The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-05-28
SAY TWO HAD A
LOVE NEST HERE
Arrest Nick BOehm and
Mrs. Schmeckel on a
Statutory Charge.
PAIR PLEAD GUILTY
Woman Taken From Genoa
City at Midnight Is Also
Brought Into Court.

Nick Joseph Boehm, who is said to
have a wife living at Michigan City,
Indiana, and Mrs. Elizabeth Schmeckel,
who has a husband living at Lake
Geneva, were arrested by the police
on Wednesday night and brought
into court today on the charge of
being illicit lovers.
Poverty and the lack of money to
secure a divorce was given by the
woman as the reason for her troubles.
She declared that her husband was
living with another woman, and that
she had been introduced to Boehm by
her husbands brother. She said that
her own troubles at home had lead
her to find comfort in the other mans
friendship. She said that Boehm told
her that his marriage had been an
nulled and that she wanted to get a
divorce from her husband so that
she could marry Boehm, but was pre-
vented by lack of funds. Mrs.
Schmeckel has three children.
Say Two Were Living Here.
The police received complaint on
Tuesday evening from the sister-in-
law of Mrs. Schmeckel, saying that
she and Boehm were occupying a
furnished room way out on Salem
avenue. Detectives Breidt, Chase and
Tusler and officer Reynolds were sent
out to the address and they took
Boehm in custody at 10:40 p. m, plac-
ing statutory charge against him.
nGG fnun+ he
with Deputy Sheriff La Violette then
went to Genoa City where about mid
night they located Mrs. Schmeckel.
They brought her back with them
from the next county, and booked her
on the same change. She was brought
into the police office about LAO a..
and after questioning, taken over
to the detention home, where she
spent the night.
Taken to Court This Morning.
Boehm pleaded guilty when ar
raigned on the charge of adultery.
Judge Slater asked him if he had ever
been arrested before, and. the defen-
dant answered mo"
"You understand what the penalty
is 2" asked the court.
"No, sir" answered Boehm. "This
is the first time l was ever in a
court room"
"Sit down." said Captain Causen,
"we will get ready the request to
plead"
There followed a discussion be-
tween a lawyer, the secretary of the
bar association, newspaper reporter
and the captain of police in which the
police were given some criticism for
"hurrying along" a plea of guilty
where a felony is charged, particu-
larly as Boehm vouchsafed the state
ment that he was pleading guilty
because the police told him to do So"
When Boehm was brought before
the bench again, for the final ar.
raignment, Judge Slater, as Is his
custom, informed the defendant Of
the penalty that possibly awaited him
if he pleaded guilty.
Judge Explains Penalty.
eff you are guilty" said the court,
"the penalty provided by law is by
imprisonment of not more than three
years in state prison or not less than
one year, by fine Of not less than
$500 or more than $1,000, or by i'm
prisonment in the county jail not
more than one year."
Boehm: 81 don't know what to do.
Last night when they arrested me,
they got me alone and this woman
was in Walworth county"
The secretary of the Kenosha
County Bar association then addressed
the. court, saying that in his presence
affHA in that of another attorney, the
defendant had said he was plead
ing guilty because the police told
him to do so.
as this true ?" asked the judge.
"Did the police officers coerce you
or offer you any inducement to
plead guilty?"
"They told me it would be bet
ter for me if l pleaded guilty" said
the man.
81 don't want to hurry you or en-
courage you to plead guilty" said
the judge. "Take your time to con
slider the matter"
Boehm was taken over to the county
Jail, and Mrs. Schmeckel TO the de-
tention home.
Law Hardest on Married Folks.
One Of the attorneys interested ir
the case, pointed out a situation in
the law which many people are not
aware of.
Under the present state of our laws
a prostitute may be dismissed with
a fine of $40, and also the man who
consorts with a prostitute may be
given such a fine of $40, yet a couple
found guilty of cohabiting together
as Boehm and Mrs. Schmeekel, may
be sent to state prison.