The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-07-30
FRANK LANG
FOUND GUILTY
Acting Municipal Judge
Baker Finds Lang Stole
Tire and Pump.
GETS JAIL SENTENCE
Is Sentenced to Six Months in
the County Jail; May Be
Huber Law Case.

NFrank Lang, who won his brief fame
through the Pacini murder case,. was
found guilty of petty larceny by Act
ing Municipal Judge R. Y. Baker late
Friday afternoon, and was sentenced
to serve six months at hard labor in
the county Jail. AS Lang has job
in a local factory and as his family is
dependent upon him for support, he
will doubtless be placed out to work
under the Huber law and be required
to spend his nights, Sundays and holi-
days in Jail until the expiration of
the sentence period.
The conviction on the petty lar
ceny charge came after testimony had
been presented both by the state and
the defense. Lang pleaded not gull
ty, and was represented in court by an
attorney.
Police officer Testifies.
Edward Nickolay, 1861 Pomeroy
street, testified for the state that on
June %, between and 10 p. M, he
parked his Ford coupe on Elm street,
and there was at the time a spare tire
on the rear of the car, and a tire pump
in the rear box-end of the car. When
he put the car away at 1880 he no.
ticed that tire, cover and rim were
gone.
Police Sergeant Meissner testified
that he, together with Detective
Chase, arrested Frank Lang on the
charge of petty larceny and brought
him down to the police station. He
said that Lang said he knew all about
the tire and stated the information
that he had it at home alongside the
furnace. Mrs. Lang called by the
state testified that on the night of
June % Lang had brought the tire
and pump into the house, saying he
was going to fix the fellow whose
tire it was for parking so long out in
front.
Police Detective Chase testified that
the tire was found in the basement of
Lang's home behind ten or IL boards,
and that Mrs. Lang herself gave them
the pump.
Frank Lang took the stand in his
own defense. He said that he drove
his own Ford touring car home on the
night of June % and bumped into the
Ford coupe loosening the spare tire.
81 took the wrench to take the nut
off," said Lang. 81 wanted to fasten
the tire on, but l lost the washer
which rolled to the ground. I couldn't
find it until morning. l took the tire
in the house"
"Why didn't you put it in his car 2"
asked his attorney.
II thought somebody would take it,"
Lang said.
Assistant Prosecutor John Kennedy
asked the witness on cross examina-
ton if he reported the matter to the
police. Lang answered "no," though
he admitted that he had been home
the whole of the next day. He also
admitted that he had not taken the
motor number of the car or made any
effort to connect with the driver. He
said he thought he would catch the
driver when he started to go away, or
sometime when he returned. He de-
clared that the pump was his own, and
was not taken out. of the others car
Lang's attorney argued that the
question of criminal intent had not
been proven, but the states attorney
stated that intent could be inferred
from the facts.
Judge Baker said: Crank Lang had
in his mind one of two things, either
he took the tire into his house with
the honest purpose of restoring it to
it's owner, or he took it in to keep it
himself Had he acted thoughtlessly
he would have left the tire hanging
down when the automobile loosened
it. If he had taken it with the inten
ton of restoring it to the owner, he
would at least have been careful to
take the number of the license, or
communicated with the owner. / am
convinced that larceny has been com
mitted. Another part of the proof is
concealment in his own home. There
is not sufficient testimony to raise a
reasonable doubt. The judgment and
sentence of this court is that you,
Frank Lang, are guilty of the offense
charged, and you will be punished by
Imprisonment in the county Jail at
hard labor for six months"
Lang's attorney explained that Lang
had been working pretty steadily"
and Judge Baker replied that he
meant the sentence not so much as
punitive as reformatory, hoping there
by to keep the defendant in a straight
and narrow path.