www.FranzosenbuschHeritageProject.org                     Home

This article appeared in the April 21, 1927 issue of the "LaGrange Citizen" newspaper

TERM FOR HUSZAR CHEERS MOTOR CLUB

 Speed Trap Operators in Cook County Will be Careful This Season

Speed trap operators who have been in the habit of using high handed methods with motorists will not ply their trade with such vigor this season as in former years. This at least is the opinion of J. H. Braun, general counsel for the Chicago Motor club, who has charge of the anti-speed trap campaign conducted by the club.

"The highways of Illinois and Indiana will be comparatively safe for motorists this year owning to the fact that the recent United State supreme court's decision on fees has caused many justices of the peace to wonder if the office does not stand on rather shaky ground," says Mr. Braun.

"This belief on the part of many of our justices will cause those who in the past have indulged in shady practices to abandon gyp methods and to go in for straight dealing with the motoring public.

Second Conviction 

"The second reason for our belief that this year will see a decrease in the number of unlawful arrests, arises from the fact that Indian Joe Huszar, former Chief of police of Broadview, who was a terror to motorists passing through that village, was convicted recently by a jury in Cook county on a charge of assault with intent to kill.  The verdict carried with it a sentence of from one to fourteen years in the penitentiary.  This is the second conviction secured as a result of the speed trap campaign..    The other conviction was secured in Lake county as a result of the trial.

"Assistant state's attorney Charles J. Mueller, who has been in active charge of the campaign in Cook county, promises further indictments for perjury.  The threat of indictment for perjury on the part of the prosecution came as a result of apparent juggling of records.  Charles Krotz, former justice of the peace, produced records to show that the arrest of John Schreiffer of Oak Park and his wife Louise, had been made on February, 1925, whereas Scheiffer said he was arrested in September.  The record books were not purchased until June according to the evidence. 

Threatened to Kill Them 

"Schreiffer and his wife were arrested on September 27, prior to the date of their marriage, they had stopped on a side road to eat popcorn.  They were taken to the station and a $22.00 bond was demanded. 

"Schreiffer protested, and Indian Joe then produced a revolver and threatened to kill him, he said.  In his defense Huszar made serious accusations against the young people which assistant state's attorney Charles Mueller and Irving Goldstein denied. 

"In a former trial Indian Joe made similar charges against his victims.  Huszar still has pending against him, charges of assault with a deadly weapon and robbery.  Trials against other speed trappers will be started in the near future." 

This article appeared in the April 21, 1927 issue of the "LaGrange Citizen" newspaper

Last Modified:  01/10/2004