The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-12-17
MEISSNER CASE
COMES TO BAT
Witnesses Tell of Fracas
During Raid on Saloon
at 154 Park st.
SAY BOTTLES FLEW
Henry Zeihen and Others De-
scribe Police Sergeant in
Fighting Form.

The case of the state of Wiscon-
sin against Detective Sergeant Emil
assault and battery on the complaint
Of Henry Zeihen, following raid on
November IA on the saloon at 154 Park
street, was continued at noon until
two o'clock this afternoon. Henry
Zeihen testified as the last witness
in his own behalf, and Detective Perry
F. Tusler and Sergeant Emil Meissner
of the police department then gave
testimony for the defendant. Judge
Slater said that he would hear the ar
guments and give his decision this
afternoon.
An interested audience filed the
seats of the courtroom and showed
their interest in the case by gaffaw-
ing at some retort from Zeihen wit
ness while on the stand.
Henry Johnson was the first witness
for Henry Zeihen. He said that he
was sitting in the place at 154 Park
street when Sergeant Meissner and
Detective Tusler came in. He said
that Meissner grabbed a glass held by
James McGivern, known in the saloon
as Jimmy Googin," and it broke in
his hand. Then without any prelim-
inaries he said, Meissner picked up a
soda water bottle and flung it at Hen
ry Zeihen who was behind the bar, and
then picked up ginger ale bottle and
flung it at Zeihen. Both missed and
landed on the wall and broke. A piece
of the bottle was shown.
you're sure it was not a moonshine
bottle ?" asked Attorney Roy S. Steph-
enson, who represented Meissner at
the trail.
Meissner's Attorney Razzes.
Johnson then said he didn't think
it was. He insisted that in all this
fracas Henry Zeihen had been fault
less figure, that he did not touch the
glass that Meissner tried to take from
James McGivern, and that nothing at
all happened between Henry Zeihen
and the police officer before Meissner
flung the two bottles in Henry Zeih-
ems direction. Johnson said that he
was a painter by trade, but on cross
examination could not tell what he
had done on that Saturday of the ar
rest or the day before that.
Denies Being on Payroll.
GAS matter of fact you are on the
payroll of Peter Zeihen, are you not? ?"
Mr.. Stephenson flung at the witness.
Johnson replied "No."
Other witnesses for Zeihen were
James McGivern, Mrs. ]. j. Kohlman
and J. J. Kohlman. Several of the
witnesses told the court that Meiss-
ner, after finging the bottles, and
calling Henry Zeihen an epithet,
chased him out of the saloon, first
calling to the officers outside.
"Catch that -, if you have to
shoot him!" Detective Tusler caught
Henry, but Henry broke away, and
then Meissner cuaght him, and bumped
Henry zeihen's head against tele-
phone pole, saying, you're not deal
ing with an ordinary officer this time;
you're dealing with mel" Then, ac-
cording to the story, Meissner cuffed
Henry a couple of times.
Case is Continued.
Mrs. J. J. Kohlman said she had
come into the place to get her hus-
band, and said she was standing in
front of the. cigar case, but with no
glass in front of her. Attorney Steph-
enson asked her if she had not been
found in the saloon by the police on
a former raid when she was sitting
at a table; she replied that she was
there, but that she was standing at
the cigar case that time too, and was
then also waiting for her husband.
Kohlman explained that he and his
wife had been purchasing some gro
ceries which they had left at the Zeih-
en- place for safety, and had gone back
to get them when the police entered.
Peter Zeihen on Stand.
Peter Zeihen took the stand, and
related a story similar to that told by
the officers. He said that he saw
Meissner bump his nephew's head
against the telephone pole, and that
he told Meissner to let him go, but
he wouldn't.
"Then 1 went back into the place."
said Henry.
On cross-examination Peter Zeihen
admitted that he had been convicted
twice for possession of moonshine,
each time on city charge.
A continuance of the case was taken
until this morning when Henry Zeihen
was called to the stand.