IAGenWeb Project - Clayton co.

Clayton Co. Justice & Court Proceedings
... as reported in the 1925 newspapers

~unless otherwise credited, the articles were contributed by Reid R. Johnson for Clayton Co. IAGenWeb

 

Elkader Register, Thur., 15 Jan. 1925
A special item from Guttenberg to the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald has the following story.

"Two brothers, Norbert Gerner, 19, and Fred Gerner, 17, Guttenberg youths were arrested here Monday evening on a charge of theft. They were given a hearing at once before Mayor Friedlein and County Attorney, G. W. Hunt, to whom they confessed having entered the Alfred Wittman premises near Garber last Friday evening and taken $120. worth of raw furs. The furs were found and identified in an out building at the Gerner home in Guttenberg where they had been hidden. Both of them were bound over to grand jury under $1,000. bonds each. After the hearing they were placed in the city jail here, and were to be taken to Elkader Tuesday morning. During the night, however, they broke jail and made their escape, and they have not been captured. They escaped by breaking a piece of wire from a cell cot which was used in springing the lock on the cell door. After getting out of the cell, they managed to pry loose the hinges on the outer door of the jail. Authorities at Dubuque, Elkader and other places were notified to be on the lookout for the youths, and the alarm was also broadcast from the Davenport radio station Tuesday morning, but as yet no trace of the prisoners has been found.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 29 Jan. 1925. From the Guttenberg Press, undated.
Norbert and Fred Gerner, who broke jail in Guttenberg on Mon. night of last week when placed there for alleged larceny of some furs, returned Sunday night, and were again taken in charge by the city authorities, the boys being found at the home of their mother. City Marshall Rudy Reinitz took them to Elkader and placed them in charge of Sheriff Larson, Monday afternoon, and they were incarcerated in the county jail. The facts of their case were broadcasted from Davenport. Every where they went the radio had preceded them, so they concluded to return and take their punishment. - Guttenberg Press.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 19 Feb. 1925. District Court Doings column.
On Wednesday Frank Zapf of Littleport, subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury in a liquor investigation, refused to answer proper questions and was brought before Judge Springer who sent him to jail for contempt of court to remain until he has found his tongue. We understand that Zapf was somewhat the worse for liquor when he appeared Wednesday, but he will be sober and probably ready to talk by the time court is convened again Tuesday morning.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 05 Mar. 1925. District Court column
State of Iowa vs. Fred Gerner. Defendant plead guilty to charge of larceny. Sentenced to serve six months in county jail and pay costs. Bond on appeal, $700.

State of Iowa vs. Norbert Gerner. Defendant plead guilty to the charge of larceny. Sentenced to serve six months in county jail and pay costs. Jail sentece suspended and defendant paroled to G. W. Hunt, County Attorney, during good behavior.

State of Iowa vs. Frank Zapf. Defendant appeared and answered questions properly and was discharged.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 07 May 1925. Local News column.
Sheriff Chris Larson and Deputy John Kluth picked up a couple more liquor law violators Sunday. They are Henry Wolter, a pool hall proprietor of North Buena Vista, and John Nading of Cox Creek township. Wolter's place yielded fifteen gallons of moonshine while at Nading's two stills were found in operation with about seven gallons of the hot stuff. Nading plead guilty.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 14 May 1925
State of Iowa vs. Dudley Perrine. Defendant plead guilty to the charge of bootlegging and was sentenced to the Industrial School for Boys at Eldora until he reaches the age of twenty-one. Sentence suspended and he is paroled to Sheriff Chris Larson.

State of Iowa vs. John Nading. Defendant plead guilty to the charge of manufacturing intoxicating liquor. Sentenced to pay fine of $300. and costs.

State of Iowa vs Henry Wolters. Defendant plead guilty to charge of maintaining a liquor nuisance. Sentenced to three months in county jail at hard labor and to pay a fine of $500. and costs including an attorney fee of $35. Bail on appeal $1000.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 11 June 1925
Judge Taylor of Waukon convened court Tuesday to hear the plea of Walter Scovel, charged with violation of the motor vehicle law. Scovel plead guilty claiming ignorance and no intention of violating law, ad Judge Taylor let him off with a fine of $50 and costs.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 25 June 1925
State of Iowa vs. Mike Wolter. Dismissed on recommendation of the County Attorney.

State of Iowa vs. Henry Wolter, Ray Wolter and Anna M. Roe. Temporary injunction issued against Henry Wolter to restrain him from operating a liquor nuisance.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 03 Sept. 1925
We understand that Dewey and Bryan Farmer were arrested by Deputy Game Warden John Bock charged with illegal fishing. Tuesday, they plead guilty, receiving a fine of $50.00 and costs each. We are told they had been using dynamite.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 08 Oct. 1925
Frank Amling, charged with a violation of the liquor laws, plead guilty and was given a fine of $300. and sentenced to jail for three months, but the jail sentence was suspended during good behavior.

The case against Herman Reinhard for a violation of the liquor laws was tried before a jury and was a lively battle between opposing council. The jury decided he was "guilty" but sentence has not yet been pronounced.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 15 Oct. 1925
State of Iowa vs Warren Goodin, nuisance. Defendant plead guilty to crime of maintaining liquor nuisance. Fined $300. and costa. Appeal bond $500. Commitment for non-payment of fine suspended during good behavior of defendant and he is paroled to Chris Larson, Sheriff.

State of Iowa vs Lambert Lorang. Defendant pled guilty to crime of maintaining liquor nuisance. Fined $300. and costs ad three months in jail. Appeal bond $1,000.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 22 Oct. 1925
State of Iowa vs Frank Amling. Defendant plead guilty to charge of maintaining liquor nuisance. Fined $300. and costs and sentenced to jail for three months. Jail sentence suspended during good behavior and defendant paroled to G. W. Hunt.

State of Iowa vs Herman Reinhard. Submitted to jury. Verdict, "guilty of maintaining a liquor nuisance." Defendant given seven days to file motion for a new trial and except instuctions. Bond $1.000.

State of Iowa vs Otto Buchheim. Defendant plead Guily to charge of maintaining a liquor nuisance. Fined $300. and costs and sentenced to jail for six months. Jail sentence suspended during god behavior and defendant paroled to Chris Larson (Sheriff).

State of Iowa vs Seymour Wilson. Defendant pleads guilty to charge of "bootlegging." Fined $500. and costs and sentenced to jail for six months. Bond on appeal $1,200.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 17 Dec. 1925. District Court column
State of Iowa vs Peter Dutka. Defendant pleads guilty to charge of bootlegging. Fined $300. and costs. Sentenced to three months in jail. Appeal bond $600.

State of Iowa vs Elwood Rutledge. Defendant plead guilty to the charge of rape. He was sentenced to the penitentiary at Ft. Madison for not less than five years nor more than thirty years.

State of Iowa vs Freeman Jacobs. Defendant plead guilty to the charge of contempt in violating liquor injunction. He was sentenced to nine months in jail and costs of the action.

State of Iowa vs Roy Godden. defendant plead guilty to the charge of bootlegging and was sentenced to serve nine months in jail together with a fine of $800. and costs.

State of Iowa vs Wm. Theodor. Defendant pleads guilty to the charge of bootlegging and sentenced to three months in jail and fined $300. and costs.

State of Iowa vs Martin Knudtson. Defendant plead guilty to the charge of forgery. He was sentenced to Anamosa for a period not exceeding ten years and fined the costs of the prosecution

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