Sentence.
Klemko, in spite of the plea was
sentenced to pay a fine of 5000 and
with an additional six months at hard
labor in the county Jail after the fine
and costs are paid or the sentence of
Imprisonment in lieu Of such fine and
costs has been served.
In the charge against Klemko previ-
Gus convictions were charged. The
man was raided and found making
moonshine as far back as 1921 when
lis was arrested b. Assistant CsSef
Cyzak, Lieut.. Rock and Constable
John Schsley. At that time til FAM
ily were in suchs destitute circum-
stances that the officers out Of pity
for the helpless children Clipped to-
gether and bought shoes for bare
foot child. The case was dismissed
against him also at that time because
of the conditions Of the family.
Last February the man was arrest
ed, and sent to jail. Under the Huber
law, he was let out by the sheriff TO
work, in order that he might do the
chores and planting on his farm. What
he did, as the judge pointed out, was
to go to the farm and make moon
shine. There was evidence before the
court of moonshine possession on the,
farm, although none that moon had
been made, but Judge Slater insisted
that he was satisfied in his mind that
the man did make moonshine OUT
there, while under the sheriff's tenn
porary and daily parole, imposing both
on the sheriff and the court.
Attorney A. L. Drury entered plea
of guilty for the defendant, and stat
ed the facts from the family's point
Of view as follows:
$50 far as this defendant is con-
cerned," he said, 81 have not much to
say in extenuation. He is addicted to
the excessive use Of moonshine. When
he is sober he is a good sort of fell
low; when he isn't he isn't. He bought
a farm of about So acres, for which hel
was to pay $4,000. This was consid-l
erably in excess of the value of the
place. He found he couldn't make a.
living off the farm and pay off the in
debtedness. He took to making moon
shine. He has got down the indebted-I
ness to about $500. There are chat,
tel mortgages on the movable articles
on the place. l have been trying to
help this family by getting sale and
securing a home for them out eff the
equity. Now the woman is out there
with her children, no means of sup
port, nothing coming in. If this man
is locked up in Jail that man is done
for; they become public charges, and
lose their property.
ST know that it is the duty of the
court. under this charge of prior con-
yiction, to both fine and imprison. But
IL .,1r No mil apf N
take the fine money out of that FAM
ily. I would suggest that the court
impose the minimum fine and in de-
fault Of payment thirty days at hard
labor, and that these thirty days be
worked out at the direction Of the
sheriff"
Fine Says the Judge in Reply.
"Out on his farm, very NICE" re-
piled Judge Slater. eve have already
in the past done this thing that you
ask US to do now. He was committed
to Jail, and while in jail the sheriff
let him go in the morning and come
back at evening. And do you know
what this man did? He went out
there on his farm and made moon
shine! / have it on good authority,
from respectable people about there,
people whom you would trust. That's
going pretty far. He has that wife OF
his so scared that she dare not come
in here and make complaint"
Il am not trying to excuse that man
at all" replied the attorney. lam
only trying to save that woman and
her children from being paupers."
"They will be paupers if that man
Il to take care Of them" said the
Judge. "He is one of the worst men
that ever struck this county. He has
imposed on the sheriff and imposed
On this court. / would give him the