Part 2: 9: Dramas and Tragedies

9. There were other assorted dramas and tragedies.

Carl Jenewitch of 218 Market, did not find his second wife in her “appointed place in the kitchen” when he came home one Sunday  in October, 1907. Instead, he found her in the cellar in the arms of another man. Several stitches were required to close the wound on his eyebrow after his wife swiped him with a pail. (1)

Kozar Ogosian, an Armenian, was found dead in a clump of trees on the north side of the city. Initially thought to be a victim of suicide, it was later discovered that the bullet that killed him did not match the caliber of the gun found at the scene. Suspicion quickly turned to Setrack Ezakillian, whose cap was found near the body. Ezakillian may have thought Ogosian too familiar with his wife; they had been seen walking together the evening of the murder. “The Ezakillians have a bad name among the residents of the Armenian colony and it is claimed by them that the wife of the man held for murder was in the old country brought from Greece as a social outcast to be an inmate in a home of which he was the proprietor.” No statement by the wife was recorded by the press. (2) Ezakaillian maintained his innocence throughout, with the defense that he would have received a lesser sentence for admitting killing a man who had been with his unfaithful wife than claiming his innocence. (3). It was further discovered that Ezakillian may have been active in the Armenian revolutionary society and had helped procure guns for the Armenian fight for independence from Turkey. This had no apparent connection to the murder case. (4)

Police thought the best solution for the man they apprehended “running up and down Market street crying that someone was after him trying to kill him” in a “drunken delirium” was to ship him out of town on a south bound train. It was later learned that the man committed suicide in Chicago by jumping off the Hamilton street bridge into the Chicago river. He had been an ironworker who had helped build the bridge from which he died. (5)

One can infer sadness underlying some of the stories. A chambermaid at the Chicago House Boarding house on south Market street found Jimmy (Michael) Toy dead in his bed on August afternoon in 1906. He had failed to appear for dinner the day before or breakfast that morning. Toy was apparently “known to every man woman and child in Waukegan,” “a well-known figure on the streets and was liked by everyone who knew him.” Toy had been a general handyman, painter, machinist and “several other things.” “A man of strong possibilities, he did not take advantage of them or care of himself, although he was ever ready to help anyone.” Several medicine bottles were found in his room, as he had recently been ill, though he had summoned no doctor. Although he had lived in the area for about thirty years, he had no local family and seemed to have died completely alone in the night. “The verdict of the coroner’s jury was in effect that Toy had died a natural death, helped along by chronic alcoholism. It is alleged that he was a constant and heavy drinker.” He was 50 years old. (6)

Tom Marsic of 613 Market street overheard his wife’s confession of unfaithfulness to a priest and had Joe Malonek arrested as “destroyer of his home.” A judge reduced the charge to disorderly conduct when the woman “being proven as much to blame as the man.” (7)

In an odd accident, Frank Hawkins almost died while sitting on his porch at 709 Market  with 3 friends one friday night in 1906. At one point the landlady went upstairs to get something from a truck. She lost grip of the heavy truck lid, which fell back against a window which broke and sent shards of glass showering down onto the men, with Frank getting a severe cut on the throat just inches from his Jugular. By all accounts he survived the incident. (8)

Joe Kautenberg fought a dog to its death on the forty steps rail crossing near Market street. Heading home to Marion street after his night-shift work at the refinery one Friday morning, he was followed by a  stray dog that after attacked after he refused to be shoed away. The lurid press account read like an exaggerated Jack London story, proclaiming the 6-foot Kautenberg “as the strongest, most daring and adventurous man in Waukegan” for battling the dog with his bare hands, including twisting off the dog’s head. Some Italian witnesses did not seem to share the admiration of Kautenberg’s efforts, since the dog may have belonged to them. (9)

Glenn Soldana, 31, of 513 Market street was arrested in 1925 after shooting a dog he claimed attacked him, and attempting to shoot at officers answering the complaint of the dog’s owners. Soldana was charged with drunk and disorderly conduct. (10)

Peter Rossman paid the price of “the most beautiful pair of black eyes ever seen in the city police station,” after insulting his brother’s wife when she demanded boarding rent of $98. Harsh words were followed by spilled milk and a thrown flower pot, with the climax being Joseph holding his brother “while his wife beat him up and down and across.” (11)

A “family row” between father and son, Matt and Joe Siroccas of 920 Market erupted when the father complained that the son “spends so much of his time roystering in saloons.” (12) A fight ensued, with father Mat heading to the police station to have his son arrested. Instead, Joe called ahead to the police and Mat was fine $5.00 for fighting.

Tom Normoyle was arrested for shooting his revolver at the Northwestern train depot, and an attempted assault of a Mrs Rebbe, who escaped from her Chicago house Market street residence across the street to the Sugar factory where her husband worked. “Normoyle says the whole thing is a conspiracy to put him in jail and claims to have known Mrs Rebbe [previously]  in Davenport. She denies knowing him at all.” (13)

Jacob Kaucnick, a 34 year old carpenter of 706 Market street found unconscious and groaning by his wife, possibly poisoned. It was unclear if it was a suicide or murder attempt. Kaucnick had been working all winter for a brother in Wisconsin. The Kaucnicks had two children, a buy of 4 and a girl 3. (14)

John Bullock, “well known man about Waukegan,” announced that he was ill when he entered his workplace at Michael Gibbs’ saloon, but since John had been a sufferer of chronic Asthma, his announcement was not taken very seriously. A friend delivering medicine to his room on Market street later that evening discovered him already dead. (15)

The case of “Crazy Tony Setraker” is told in the press in almost comic terms. “Tony Setrakar, better known as “crazy Tony” was arrested at midnight Thursday night by policeman William Kennedy who found him doing a series of poses on Market street…. Tony, whose eccentricities are well known to the police, was going through some unusual gymnastics when placed under arrest. Policeman Kennedy who rode along Market street on his motorcycle, saw Setrakar standing on the sidewalk, one arm upraised as if he was emulating the pose of Ajax in which he defies the lightning, Tony did not move and in the uncertain light looked like a dummy which boys might have fixed up. The policeman stopped to watch him for a moment and saw him change positions, so that his other arm was extended in a similar pose. He decided that (there) was something wrong with the fellow and took him to the police station…. Tony was placed in a cell on the lower floor. At 3:30 o’clock desk sergeant Frank Tryon’s attention was attracted by the southing of another prisoner in the adjoining cell. He hastened down the stairs and found Setrakar hanging from one of the upper bars of his cell…. Another foreigner who occupied the cell with Setraker lay on his bunk and was an amused witness of the whole incident. He grinned as if he considered it the best kind of joke. “Why don’t you let the darn fool hang himself if he wants to,” he asked the desk Sargent… Setrakar was given a hearing in police court this morning and was discharged. The rope with which he tried to hang himself was returned to him as a souvenir. If he wishes to carry his suicidal intentions into effect, he may do so as long as he does not clutter up the police station with his carcass.”  (16)

James Kane, 38, of 302 Market street was released from 60 days in county jail for bootlegging on a Monday morning in 1925. By that night at 8:15, he was arrested again, and in for 40 day stretch in the city jail, since he could not pay the fine of $205 for following and showing “too much attention” to two 13 year old girls walking to their home. (17)

Police officer John Callahan stepped out onto Genesee street from the Lunch Wagon after lunch one afternoon in October 1914 when a man wearing only a shirt, underwear and socks ran up to him and dragged his back toward his home on Market street. The man had run up Market to Water street and into town to shocked onlookers until he happened to spot Officer Callahan. At his home, the man demanded that Callahan arrest his wife, but could not remember on what charge. Instead Callahan started to arrest the man for drunk and disorderly, but his wife pleaded for his liberty and we was put to bed. (18)

A convoluted drama of attempted murder played out in 1915. Mrs. Frank Schwery Anna, first confessed then recanted that she had attempted to poison Frank Quigley,22 by adding arsenic to a glass of soda water she had offered him. Quigley, of 419 Market, three doors away, was father to a child born to Mrs. Schwery’s 18 year old daughter, Gertrude. That child was either buried or burned in the Mrs. Schwery’s back yard at 421 Market by Anna, “without stopping to see whether it was alive or dead.”  Quigley remained in hospital, his recovery uncertain. (19)

“For hours young Quigley hovered between life and death with Dr. Gourley administering antidotes to counteract the poison. Quigley lived but his first statement to the press as he lay recuperating in his bed was: “Me marry Gertrude? Never! Why, her mother would make a second attempt upon my life.”…Then Quigley asked what a white slave charge or the Mann act meant. When told, he immediately consulted with attorney James G Welch. That night he repudiated his own statement that he would rather die than marry Gertrude.” Two weeks later, Gertrude “her face was lighted with smiles,” told a reporter

 “Frank and I have loved each other throughout this ordeal. The imprisoning of my mother did not warp my love for Frank. I love him more than ever, and today I believe that he loves my mother as much as I do. I went with Frank to the home of his parents this morning. I do not believe they object to our marriage. I know that we have the well wishes of his mother, if not his father. My mother is wishing us god-speed and good luck…. we will not live with my mother, and I would never consent to living with Frank’s parents. We want a flat of our own.

  “Am I coming back to Waukegan? I should say we were. Do you think that I would leave Waukegan and let some of our so-called friends say that shame drove us out of town? Not me. We will live in Waukegan and we will endeavor to right past wrongs and live true Christian lives. I would be married in Waukegan but the pastor of the church I attend is out of town, so we will be married in Chicago, “ she said.” (20)

Vincent (Charles) Billiato of Market street was suspected to kidnapping Josie Bruno after she spurned his marriage proposal. Billiato had invited his foreman at the American Wire plant where he worked to the wedding, as well as a friend Joseph Caturara. Vincent and Josie and Joseph was injured were killed when their taxi was struck by a train at Gelnview. A relative of Miss Bruno became suspicious when it was discovered that a marriage license had never been taken out. A loaded gun was found in the ruins of the car. (21)

Jim Barber, an Italian Market street resident was arrested for squeezing the arm of Mrs. A J Wollweber at a local nickel movie house. Her husband, a wireless operator at the Great Lakes Naval station was detained at work, so his wife went to the movie unaccompanied. Jim not only followed her when she first changed seats in the theatre, but followed her outside and down the street to in front of her home on Water street where he was arrested. Jim attempted to explain himself, but suffered from a terrible stutter much to the amusement of the attending officers. He was sentenced to forty days in jail, as a warning to other “flirts.” The police desk sergeant suggested they “ought to hang him up by the heels until he died,” while the assistant Chief of police recommended “a whipping post” (22)

In 1900, young Jessie Sherwood, 17, of 801 Market and Emma Winoski, 18 were discovered on a troop train heading out of Waukegan destined for Cuba, where they hoped to marry their soldier sweethearts. They Jessie and Emma had met and fallen for their Fort Sheridan men at a Waukegan coffee shop, and were dismayed when the orders came in that the battalion was being shipped out to Cuba. According to Jessie, her beau Sargent Michael Langmeyer came up with the scheme of having the girls slip away with them, in disguise as soldiers. Uniforms were smuggled out, hair was cut, military drills were practiced, and the two women snuck onto the train and made it as far as Grand crossing and Indianapolis before discovery. The girls claimed three other young women were also on the train, but they were not discovered, and it is thought this claim was simply a ruse to occupy the Lieutenants in a fruitless search.(23)

Jessie’s mother promised to enroll the returned young woman in a school or home for women, behind a tall spiked fence, to keep her from the temptations of “brass-buttoned uniforms.” (24)

Jessie appeared in the news again in June, 1907. Jesse, then 22 according to the news report,  fell into the lake while fishing on the pier with her mother. Charles Adams, also 22,  saw the incident from across the inlet and rowed across in his small boat to rescue her “ just as she was sinking for the third time.” (25)

M. Mahamet of Market street Waukegan ate four dozen bananas and drank a bottle of pop as a wash down in twenty minutes without any ill effects. The stunt was performed on a bet of $50. (26)

During the depression, after new deal relief programs went into effect, local officials tried to crack down on misuse of relief assistance for drink instead of food as intended. Milton Jones, of 551 Market Street, a WPA worker, was held on the harsh bail of $2,000 for drunk driving in 1937. Town supervisor at the time, Harold Pillifant, promised to switch to grocery vouchers instead of cash distributions to try to stem the problem. (27).

Victor Kornacki of 541 Market Street was at least able to reunite with his long lost brothers while serving his 20 days for drunk and disorderly following a fight in 1938. Walter and Vincent had not seen their brother Victor for 16 years, when he had left them in Chicago looking for work, and visited him in the Waukegan jail, after reading about his sentence in the local paper. (28)

As the depression dragged on into May of 1938, Frank Sisek, 60 years old, of Market Street collapsed from hunger on Waukegan Street. Police discovered $900 pinned to the inner layer of his three layers of underwear. It was also discovered that Sisek apparently had another $2,000 deposited in a local building a loan association. Unemployment had caused him to cut down on his meals.

After “two square meals” at the Lake county general hospital, feeling better, Sisek decided to take a vacation to New York.(29)  He returned to his boarding on Market street to say goodbye to his neighbor and friend, Joseph Bartello, only to find him dead.(30)

It is unclear if Sisek ever took his trip to New York. A week later, in June, he collapsed again a short distance from his home on Market street. “Physicians said there was nothing wrong with him except that he was suffering from hunger… The county general hospital refused to admit him again and he was taken to St Therese hospital in Waukegan where he will be charged for treatment.” (31)

 

Notes

 (1) He found them in the cellar Libertyville Independent,  Oct 4, 1907, , p12

(2) Foreigner found Murdered, Lake County Independent, May 19, 1905, P1

(3) Lake County Independent, May 25, 1905, P4

(4) Lake County Independent, July 21, 1905, P8

(5) Lake County Independent, July 7, 1905, P8

(6) Jimmy Toy is Dead, Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, Aug 17, 1906, p.10

(7) Heard wife confess to ruin, Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, April 5, 1907, p.8

(8) Throat is cut by falling glass, Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, Aug 9, 1907, p.8(?)

(9) Terrible fight with Tramp dog, Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, Sept 6, 1907, p.8

(10) Kills dog, tries to draw gun on 2 officers, Waukegan Daily Sun and the Waukegan Daily Gazette, Monday March 9,1925, p1

(11) Insulted woman gets revenge, Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun,  May 14, 1909, p8

(12) The story of a family row Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun January 31, 1908, p8

(13) Man with a gun lands in jail Libertyville Independent, Fri Nov 27, 1908

(14) Waukegan poisoned; a mystery case Libertyville independent,  Feb 21, 1913 p 8

(15) Death overtakes John Bullock of Market street suddenly Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, April 29, 1910, p8

(16) Attempted suicide in local jail Libertyville independent, Oct 3, 1913

(17) Negro annoys 2 small girls; must serve 40 days, Waukegan Daily Sun and the Waukegan Daily Gazette, Tuesday March 31, 1925, p1

(18) Half clothed man crazed by drink startles citizens Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, October 9, 1914, p7

(19) Mrs. Schwery repudiates a confession of Saturday, Libertyville Independent , Aug 6, 1915, p1

(20) Quigley and Miss Schwery wed; to drop prosecution Libertyville Independent, Aug 27, 1915, p1

(21) Identify girl killed with her sweetheart, Libertyville Independent , Jan 12, 1922: p1

(22) Squeezes Girl’s arm; gets forty days in jail, Libertyville Independent, Sept 17, 1915, p7

(23) Five Desperate Girls The Indianapolis Journal,  May 17, 1900,

(24) Jessie Sherwood, Soldier’s girl, to be shut up in school. Chicago Tribune,  May 17, 1900,

(25) Romantic rescue of Drowning Miss, Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, June 28, 1907, p.12

(26) Pretty big capacity Belvidere Daily Republican, Belvidere, Illinois, Thurs Aug 15, 1912, p6

(27) Waukegan judge Jails another drunk reliefer Chicago Tribune, Wed Dec 8, 1937, p17

(28)  3 Brothers hold reunion in jail after 16 years Chicago Tribune Jan 24, 1938, p1

(29) Learns eating is fun at 60 and will delve into his $2,900 hoard Chicago Tribune, Friday May 27, 1938, p1

(30) Hungry miser who escaped death finds it struck down pal Chicago Tribune, Sat, May 28, 1938, p7

(31) Collapses from hunger a 2d time; hoards his $900, Chicago Tribune, June 5, 1938

 

Appendix

 (1) He found them in the cellar Libertyville Independent,  Oct 4, 1907, , p12

He found them in the cellar

Result, the wife let the lover flee and shaved husband’s left eyebrow with a tin pail

“needles and pins, needles and pins, when a man’s married, the trouble begins.”—nursery rhyme

Carle Jenewitch never realized how true a saw the old nursery rhyme is until he came home to 218 Market street Sunday and not finding the wife of his bosom at the appointed place in the kitchen, descended to the cellar to find her clasped tightly in the arms of Andrew Genelewitch, he says.

Genelewich fled he claims but the wife remained, and to show her disdain for her husband she took a pail and swiped him over the left eyebrow with it, completely shaving off the eyebrow in a jesting way so that it required several stiches.

Genelewich was fined $25 and costs this morning by magistrate hope and promised to keep out of Jenewich’s cellar hereafter.

Jenewich charges a long series of persecutions on the part of his second wife and says he is a much-abused man. He even claims that once his wife tried to poison him and that had it not been for the timely arrival of a physician and a stomach pump he would have died.

Oct 4, 1907

 

(2) Foreigner found Murdered, Lake County Independent, May 19, 1905, P1

Foreigner found Murdered

Another murder added to the long list of crimes among Waukegan’s foreign element

Suspect landed in jail

On Monday morning Coroner Taylor was called to Waukegan to hold an inquest over the remains of Armenian Kozar Ogosian, who was found last Friday morning in a clump of trees on the north side of the city in circumstances which pointed to suicide.. The man was discovered by two brothers, Fred and Will Hogrewe, lying in a pool of water caused by the rain, which had been falling during the night, with a bullet hole in his breast.

The police took up the case and finally arrested Setrack Ezakillian on circumstantial evidence. The prisoner’s cap was found near the body of the dead man and it was said by Armenian witnesses at the inquest that Ogosian and Ezakillian’s wife had been on friendly terms and that the dead man had said that he was liable to be shot if found by Ezakillian at his home.

It the testimony brought out at the inquest was the statement that Mrs Ezakillian and Ogosian were together during the evening and had been seen on the street walking in each others company. The cap found near the victim was fully identified as belonging to Ezekillian and further it was claimed by a twelve year old Armenian boy that the prisoner’s little daughter told him that her father killed Ogosian and dragged him to another place where he was found.

Another Armenian witness told of meeting Ogosian on the fatal night going in the direction of the Ezakillian home and said that he asked him where he was going and he said that he was out for a walk.

The jury, after hearing much testimony rendered the following decision:

“We, the jury, find that said Kozar Ogosian came to his death by a bullet fired from a .32 caliber revolver, and from the circumstantial evidence we can gather, we the jury believe the revolver was in the hands of Setrak Ezakillian and we recommend that he be held to the grand jury to answer the charge of murder,”

The revolver found near the body of the dead man was a .22 caliber gun and so the theory of the suicide was exploded.

The Ezakillians have a bad name among the residents of the Armenian colony and it is claimed by them that the wife of the man held for murder was in the old country brought from Greece as a social outcast to be an inmate in a home of which he was the proprietor.

In his cell in the county jail Ezakillian refuses to make any statement whatever about the crime other than that he is innocent and trusts God to deliver him from the circumstances which have caused him to be held.

May 19, 1905

 

(3) Lake County Independent, May 25, 1905, P4

On Tuesday Setrack Ezakillian was bound over to the grand jury charged with the murder of Hazar Ogusian on the night of May 10. After being twice continued, the case was finally brought up in the police court and on a change venue. EV Orvis heard the case. It is generally believed that neither the state nor the defense brought out their strongest arguments, as it was conceded that he would be bound over to await further development. At the hearing much of the evidence brought out at the coroner’s inquest was gone over and if either side had any further information it was not presented. Ezelillian continues to deny any knowledge of the murder and says that had he found his wife and Ogusian together he would have killed him and would have given himself up to the authorities and at the most would have received a light sentence but as it is, he is innocent and stands a good chance of being hanged for murder. His countrymen have raised a considerable amount of money to be used in his defense.

May 25, 1905

 

(4) Lake County Independent, July 21, 1905, P8

It is claimed that Setrack Ezekillian now confined to the county jail charged with murder or Hazar Ogusian who was found dead last spring with a bullet in his breast had prior to his arrest been an agent for an Armenian revolutionary society and that at one time he purchased a large quantity of rifles which were sold at auction at Fort Sheridan and then shipped to Armenia for the use of natives in the uprising against Turkey. Ezekillian is a naturalized American citizen and has borne a varied reputation. It is said that the revolutionary society has a well-organized body in Waukegan and that the local chapter has done much to aid their brethren who are continually planning to cast off the yoke of the Sultan.

July 21, 1905

 

(5) Lake County Independent, July 7, 1905, P8

Thursday night a man much under the influence of liquor was taken into custody by officer Hentges and placed on a south bound train in order to get him out of town. He had been running up and down Market street crying that someone was after him trying to kill him. As it was but a drunken delirium he was shipped south in hopes of getting him out of the locality. Later word was received from Chicago that the same man had committed suicide by jumping from the Hamilton street bridge into the Chicago river. It appears that he had been an  ironworker and had been employed in the building of the bridge, and so he probable [sic] chose that spot to destroy himself.

July 7, 1905

 

(6) Jimmy Toy is Dead, Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, Aug 17, 1906, p.10

Jimmy Toy is Dead

Jimmy Toy, for years known to every man woman and child in Waukegan is dead. For years he has been a well-known figure on the streets and was liked by everyone who knew him.

Wed afternoon about 2 o’clock Toy was found dead in his bed at the Chicago House on Market street.

Toy was employed as a machinist for the sugar refinery. Tuesday night he went to bed as usual. Wednesday morning he was called for breakfast and did not answer. At dinner time he was called again, but no answer was received. some search was made for him but he was not found.

about 2 o’clock the chambermaid entered the room to arrange it and was horrified to find Toy’s body cold in the bed. She called Mrs. Stamberg, the proprietor of the hotel.

The police were notified as was undertaker Drew, who removed the body to his undertaking rooms.

Although it can not be told when Tony died, it was probably some time in the night.

Toy was a general handyman. He was a painter, a machinist and several other things. He was known to everybody and yet was all alone in the world. He was about 50 years old.

a man of strong possibilities, he did not take advantage of them or care of himself, although he was ever ready to help anyone and his death came alone in the night.

In the room was found several bottles of medicine, as Toy had been feeling ill for a short time, but had summoned no doctor.

Toy has a sister Mrs. Maloy, living in Washington, Ind. He is a second cousin of Mrs. A J Kelley and of the Mines. He has lived here and in Lake Forest about thirty years.

Man’s real name develops

At the inquest over the remains of Toy in the Drew rooms, it developed through a relative that the man’s real name was Michael Toy.

The verdict of the coroner’s jury was in effect that Toy had died a natural death, helped along by chronic alcoholism.

it is alleged that he was a constant and heavy drinker and that he suffered no organic complaint whatever, although heart disease was at first suspected.

The inquest was attended by no sensational features whatever.

Aug 17, 1906

 

(7) Heard wife confess to ruin, Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, April 5, 1907, p.8

Heard wife confess to ruin

Husband accuses another of winning wife’s affection--other cases which claim attention of the law

Going to confession together, Tom Marsic alleged to Police Magistrate Hope that just before Lent he heard his wife confess her unfaithfulness to the priest.

After this he forced he to confess to him her lapses from grace and as a result had Joe Malonek arrested  as destroyer of his home. The case was dismissed by Assistant State’s Attorney Miller today, the charge against Malonek being disorderly conduct and the woman being proven as much to blame as the man.

Because he says Joe Malonek is a home destroyer and stole his wife’s love while he was away at work, Tom Marsic of 613 Market street, on Saturday had Malonek arrested and the seducer was tried Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock before Magistrate Hope.

Officer Hicks made the arrest on Saturday, beginning the chase after Malonek at 7, and landing him near the Corn Products Refining plant.

Attorney William F Weiss will defend Malonek, who, for present, is accused of merely disorderly conduct. It is stated that more serious charges may come later.

April 5, 1907

 

(8) Throat is cut by falling glass, Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, Aug 9, 1907, p.8(?)

Throat is cut by falling glass

Rips open white flesh from ear to Adam's apple and comes within an inch of the great jugular vein

Here is a remarkable chain of circumstances, leading to almost a fatality, and having no equal in the history of the city:

a woman on Market street in opening her trunk slammed the lid against the window panes, shattering it.

The pieces fell on the porch of the house on which four men were sitting.

One of the fragments of the pane cut Frank Hawkins thought, coming within an inch of the big jugular vein, and inflicting a wound several inches long.

Friday night, while four men were sitting on the porch of the house at 709 Market street, the landlady went upstairs to get some article of attire from her trunk, which was in the room on the second story.

She opened the trunk and the lid fell from her hands against a window, taking out and breaking the pane into several great jagged fragments.

The pieces fell onto the porch below and one of them hit Frank Hawkins just below the ear, tearing a cutting his throat open from the ear to the point where it bared the larynx or Adam’s apple and coming within a small part of an inch of the great jugular, which to sever mean death.

The incident happened at ten Friday night and a hurry call went for Dr. Gourley who attended Hawkins.

The theory is that one of the fragments fell just right, point downward, to inflict the terrific tear in Hawkin’s throat.

Had Hawkins been alone on the porch at the time the accident happened the circumstances might have led to the theory of foul play, so unusual is the accident and its fearful result.

Hawkins is at home

The wonder and the fright of his companions were beyond measure and they could hardly believe that a man could have his throat cut in the manner described had they not heard the tinkle of the falling glass and an instant later had seen the red blood gushing from Hawkins’ throat.

Aug 9, 1907

 

(9) Terrible fight with Tramp dog, Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, Sept 6, 1907, p.8

Terrible fight with Tramp dog

The plague of dogs in Waukegan is passing all bounds.

Thursday Bob McDermott practically saved the life of little Bob Oden when the dog attacked him.

Friday Morning Joe kautenberg had to fight to the death a license-less cur that attacked him.

Other incidents of a like nature have been told about before.

The city has had no dog-catcher for three years, no move has been made this year to kill off the licensless curs or impound them, and not half are licensed.

Can you beat it?

Attacked by a monstrous tramp dog, steaming blood from four wounds inflicted by the cur’s teeth, Joe Kautengerg of Marion street Friday morning fought off the ferocious beast and finally twisted its head from its body, leaving the gory mess near the Forty Steps while he sought a physician to attend his injuries.

It is such a battle as never before been waged in this city, man opposing beast, in relentless and terrific combat.

Had not Kautenberg been six feet tall and strong as a giant he could never have won the victory and might now be lying in the hospital a victim to the dog’s ravening maw.

Tramp dog did job

Mr. Kautenberg, who is night foreman of the sugar house at the Corn Products plant and is related to the Kautenberg’s of Market street, had finished his turn at the sugar house and was returning home at about nine-thirty Friday morning.

As he neared the forty steps that lead up the hill from Market street he noticed that a large uncertain colored tramp dog without collar or license had been following him.

He chased the dog, which instead of going away ran with a cat-like motion toward him and finally sprang at his hand.

Kautenberg jerked the member away, but the fangs of the angered canine met in his flesh and the combat began, the conquering spirit in the man meeting the ferocity of the beast on equal ground, the man struggling without any weapon except his bare hands against the dog, provided by nature with terrible fangs, an instinct for destruction and the low ravening spirit of the beast.

Terrible battle witnessed

Italians who saw the battle say it was horrifying.

The dog bit the man four times, on either hand, and incited to fury by the sight and smell of blood made renewed efforts to get at some vital spot, it is thought.

Chokes battling beast

Kautenberg did not flinch but with a courage as rare as it is magnificent watched his chance and grabbed the throat of the beast in two powerful hands, hands with the strength of a desperate man in them.

hen he throttled the beast, thrashing him back and forth in his rage, lifting him clear of the ground, his fingers sinking deeply into the hairy and gaping throat.

The surprised canine seemed to realize that it was all over and while he continued to snap and growl, did not do so with his pristine vigor.

Breaks beast’s neck

The end came when Kautenberg deliberately twisted the head from the dog’s body, breaking its spinal cord and sending it spinning, weltering in its own gore and the pain of a death agony near the foot of the Forty Steps.

It is a combat such as entitles Kautenberg to recognition as the strongest, most daring and adventurous man in Waukegan.

Italian are angry.

His troubles were not yet over, however. Italians who saw the combat threatened Kautenberg with their vengeance, he said in an interview with s Sun reporter. He thinks that the dog belonged to them. They were angry with him for his action in protecting his life he knows, as a group gathered and talked excitedly and made threatening motions toward him.

He did not stop but hastened up town, where his bites were cauterized by Dr William Pearce.

Sept 6, 1907

 

(10) Kills dog, tries to draw gun on 2 officers, Waukegan Daily Sun and the Waukegan Daily Gazette, Monday March 9,1925, p1

Kills dog, tries to draw gun on 2 officers

Glenn Soldana is fined $200 and costs in police court this morning

Says he was drunk

Glenn Soldana, 31, of 513 Market street was arrested Sunday afternoon at 4:45 o’clock on charges

Of being drunk and disorderly, with carrying  concealed weapons and with shooting inside the city limits. He is charged with having attempted to shoot two officers when they placed him under arrest. In police court this morning he was fined $200 and costs.

Soldana, according to the police was walking along Market street late Sunday afternoon when a dog ran out from a yard and made an attack on him.  Soldana is alleged to have drawn a revolver and shot the animal. Then he entered a house occupied by Mexicans on the opposite side of the street.

Owners of the dog called the police and made a complaint. Officers True Whittier and Edward Cliff responded. Soldana was found in the house but a search of his pockets failed to reveal any revolver.

Owners of the dog, however, identified him as the man who shot the animal. As the officers started to place Soldana in the police car he reached down inside his trousers. Quickly anticipating his action the officers subdued him and then search(ed) him again. This time they found his gun, which he had slipped inside of his underwear until it rested near his knee. They are convinced that had they not stopped him he would have drawn the gun and opened fire on them.

Monday March 9,1925

 

(11) Insulted woman gets revenge, Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun,  May 14, 1909, p8

Insulted woman gets revenge

Pounds brother-in-law while husband holds him

Insulted, Mrs. Joseph Rossman gave her tormentor the most beautiful pair of black eyes ever seen in the city police station, whipping her husband’s brother, Peter Rossman, with her bare fists while her husband held him.

Owing, it is said, $98 board bill, Peter Rossman came to the Rossman  place yesterday, sat at the table with his hat on, refused to take it off., started an argument by calling Mrs. Rossman vile names, was ordered out, went onto the porch only to have some milk spilled on him by his indignant sister-in-law, hurled a flower pot at her, and was seized and held by his brother while his wife beat him up and down and across in revenge for the names.

Police Magistrate Hope dismissed the case and Pete will never call names again.

May 14, 1909

 

(12) The story of a family row Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun January 31, 1908, p8

The story of a family row

Father and son battle and son has father fined for fighting as a result of Sunday row, Police notes.

Out of work, enraged because his son, he says, spends so much of his time roystering in saloons, Mat Siroccas “called” him severely, whereupon his son, Joe Siroccas, of 920 Market street, set upon the old man, he alleges and beat him up.

Siroccas has been out of work for some time and when his son did not come in until a very late hour Saturday night he says he was sore. He did not say anything, however but when the boy started out again next night he lectured him with disastrous results.

Then the father started to the police station to have the boy arrested he says before he could get there the son telephoned in ahead and the father was arrested instead. He was fined $5.00 and costs for fighting.

January 31, 1908

 

(13) Man with a gun lands in jail Libertyville Independent, Fri Nov 27, 1908

Man with a gun lands in jail

Had not Tom Normoyle, 23 of davenport Iowa fired his revolver in a half-drunken condition at the north-western depot Thursday night, he never would have been arrested and bound over to the grand jury in the sum of $1,000 for the more serious offense of criminal assault

As it was Mr. and Mrs. Rebbe of the Chicago house, Market street heard how the wrong man had been arrested for his solitary drunken revel and Mrs. Rebbe recognized him as the man who had entered her room while her husband was away at work a few nights ago and made a fiendish attempt at assault upon her. The result was the Rebbes told their story and Normoyle got in addition to his $25 fine for firing a revolver on the streets an added penalty in that he will have to face trial for assault at the march term of the court.

…Mrs. Rebbe says that Normoyle attacked her while her child was with her in the room and resisting she ran across the street to the sugar refinery to summon her husband. Normoyle says the whole thing is a conspiracy to put him in jail and claims to have known Mrs. Rebbe in Davenport. She denies knowing him at all.

Fri Nov 27, 1908

 

(14) Waukegan poisoned; a mystery case Libertyville independent,  Feb 21, 1913 p 8

Waukegan poisoned; a mystery case

Complete mystery surrounds the case of Jacob Kaucnick, 34 years old, a carpenter who was found in an unconscious condition in his home by his wife this noon. He is now at McAllister hospital, still unconscious. He is believed to have swallowed some poison contained in Whiskey alleged to have been purchased in a saloon at 712 Market street.

Kaucnik either attempted suicide or else the whiskey was poisoned before he bought it, according to neighbors. He had no enemies, they say. An attempt to learn of any reason why he should commit suicide met with failure. According to Frank Petkosveck, who keeps the saloon at 718 Market street, Kaucnick had been working all winter for his brother at Villard, Wisconsin. Last year he was employed by the northwestern railroad.

Kaucenick, who lives in the rear of 706 Market street has two children, a boy for years old, and a girl, three years old. He was found by his wife groaning. She is unable to speak English and her frantic screams attracted the attention of neighbors who called Dr. Kalowsky and an ambulance. The doctors arrived and after hasty examination had him taken to the hospital. The doctor would not say that the man had been poisoned, but he will make a statement later.

According to one report of somebody who saw him drink the whiskey, something red was seen in the whiskey just as he gulped it from the glass and that is what gives rise to the poison theory

Feb 21, 1913

 

(15) Death overtakes John Bullock of Market street suddenly Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, April 29, 1910, p8

Death overtakes John Bullock of Market street suddenly

John Bullock, well known man about Waukegan with relatives at Racine and Highland Park, was found dead Friday night at his rooms on Market street when friends went to his room to give him medicine. He is the brother of Mrs. C Ives of Highland Park and the uncle of Robert Ives of Ives and Robertson of that city and is well known.

The late Mr. Bullock had been employed by Michael Gibbs in his saloon Friday near 1 o’clock he entered the place and announced that he was ill. He has been a great sufferer from asthma and nothing much was thought of the announcement. In the evening when a friend went up to see him he rushed back with the statement that he thought Bullock dead. This proved to be the case. The inquest was held at 1 o’clock Saturday.

April 29, 1910

 

(16) Attempted suicide in local jail Libertyville independent, Oct 3, 1913

Attempted suicide in local jail

“Crazy Tony” Setrakar seeks to hang himself to upper bars of his cell in the jail

Cut down just in time

Was arrested a few hours before when he was found doing statuesque posing

Waukegan Sep 26

Tony Setrakar, better known as “crazy Tony” was arrested at midnight Thursday night by policeman William Kenedy who found him doing a series of poses on Market street. At 3:30 o’clock, Setraker sought to commit suicide by hanging himself to the bars of his cell with a small piece of…He was cut down before he had time to strangle to death.

Tony, whose eccentricities are well known to the police, was going through some unusual gymnastics when placed under arrest. Policeman Kenedy who rode along Market street on his motorcycle, saw Setrakar standing on the sidewalk, one arm upraised as if he was emulating the pose of Ajaz in which he defies the lightning, Tony did not move and in the uncertain light looked like a dummy which boys might have fixed up. The policeman stopped to watch him for a moment and saw him change positions, so that his other arm was extended in a similar pose. He decided that (there) was something wrong with the fellow and took him to the police station.

Tony was placed in a cell on the lower floor. At 3:30 o’clock desk sergeant Frank Tryon’s attention was attracted by the southing of another prisoner in the adjoining cell. He hastened down the stairs and found Setrakar hanging from one of the upper bars of his cell.

The rope was little more than a cord and had been doubled so that it would sustain the fellow’s weight. He apparently had stood on the floor as he fastened the cord overhead. Then  he knotted the other end about his neck. This did not raise him off the floor.

To get around this little obstacle, Setrakar raised his feet and persistently held them up while he violently chocking to death. He was black in the face when Tryon reached him and cut him down.

Another foreigner who occupied the cell with Setraker lay on his bunk and was an amused witness of the whole incident. He grinned as if he considered it the best kind of joke.

“Why don’t you let the darn fool hang himself if he wants to,” he asked the desk sergeant.

Setrakar was given a hearing in police court this morning and was discharged. The rope with which he tried to hang himself was returned to him as a souvenir. If he wishes to carry his suicidal intentions into effect, he may do so as long as he does not clutter up the police station with his carcass.

Oct 3, 1913,

 

(17) Negro annoys 2 small girls; must serve 40 days, Waukegan Daily Sun and the Waukegan Daily Gazette, Tuesday March 31, 1925, p1

Negro annoys 2 small girls; must serve 40 days

James Kane gets out of jail in morning after 60 days; jailed in the evening

Claims he was drunk

James Kane, 38, a negro living at 302 Market street was released from county jail Monday morning after having served 60 days following his conviction of bootlegging. Monday night at 8:15 o’clock Kane was rearrested, this time by the city police on the charge of having annoyed two 13 year old girls living on the west side. In the police court this morning police magistrate Walter Taylor fined Kane $205. The negro was unable to pay and as a result will have to do another 40 day “stretch” in jail.

The two girls were walking toward home in South Park avenue Monday night when they were accosted by Kane, according to their story to the police this morning. They refused to talk to the negro but he continued to follow them and insisted upon showering attention on them.

Seeing that they could not get rid of the fellow by simply ignoring him the girls started to run. The negro pursued but they succeeded in getting away from him. The girls ran to the home of one where the child told her mother. The latter hurried down the street and located the negro. The police were called and the fellow was placed under arrest.

In police court this morning Kane said that he had been drinking last night and could not remember what had happened to him.

The experiences of these two girls follow closely on the report made by a 13 year old Hickory street girl who stated that two negroes had waylaid her in an alley Monday morning and had attempted to attack her in a garage.

 

(18) Half clothed man crazed by drink startles citizens Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, October 9, 1914, p7

Half clothed man crazed by drink startles citizens

Resident of Market street makes trip through town very scantily clad

Wanted wife arrested

Monday Oct 5, 1914

The figure of a man clad only in under drawers and stockings and with the tail of his shirt flapping in the wind turned the corner off of Market Street onto Water street at a rapid pace. The figure in white sped up the thoroughfare without any cessation of speed. It was shortly before midnight Sunday evening, still there were many pedestrians on the street. As the figure dashed up the street pedestrians gave one glance at the approaching man for such it was and jumped for shelter. It was stated one woman nearly fainted, whether the white figure was mistaken for a ghost of whether the unusual features of the affair caused the citizens to give the man the right of the thoroughfare has not been explained.

The man continued his way up Water street and rounding the corner on Genesee street ran as far as the Lunch wagon. Patrolman John Callahan had just emerged from the lunch wagon after eating lunch. The odd figure dashed up to the officer and grasped him by the arm.

“Come with me,” it said in a husky tone of voice.

The officer went. Down into the denizens of Market street the man led the officer. The two had reached a dwelling house on upper Market street. The man stopped. The officer surveyed the building. True, it had a dark and sinister aspect, but it looked [perfectly enough.

The man turned up the sidewalk leading to the house. The officer followed. Reaching the door the man entered, the officer close behind him. S they reached the interior of the residence a sorry looking little woman confronted them. It was the man’s wife. He pointed to her.

“I want her arrested,” said the trouser less one.

“What for,” queried the officer.

The man didn’t know. Then the wife told him that the man had been drinking heavily all day. The officer then decided to arrest the man, but the woman pleaded for the man’s liberty. Officer Callahan then put the man to bed and departed.

Employee of the EJ&E roundhouse stated that earlier in the evening the man had been yelling like a Comanche. They were not sure that someone was being murdered and a delegation of them investigated but found the man was insane from drink, was merely screaming from his delirium.

October 9, 1914

 

(19) Mrs Schwery repudiates a confession of Saturday, Libertyville Independent , Aug 6, 1915, p1

Mrs. Schwery repudiates a confession of Saturday

Deputy coroner Conrad sends contents of soda water bottle to chemist of coroner Hoffman—result is important—Mrs. Schwery declares that whatever she might have said to state’s attorney and police chief was a result of their questioning

Waukegan Aug 2

Did the bottle of soda water from which Mrs. Schwery poured a glass for Frank Quigley contain arsenic, or the latest story told by Mrs. Schwery to the effect that there might have been arsenic in the glass by mistake the correct statement of facts?

This is the question that deputy coroner Edward Conrad wishes to have settled definitely.

This morning he sealed the partly emptied bottle of soda-water and sent it to a Mr. McNalley, chemist for coroner Peter Hoffman of Chicago. He requested the Chicago coroner to have the contents of the bottle analyzed so that he might determine if there was arsenic in it, and if so, how much.

If the analysis shows the presence of arsenic it would tend to disprove the story  now told by Mrs. Schwery. If the liquid is found to be free from any drug it will be one of the strongest factors in substantiating the local woman’s story. In addition to sending the bottle of liquid, the deputy coroner also sent the glass from which young Quigley took a drink. The insides of this glass will also be analyzed.

Sitting in a cell in the Lake county jail on Sunday Mrs. Frank Schwery, who on Saturday night confessed to state’s attorney Ralph J Dady and assistant chief of police Thomas Tyrrell that she had given a tablespoon of arsenic to frank Quigley, 22 years old, the father of the nameless babe born to Gertrude, the 18-year-old daughter of Mrs. Schwery, completely repudiated the confession and declared she had not made it. She was addressing her remarks to her son, Fred.

That she will deny officially to having confessed is the belief of her friends. She will declare, it is said, that anything she may have said was under pressure of the grilling third degree to which she was subjected.

Immediately after her arrest Saturday night Mrs. Schwery, at her own request, was taken to the Quigley home at 419 Market street. She knelt by the side of the poison victim and looked appealingly into his eyes.

“You don’t believe I gave you poison, do you?” she begged. “You know I wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

“I’m sure you gave the poison to me, Mrs. Schwery,” young Quigley replied in a weak voice.

“God knows I wouldn’t,” was the reply. “I wouldn’t have done it for the world.”

Less than two hours later, in the central police station, Mrs. Scwery made her complete confession. Present at the time were the father and sister of the victim. From the basket full of chemicals which had been used by Fred Schwery, who is studying chemistry, Mrs. Schwery extracted the bottle which contained the arsenic.

Deputy coroner Conrad says he does not know just when the inquest over the little infant will be held. He says he wishes to wait and see weather or not young Quikley is going to recover. At the present time the condition of the young man remains about the same. Physicians in charge say that time alone will tell what effect the poison is going to have.

States attorney Dady says he does not think the child case will amount to much. He said that although Mrs. Schwery admitted that she buried the infant child without knowing whether or not it was alive or dead, the state, in order to make out a case against Mrs. Schwery would have to prove that the child really was born alive and was alive when buried. This, he says, is next to impossible. He is relying solely upon the poisoning case.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Schwery’s case has been continued to August 9, at nine a.m. Mrs., Schwery has failed to secure the $2,000 bonds and is in jail.

Bottles of poison.

When the police officers were detailed to watch Mrs. Schwery in her home on Saturday, they were told to search the house for bi-clorine of mercury tablets, as it was thought this was the poison that had been administered. They were told to look for other kinds of poison. Several bottles labeled “poison” were found in the kitchen and were removed to the police station. When the policemen reached the laboratory of young Schwery they found a large number of bottles. They were all placed in a basket and removed to the police station.

 The basket of chemicals stood in the court room of the central police station while Mrs. Schwery was being questioned by state attorney Dady and assistant chief Tyrrell. When she finally broke down and confessed she got down on her knees on the floor and began to rummage through the large pile of bottles. She finally picked up a bottle containing arsenic. She said she had given the young man the poison out of this bottle.

“How much did you give him?’ she was asked.

Mrs. Schwery poured out in her hand about the amount she said she had placed in the bottle of soda-water—there was about a tablespoon of the drug.

In denial for hours

Immediately after Mrs. Schwery was taken in custody by the states attorney and the assistant chief of police she was taken to the Quigley home. This was her own request. From there she was taken to the courtroom of the police station, where the assistant signed the formal complaint against her, charging her with “attempted murder.” Police magistrate Walter Taylor fixed her bonds at $3,000 which she was unable to furnish.

The officers then began to question her. For about two hours she was subjected to the third degree. She was told of the critical condition in which young Qugley was and the probability that he would die because the physician could not determine what kind of poison he had been given. She was told that if he died she would be charged with his murder and probably would hang for it. On the other hand it was pointed out to her that if she would tell the kind of poison she had administered his chances of recovery would be much better, as the physicians would be able to give the correct antidote. This fact was driven home so strongly that Mrs., Schwery announced that se would tell all. She then said she had given Quigley arsenic because she said he had betrayed her daughter…..

…Ever since the child was born the neighbors have been suspicious. On th night of July 17, the day on which the child was born and on which day Mrs. Anna Schwery confesses she buried it in her back yard without stopping to see whether it was alive or dead, Mr Quigley, father of frank Quigley…saw Mrs. Schwery go into her back yard rather stealthily, carrying a large bundle of newspapers in her arms.

He saw her deposit these near the woodshed and set fire to them. According to a statement he made on Saturday he saw Mrs. Schwery moving about the fire and other parts of the backyard until nearly midnight. At the time he thought that Mrs. Schwery had made away with the body of the child, but instead of burying it he thought she had cremated it in the fire.

…For the last several days there have been reports of a Market street scandal involving Gertrude Schwery. These reports were to the effect that she had become a mother, that an Evanston physician and nurse were in attendance and that the mother and child were in Chicago.

There were also breathed suspicions  that the child had been buried in the back yard, but none of the neighbors cared to take the initiative in reporting the matter to the authorities. The affair might never have become public had not you Guigley become ill, cause the young man’s father to start his investigation…

Aug 6, 1915

 

(20) Quigley and Miss Schwery wed; to drop prosecution Libertyville Independent, Aug 27, 1915, p1

Quigley and Miss Schwery wed; to drop prosecution

Mother of child mother will not face bar of justice as result of marriage

To live down the shame

To return to Waukegan—“the scandal and gossip can’t hurt us,” bride says

Bulletin

Grover Franklin Quigley and Miss Gertrude Schwery were licensed to wed in Chicago at 2 0’clock Tuesday afternoon in Chicago.

Waukegan Aug 20

Cupid is battering down the prison walls which have stared Mrs. Frank Schwery in the face since she buried the newly born babe of her daughter in an unmarked grave at her home on Market street and at this hour her daughter Gertrude on the arms of her first love—Frank Quigley—is searching Chicago for a Presbyterian minister to tie the nuptial knot.

Thus the Schwery-Quigley episode of love, misfortune, alleged murder and alleged revenge is at an end.

When interviewed by a Sun reporter Tuesday morning Gertrude Schwery said:

“Frank and I have loved each other throughout this ordeal. The imprisoning of my mother did not warp my love for Frank. I love him more than ever, and today I believe that he loves my mother as much as I do. I went with Frank to the home of his parents this morning. I do not believe they object to our marriage. I know that we have the well wishes of his mother, if not his father. My mother is wishing us god-speed and good luck.”

When a Sun reporter saw Miss Schwery on the street Saturday morning she was carrying a large suit box—perhaps her trousseau. Her face was lighted with smiles—perhaps the first since the birth of her child.

“oh no, we will not live with my mother, and I would never consent to living with Frank’s parents. We want a flat of our own.

“Am I coming back to Waukegan? I should say we were. Do you think that I would leave Waukegan and let some of our so-called friends say that shame drove us out of town? Not me. We will live in Waukegan and we will endeavor to right past wrongs and live true Christian lives. I would be married in Waukegan but the pastor of the church I attend is out of town, so we will be married in Chicago, “ she said.

Mrs. Schwery at the hour of her arrest confessed to having attempted to poison Quigley. The next morning—Sunday—she repudiated her confession.

On Saturday July 31 a sensational crime sprang into view when W F Quigley called on the police and state’s attorney Dady to investigate the sudden illness of his son Frank, age 22, who was then lying in a critical condition at his home at 409 Market street.

Following the charges made by the father of Quigley that he is confident that Mrs. Frank Schwery, who lived three door away, administered the poison to his son in revenge for the betrayal of her daughter Gertrude to whom a child had been born a few days before.

The suspicion that Mrs Schwery either buried alive or murdered and then buried the babe, which was born on July 17, became more believable when deputy coroner Conrad exhumed the decomposed corpse from a grave in the back yard of the Schwery home.

“I buried the child. I threw a shawl over it and buried it to hide my daughter’s shame,” shouted Mrs. Schwery on the day she last sat in her home with a policeman standing guard over her. Mrs. Schwery was arrested. An inquest was held over the remains of the babe. The coroner’s jury recommended that Mrs. Schwery be held to the grand jury. The daughter sought shelter in the home of relatives in Chicago. For hours young Quigley hovered between life and death with Dr. Gourley administering antidotes to counteract the poison. Quigley lived but his first statement to the press as he lay recuperating in his bed was: “Me marry Gertrude? Never! Why, her mother would make a second attempt upon my life.”

Immediately after the inquest over the baby a Sun reporter talked with Frank Quigley.

The interview, possibly, ended in the marriage of the two young people. Mrs. Schwery stood ready to cause the arrest of Quigley on a white slave charge, and Quigley was seeking the advice of an attorney when seen by the reporter.

Don’t you think that you had better marry Geryrude and end this episode that may result in both you and Mrs. Schwery being sent to jail?” queried a Sun reporter.

Then Quigley asked what a white slave charge or the Mann act meant. When told, he immediately consulted with attorney James G Welch. That night he repudiated his own statement that he would rather die than marry Gertrude.

Quigley is employed as a coal hoister by the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern railroad. He earns money enough to supply the wants of the young wife and it is said that the young couple is furnishing a flat on the South side. They may not return to their homes in Waukegan until Sunday next.

Aug 27, 1915

 

(21) Identify girl killed with her sweetheart, Libertyville Independent , Jan 12, 1922: p1

Identify girl killed with her sweetheart

Kin of Josie Bruno establish identity in alleged kidnapping tragedy

A brother-in-law and sister of Miss Josie Bruno who is believed to have been kidnapped by Vincent (Charles) Billiato of Waukegan Friday viewed the bodies of the man and woman who were burned to death in a taxi cab collision with a St Paul train at Glenview near Gulf Oct 18 and declared they are certain that the woman in the double tragedy is Miss Bruno.

A cousin of Billiato went to Chicago Friday in an effort to establish the identity of the other victim.

Dr. Jones of Coronor Peter Hoffman’s office that afternoon declared that no other clues to the identity of the couple had been obtained but that the investigation would be resumed tomorrow.

Billiato, 26, and a sergeant in the 130th infantry serving overseas, had made his home with André Spicero at the Market street address for six years, and was employed in the galvanizing department at the American steel & wire company for seven years. He told his foreman James Conway of 1648 South Victoria street north Chicago that he intended to marry and invited him to the wedding which he said would take place at Roundout Wednesday at the home of his cousin. John Domina, driver of the taxicab, testified at the inquest Thursday that he had been instructed to drive the couple to Roundout but that he did not know their names.

Conway attempted to identify the couple but declared that they were burned to a crisp. “Their bodies looked like a heap of cinders,” Conway declared, “but a watch chain worm by the man was like that which I had seen Billiato wear.”

Domina testified that the couple were friends of Joseph Catuara, 3537 Lowe avenue, who had engaged the cab. According to Domina he picked up the couple at west 31st and wells streets, two blocks from the Bruno home, about 6:30 Wednesday morning, acting on orders from Catuara.

Catuara, who was seriously injured in the accident and is now in a hospital, refuses resolutely to divulge the names of the victims. He is being held without bail.

According to Domina, one of the gates at the crossing was open, but this testimony is contradicted by James McKenzie, the towerman at the crossing.

Although Michael Barone, 3028 south wells street, a relative of the Bruno girl could not identify the bodies, he declared his believe that she had been one of the victims.

Barone and his brother Carl were in Waukegan Wednesday afternoon to determine whether a marriage license had been taken out here and learning that it had not, they took up the matter with the local police declaring the belief that Billiato had kidnapped the girl, who they said, had spurned the attentions of the Waukegan man.

Billiato was last seen in his room by Spicero on Tuesday afternoon. According to the new clues obtained at the Bruno home, the girl was spirited away from the door…

 …Three men took part in the kidnapping they declared. Then the kidnapping of Josie and the auto wreck were connected.

A loaded pistol was found in the wreckage of the taxicab.

Jan 12, 1922

(22) Squeezes Girl’s arm; gets forty days in jail, Libertyville Independent, Sept 17, 1915, p7

Squeezes Girl’s arm; gets forty days in jail

Italian resident of Market St. is charged with flirting on the streets

Waukegan Sept 9

Warning to all male flirts

Don’t squeeze a young woman’s arm during a picture show.

Don’t take advantage of the darkness in picture theatres to male love to an unknown lady.

Don’t folly the young lady home after she has “turned you down.”

Don’t take advantage of the absence of a woman’s husband from the home—and make a social call.

Don’t doff your hat or cap to a lady you do not know.

FOR IF YOU DO-

Police magistrate Taylor will sentence you to 40 days in the county jail and sheriff ElvinJ Griffin will instruct his prisoners to give you bread and water for your meals,

Jim Barber, a Market street resident is crying his eyes out in a county jail, for he was selected as an example by the police. Jim is a single man, and he is great admirer of women. He prefers blonds- and the girls that he insists upon squeezing their arms in picture theatres.

Last night Jim attended one of the local nickel (?) theatres and selected a seat along side of Mrs. A J Wollweber, whose husband is a wireless operator at the great lakes training station. Mrs. Wollweber’s husband was detained at work so was unable to accompany his young wife to the theatre.

As soon as the light turned out in the theatre, Jim snuggled up against Mrs. Wollweber and began to squeeze her arm. She did not scream for help, but changed her seat. Jim, following her example changed his seat and occupied one at her side. Then Mrs. Wollweber left the theatre. She walked south to the corner of Genesee and Water street then turned west, for she lives at 313 Water street. Much to her surprise, when she turned in at her door, Jim was dogging her foot steps. She was afraid to go into her own home for fear Jim would follow her. She walked up and down the street a few times and then W Houlihan’s married daughter appeared on the scene.

“Sure, walk up and down the street until I return,” said Mr Houlihan’s daughter.

She did return and with her was police officer Wm. Coombs. Bill stood behind the tree and sur enough Jim walked up to Mrs Wollwber and started making love. In a few seconds Bill was on the job and little later Jim was marching towards the police station.

The sad part of the incident is this—Jimmie stutters—and it was really pathetic to hear him telling about his love affair.

“yo-u-u-u- s-s-s-s-see i-i-i-i-it w-w-was l-l-l-l-like t-t-this, I d-d-didn’t d-d-d-d-do i-i-i-it a-tall,” and then Jim stopped. Everyone was breaking their necks to keep a straight face.

“Forty days in the county jail for you, young fellow! Said police magistrate Taylor.

“You ought to hang him up by the heels until he died!” shouted Deck Sargent Taylor.

“No, we ought to have a whipping post,” said assistant police chief Thomas Tyrrell.

“I want you reporters to issue a warning to the flirts in Waukegan,” said the police chief.

“This young lady tells me that she has been stopped on the streets by flirts several times during the past few weeks and it must stop. Jimmie got just half of what the next flirt will get. I would be tempted to trounce the next fellow who is brought in her on a similar charge,” said Thomas Tyrrell.

Jimmie now occupies a steel cage in the county jail. Sure he is crying and begging for his freedom, but the police declare that bread and water will be his fare if he dies in the 40 days.

Sept 17, 1915

 

(23) Five Desperate Girls The Indianapolis Journal,  May 17, 1900,

Five Desperate Girls

Determined not to be separated from their soldier lovers

So they donned uniforms and tried to pass as military servants of the republic

Chicago, may 16—“great baking cannon!” said lieutenant reeves of the third battalion of the fifth regiment, united states infantry. The lieutenant was aboard a train. Likewise, the battalion. The train was in the outskirts of Chicago, bound for New York. He lieutenant was gazing with popping eyes at a pair of small white hands attached to what purported to be the body of as soldier of the realm.

“Madame,” exclaimed the lieutenant, waking the soldier, “you will have to get off the train.”

The soldier burst into tears as he was turned over to Lieutenant Maloney of the Grand Crossing police station in the early hours yesterday morning. “Yes,’ he sobbed, “I am a girl, but that horrid Lieutenant needn’t think he’s so smart. there’s four other girls on the train. They’re all in uniform, too, and they’re going to Cuba with their sweethearts.”

That is how it comes about that a portion of the third battalion of the fifth regiment , United States infantry, late for Fort Sheridan, Ill, on the way to garrison service in Cuba, is made up partly of women. The girl put off at Grand Crossing was Jessie Sherwood of Waukegan. At Hammond Ind., Emma Winoski, also of Waukegan, was discovered masquerading in the uniform of Uncle Sam’s fighters and was compelled to detrain. The three girls supposed to be still  on board the train are said to live in Fort Sheridan. They all have sweethearts among the gallant third battalion. If they get to Cuba there will be three marriage ceremonies. The five girls were all in soldier’s attire. They had cut off their hair and had practiced the military walk and salute. As the command carried neither guns nor ammunition, they were relieved of learning the manual of arms.

The terrible scandal which is expected to convulse army circles from Medicine at to Schenectady, NY had its inception during the stay of the third battalion at Fort Sheridan. Three girls of the military town and two of Waukegan found sweethearts among the recruits. When it was learned that orders had come for the command to go to Cuba there was wailing and weeping in the northern suburbs. Love found a way. That is, it thought it found a way. The trouble was that the fat little boy with the bow and arrow failed to figure on Lieutenant Reeves. Reeves thereby scored on cupid.

The names of the three Fort Sheridan damsels are not known. Miss Sherwood and Miss Winoski are seventeen and eighteen years old, respectively. Previous to joining the army they were coffee and sinker prestidigitators in a Waukegan food parlor. Miss Sherwood fell in love with Sargent Michael Langmeyer, company K. Miss Winoski’s Don Juan was a sergeant in Company L. Sundays between séances with the wheat cakes and the soft boiled the girls stole away to the military post and saw their adored ones. When the sergeants could get away they would run down to Waukegan and nearly founder themselves in the biscuit palace.

Then came the terrible day when it was announced that the battalion was ordered to the front. Santiago was the destination, the home and county seat of the land crab and tarantula. There were anguished conversations between the sergeants and their lady loves. Finally a bright though came to Sergeant Langmeyer: it nearly prostrated him but he gasped out his plan to the sergeant of Company L. It was no less a scheme than that the girls should cut off their hair, and on the day of departure put on uniforms, mix with the recruits and board the train. It was hoped that once off for New York the deception would not be discovered. In some way the details of the plan became known to three Fort Sheridan dulcinas who also had lovers among the recruits. They cut off their hair. Uniforms were smuggled to the five women, and for ten days they did little else than practice before their mirrors in the garments they had cut down and made over to fit their somewhat un-military figures.

Unsuspected, the five girls, guided by their lovers, got aboard the train at the fort Monday evening. Happiness in large bunches pervaded the atmosphere. There was thought of the weddings that would occur when Santiago was reached. Miss Sherwood was discovered and put off at Grand Crossing and taken in charge by the matron at the police station, where she doffer her uniform and put on the womanly garments she carried in a small bundle. Her stepfather, Wallace Sherwood, of 108 Market street, Waukegan, was notified. The girl, in charge of Matron O’Brien, set out for Waukegan, where she was joyfully reunited to her sorrowing mother. Miss Winoski, amid a floor of tears and bitter sobs, was torn from the side of her very own sergeant and compelled to leave the train at Hammond and make her way home as best she could.

May 17, 1900

 

(24) Jessie Sherwood, Soldier’s girl, to be shut up in school. Chicago Tribune,  May 17, 1900,

Jessie Sherwood, Soldier’s girl, to be shut up in school 

Jessie Sherwood, according to the statement of her mother, Mrs. W.R. Sherwood, 801 Market street, Waukegan, will be put in some quiet school or home for girls, far removed from any place where there are soldiers, ad in a retreat where brass-buttoned uniforms are tabooed. Miss Jessie returned yesterday from her trip on the troop train of the fifth infantry recruits, expressing repentance that her devotion to Sergeant Michael Langmeyer had led her to attempt to go to Cuba with him. Her sentiments on the subject were somewhat mixed, however, leading her to say she was sorry she had been discovered, so her mother decided to send her where the temptation of brass buttons would not be present. Circles at Fort Sheridan spent the day discussing the escapade of the girls and search was made for Miss Sherwood, who, fearing her mother’s displeasure, had taken refuge with friends. Miss Emma Winoski, who lives near Jessie’s home, and also was put off the train, had not been heard from. It was learned that the three companions, who had planned to go with these two and were thought to have remained undiscovered on the train really did not start with the soldiers and that Emma Winoski had told Lieutenant Reeves there were three more girls on the train when she was put off at Hammond just to make it pleasant for the lieutenant and keep him hunting. Miss Wallace refused to divulge the names of the other girls who planned to go but did not. Mrs. Shepherd, Jessie’s grandmother, who makes her home with Mrs. Wallace, said Jessie had a good home, but for some time had preferred living with friends in Waukegan. Her infatuation with the soldier at the fort was not known by her mother and stepfather, and the fact that Jessie had been making frequent trips to the fort to visit her soldier lover was a surprise to them. Mrs. Sherwood said a school would be found of Miss Jessie that had walls ten feet high and several feet thick, with large needle-pointed spikes on top. “Love laughs at locksmiths,” said Mrs. Sherwood,” but a spiked, ten-foot wall would be no joke to any soldier.”

May 17, 1900

 

(25) Romantic rescue of Drowning Miss, Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, June 28, 1907, p.12

Romantic rescue of Drowning Miss

Girl fishing on pier fall into water is saved at last moment

a sensational rescue was made at the harbor in Waukegan on last Friday afternoon when Charles Adams, after a heart-breaking row across the harbor, caught Miss Jessie Sherwood just as she was sinking for the third time and drew her into his boat. Another instant, ad it would have been too late for the girl.

The rescue came just after dinner and was witnessed by many at the harbor. Miss Sherwood and her mother were fishing on the north pier. Miss Sherwood was standing up and turned around for some reason. Stepping backward, she stepped over the edge of the pier and in a moment was struggling in the water.

Adams was clear over by the south pier when he saw the girl fall. He immediately headed his boat across the harbor and rowed for the scene.

Just as the drowning girls was sinking for the last time he caught her and with the help of a man who had run up the pier, drew her to safety.

Both Miss Sherwood and Adams, her rescuer, are about 22 years old.

June 28, 1907

 

(26) Pretty big capacity Belvidere Daily Republican, Belvidere, Illinois, Thurs Aug 15, 1912, p6

Pretty big capacity

M. Mahamet of Market street Waukegan ate four dozen bananas and drank a bottle of pop as a wash down in twenty minutes without any ill effects. The stunt was performed on a bet of $50.

 

(27)    Waukegan judge Jails another drunk reliefer Chicago Tribune, Wed Dec 8, 1937, p17

The drive against drunken reliefers in Waukegan was continued by Police Magistrate Clarence L Brown

yesterday when he sentenced one colored man to jail for five days and held another to the grand jury. The first reliefer caught in Judge Brown’s drive was sent to jail last Saturday.

John Campell, 55 years old, 960 Indiana Avenue, Waukegan, was the man sent to jail yesterday. He was arrested Monday on a drunk and disorderly charge after he had used $6.75 given him by Harold Pillifant township supervisor, for liquor instead of groceries.

At the conclusion of Campbell’s case judge brown and Pillifant met and agreed that no more cash will be given to drunken reliefers in Waukegan. Grocery orders will be substituted for the cash.

Milton Jones, 37 years old, colored, of 551 Market Street, Waukegan, a WPA worker was held for the grand jury in $2,000 bond on a charge of drunken driving. He was involved in an accident Sunday night. Court attaches said that the usual action in such a case in Waukegan is a fine of $50

 

(28)  3 Brothers hold reunion in jail after 16 years Chicago Tribune Jan 24, 1938, p1

Sixteen years ago Victor Kornickle left his brothers in Chicago to find a job. He never returned and when he finally settled in Waukegan he was unable to find his family. Yesterday Victor and his two brothers Walter and Vincent, held a reunion in the Lake county jail in Waukegan. The brothers had read in the newspaper that Victor was serving 20 days on a disorderly conduct charge following a fight. Victor is 44 years old and lives at 541 Market street, Waukegan. The brothers live at 2346 North Kimball avenue

 

(29)   Learns eating is fun at 60 and will delve into his $2,900 hoard Chicago Tribune, Friday May 27, 1938, p1

Learns eating is fun at 60 and will delve into his $2,900 hoard

Frank Sisek, who was wearing $900 pinned to the inner one of his three suits of underwear when he collapsed from hunger in Waukegan on Wednesday explained yesterday:

Temporarily out of a job, he cut down on his meals to economize lest he spend all of his $900 and have a dip into the $2,000 he had in a building and loan association.

Mr Sisek, who is 60 years old, lives at 210 Market street, Waukegan. After two square meals in the Lake county general hospital he loosened up his purse strings and announced that he was going to New York on a vacation.

 

(30)   Hungry miser who escaped death finds it struck down pal, Chicago Tribune, Sat, May 28, 1938, p7

Hungry miser who escaped death finds it struck down pal,

Another of life’s oddities enveloped Farnk Sisek yesterday. Sisek, 60 years old, of 533 Market street, Waukegan, collapsed from hunger a few days ago. Police found $900 on him and discovered he had $2,000 more in a building and loan association. Sisek explained he had cut down on his meals to save his money, then decided to take a trip to New York and have some fun. Yesterday he returned to his rooming house to say goodbye to his next door fellow roomer and friend, Joseph Bartello, 45. He found Bartello dead.

 

(31)   Collapses from hunger a 2d time; hoards his $900 Chicago Tribune, June 5, 1938

Collapses from hunger a 2d time; hoards his $900

Lake county authorities were struggling again last night with the problem of how to make Frank Sisek, 60 years old, of 533 Market street, Waukegan, spend some of his ample funds for food enough to keep him alive.

Sisek collapsed on the street near his home last Monday and was taken to the Lake county general hospital. Physicians said there was nothing wrong with him except that he was suffering from hunger. They also reported that he had $900 sewed in his clothing. After being given a couple of meals Sisek was released.

Yesterday he collapsed a second time. The county general hospital refused to admit him again and he was taken to St Therese hospital in Waukegan where he will be charged for treatment. Sisek said he had $2,000 in investments besides the $900.