Kenosha Theatre

kencmcintyre on February 13, 2007 at 5:14 pm

Extra extra, gangster hood goes free after burglary of theater:

TARELLO JURY DISCHARGED IN DISAGREEMENT

April 27, 1929 – Failing to agree after more than 20 hours deliberation, the jury trying Angelo Tarello,
Chicago gangster, for complicity in the burglary of the Kenosha theater here last December, was discharged in circuit court at 9:45 this morning by Judge Byron B. Park, Stevens Point, who heard the case for Judge E. B. Belden. Meanwhile, David and Alex Dotz, found guilty of complicity in the same burglary on March 26, and who were sentenced from 16 to 19 and 15 to 18 years in the Green Bay reformatory, respectively, last night, were started for that place on a train at four o'clock this morning.

It was reported in the court room this morning that the jury had stood divided 8-4 for conviction almost from the beginning and that further deliberations were unable to effect any change in its attitude. The state announced that it planned to bring Tarello to trial again for the offense at the earliest possible opportunity.

According to their story, night watchman Alex Dotz had been forced to participate in the affair by Tarello’s repeated threats. He let Tarello and a companion into the theater and permitted himself to be bound to a chair after the safe had been ransackedâ€"“to make it look like a real job.” Meanwhile his brother, David, then a member of the police force, had stationed himself in the balcony of the theater, planning to protect his brother and arrest the burglars before they could affect a getaway. However, he testified, that he lost his “nerve” and could not go through with the plan.

Upon completion of testimony in the Tarello case, Judge Park called the Dotz brothers before him to hear arguments for new trials. These were promptly denied, and the judge prepared to sentence the youths. Both were weeping. “I’m not guilty,” sobbed Alex, when asked whether he had anything to say. Then he pointed to Tarello. “Before God, there’s the man who’s guilty.” The youth, celebrating his twenty first birthday in the court room, then became hysterical.

As the judge passed sentence Alex collapsed. Two deputies carried him from the court room. His 18-year old wife emerged from the spectators, screamed and ran toward him. She was restrained by police officers. Then she ran to his mother. The pair wept loudly. At the same time, the boy’s father, who had been sitting three rows back, jumped to his feet and shook his fists at Tarello. “God will curse you!” he cried.

Life's Too Short on November 10, 2006 at 7:10 pm

This is pretty cool:

View link

Patsy on September 22, 2005 at 9:07 am

Also sent an email to the www.kenoshatheatre.org website and it, too, was undeliverable.

Patsy on September 22, 2005 at 5:26 am

What’s the current status of this atmospheric theatre in Kenosha WI?