Wrong Side of the Law: Finding Those Surprising Reports in Newspapers

Often, we do not know about a family member’s brush with the law until we find a notice about their arrest or report of a court case in the newspaper. Early newspapers are full of articles listing upcoming court cases and the results of court cases.

One example in my husband’s line is the case of Ludwig Wilhelm “Louis W.” Wollenweber. He lived in Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was just across the Ohio River from Louisville.[1] He owned a saloon at 90 Market Street in Louisville selling liquor and wines.[2]

One way to be on the wrong side of the law with a saloon is to not pay for the business license. In May 1865, L.W. Wollenweber petitioned for a license for his tavern on Market Street between Third and Fourth Streets.[3] When a list of successful petitions for licenses was printed in the newspaper for taverns and groceries of the Western District, L. W. Wollenweber’s name was on the list.[4] So far, so good.

Later, in June 1866, Louis appeared in court. The city of Louisville had a case against Louis but his fine was set aside and the warrant was dismissed at the defendant’s cost.[5] This case had been tried in the Louisville Police Court, but with only the minute book located, there were no details about the nature of the charge.[6]

He appeared in court at other times. Two newspaper articles in 1867 mentioned him. In October, he was found guilty of doing business without a license and fined $100.[7] The next month, he submitted an appeal.[8]

In July 1868, he was on a list of bankrupts in Kentucky, having filed in Louisville, Jefferson County.[9]

In October 1868, he was arrested and charged in Commissioner’s court with carrying on the business of a retail liquor and tobacco dealer. However, this time he was able to prove he had a license and was discharged.[10]

Research Challenges
To find out more about these cases, I need to locate the city court records, likely located in Louisville. They don’t seem to be at the Kentucky State Archives but I’ll send an email to check. I have sent an email to the Louisville City Museum to see if they have the records and if not, where might the records be. Often, the only records available are minute or order books which might not give any of the details. The only records I could find at FamilySearch were for Louisville police court.

---

[1] Census records and city directories show him living in Louisville in the 1860s and in Jeffersonville in the 1870s until his death in 1873.

[2] Edwards' Annual Directory to the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, etc, in the City of Louisville (Louisville: Southern Publishing Co, 1861), p. 601 & 682, Louis W. Wollenweber.

[3] “Board of Common Council,” Louisville Daily Democrat, 13 May 1865, p. 1, col. 6.

[4] "Board of Common Council," Louisville Daily Democrat, 10 June 1865, p. 1, col. 7.

[5] “Ordinance Warrants,” Daily Courier (Louisville, Kentucky), 12 Jun 1866, p. 2.

[6] Louisville Police Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, v. 44, p. 349, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/7760720), image 181 of 675.

[7] “The Monthly Docket,” Louisville Daily Democrat, 9 Oct 1867, p. 2, col. 2.

[8] “The Courts,” Louisville Daily Courier, 20 Nov 1867, p. 1.

[9] “Bankrupts in Kentucky,” Louisville Daily Courier, p. 1, col. 5.

[10] “News,” The Louisville Daily Journal, 27 Oct 1868, p. 4.

Copyright © 2022 by Lisa S. Gorrell, My Trails into the Past. All Rights Reserved.