Almer And Alger Cronce & Moonshining

Below are several newspaper articles related to Richard Almer Cronce and 
his son Alger Frank Cronce's legal history manufacturing Moonshine while 
Alger was a Dance Hall and Saloon proprietor on Clover Lakes in Dorchester, Wi. 

Almer died on the train while he was in custody on his way to trial.

It is no secret that people in Wisconsin love their drink!

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Eight Charged with Violating the Dry Laws 

Eight alleged federal prohibition law violators were brought before Charles Oellerich, federal court commissioner, Monday. None of these were Winnebago county residents. Gilbert G. Jensen of Zackow, Shawano county, was charged with the sale, possession and manufacture of intoxicating liquor and with maintaining a common nuisance. The alleged intoxicant was called beer. Jensen will have a preliminary examination in this city Oct. 23. Five other defendants, all arrested in connection with the same federal investigation, Judson Boulac, Wallace Kinville, Jud. H. Olmstead, Leonard Goerlinger, and John Johnson will also have a preliminary on that date.

 CHARGES ARE MADE 

These men are charged with conspiring to manufacture intoxicating liquor, to-wit beer, in the town of Mattson, Waupaca county, and with maintaining a public nuisance. Alger Cronce of Embarrass, Waupaca county, was charged with the possession and manufacture of moonshine. He waived preliminary examination and will appear in district court at Milwaukee. Another defendant is Frank Polczinski of Pulaski, Shawano county, charged with sale and possession of beer in the village of Angelica, and with maintaining a nuisance. He also waived preliminary investigation.

 FROM OUTAGAMIE COUNTY 

The latter part of this week, Felix Sula and Reuben H. Nickasch were brought before the commissioner. They are from the town of Grand Chute, Outagamie county. Sula is charged with possession of beer and maintaining a public nuisance and has waived preliminary examination. Nickasch, charged with possession of a still for manufacture and with maintaining a nuisance has not waived preliminary examination, but no adjourned date has been fixed.
 Source: The Daily Northwestern, Tuesday evening, 9 October 1928.

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Elmer Cronce Sent to Jail for Six Months

Two Guilty at Shawano Elmer Cronce, dance hall and saloon proprietor, was sent to jail for six months after being found guilty in circuit court at Shawano of a liquor law violation. John Huntington, also accused of violating the liquor law, was fined $200 and his place of business was closed for one year. 

 Source: Stevens Point Daily Journal, Saturday, 17 May 1924, page 3.

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U. S. Marshal’s Prisoner Dies Near Milwaukee Milwaukee

 — (AP) A dead man came back to Milwaukee under custody of a United States marshal. The man was Elmer Cronce, 62, of Shawano, Wis., and he died while en route to Milwaukee in the custody of W. R. Phillips, deputy United States marshal.
 Unable to furnish $1,000 bail when arrested on the charge of having moonshine liquor, Cronce was being brought to Milwaukee to await trial.
 “He was in good spirits and was telling me of his hunting experiences up in the North woods,” Philips said. “Suddenly he doubled up and explained that he had a strange feeling. He tried to fight it off for a few minutes and then suddenly collapsed.”
 Source: Capital Times, Friday afternoon, 13 April 1928.

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Richard Almerian Cronce
Birth: 30 Mar 1863 in Westfield, Tioga, Pennsylvania, USA
Death: 12 April 1928 in Shawano County, Wisconsin, USA

Alger Frank Cronce
Birth 7 Sep 1899 in Shawano, Shawano, Wisconsin, USA
Death 2 Aug 1973 in Shawano, Shawano, Wisconsin, USA