The art of ripping people off has been in full force in town since Chaska’s inception.

In today’s “Obscura,” the column features “theft” as a subject, although a few other crimes are also included – notably a local canning company hauled into court for employing an 8-year-old.

Perhaps one of the most interesting cases is that of Charles Raasch, who in 1888 was brought to trial for refusing to pay taxes, or work on, local roads.

These legal nuggets, originally written by presiding justice in long-hand, have been edited, condensed and sometimes paraphrased for readability.

Probate ledgers

Author: Local justices of the peace

Published: In court dockets, from the 1880s through the early 20th century, held in the Chaska Historical Society’s collection.

What? In Carver County’s early history, justices of the peace served at the local level, handling civil and criminal cases involving less than $100. They issued warrants, performed marriages and authenticated documents. In some instances, they would determine whether there was probable cause to send a case to a grand jury. Justices of the peace were later replaced by municipal courts and by the 1980s, the district courts began handling all cases.

More to come: This is the second of four Chaska Obscura columns featuring probate court notes.

Date: Jan. 17, 1883

Charge: Plaintiff [Charles May] appeared in person and pleads … that the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway Company did, on the 27th day of October 1883 burn and damage … two stacks of hay. Five ton of hay were destroyed by said fire [via the engine’s smoke stack] to the value of $40 caused by engine train going north between the hours 3 and 4 o’clock p.m. …

Judgment: [Plaintiff] is entitled to judgment for the sum of $40 besides cost of this action … Defendants made and filed an affidavit for appeal.

Date: June 23, 1885

Charge: Complaint on file against John Doe … that the defendant did steal one silver piece of the value of 50 cents money of the United States and the property of William Rhoy.

Judgment: Warranted returned stated John Doe has left the country and could not be procured …

Date: Aug. 6, 1888

Charge: Plaintiff [B. Leivermann] made oral complaint as follows: that between the first day of April 1888 and the first day, July 1888, the plaintiff furnished board and lodging to the defendant [John Dohmann] at his request at Chaska, Minn. Amounting in all to about two months board and lodging … reasonably worth and of the value of $24, that defendant has not paid the same or any part there off though often requested to do so.

Judgment: I find that the allegation of the plaintiffs complaint are not true and have not been proved and that said defendant is not indebted to plaintiff in any manner or sum whatever and I here by render judgments of said defendant and against said plaintiff for his costs in this action taxed in the sum of $7.74.

Date: Aug. 29, 1888

Charge: Charles Raasch appeared personally before me and being duly sworn and examined on his oath complains and says that he is overseer of the highway of the town of Chaska in the county of Carver and state of Minnesota that A. Lobel, a male person above 21 and under 50 years of age and not a pauper, idiot, lunatic or otherwise exempt, is a resident of said town and liable to road tax or poll tax therein for the year of 1888.

That on the 14th day of August 1888, at Chaska in said county, [Raasch] as such overseer caused A. Lobel to be duly notified to perform such labor in person or by substitute or to commit for the same, but said A. Lobel has wholly failed and refused to do so, and that such tax is wholly unpaid contrary to the forms of the statue in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the state of Minnesota.

Judgment: Defendant in custody before me. Defendant duly arraigned to which he pleaded “guilty.” Whereupon I adjudge that he is guilty of the offence complained of. Thereupon defendant paid the sum of $3 the amount of such tax and the costs of this action taxed at the sum of $3.82, total $6.82. Judgment paid and this action dismissed.

Date: April 13, 1912

Charge: Jacob Holper being first-duly sworn and examined on oath, makes complaint and says that Minnie Ochs, on the 13th day of April 1912 at this city of Chaska in said County of Carver State of Minnesota did willfully, wrongfully, maliciously, and unlawfully destroy certain buildings upon Alois Kramer estate by then and there tearing down with an axe and other tools unknown to said plaintiff a portion of said building then and there situated on west half of lot 9, block 38 city of Chaska.

Judgment: After hearing the evidence the court adjudges and determines that there is a probable cause to believe that this defendant is guilty of the crime as charged in the compliant and adjudges and determines that the defendant enters into a recognizance in the sum of $200 or be committed in the common jail of Carver County to await the action of the grand jury at the next general term of the District Court of Carver County unless sooner discharged by due process of law ... . The defendant did enter into a recognizance in the sum of $200.

Date: Aug. 13, 1913

Charge: Fred Meyer … says that on the 11th day of August 1913 at the city of Chaska in said county, William S. Lust, did under circumstances not amounting to the crime of grand larceny in the first-degree, unlawfully and feloniously take, steal and carry away from the possession of Benj Meyer and from the shed … one bicycle of the value of $15.

Judgment: Therefore adjudge and determine that there is a probable cause to believe that the said defendant … is guilty of the crime as charged in the complaint and determine the defendant be held in the common jail of Carver County to await the action of the grand jury of the next general term of court … .

Date: July 13, 1915

Charge: On the 11th day of July 1915, said day being Sunday at the city of Chaska … one Barbara Hecklin did then and there wrongfully and unlawfully fail and neglect to keep closed that certain public drinking place, to-wit, a saloon, carried on and operated by her in the northerly front room on the first floor of the 1-1/2 story frame building situated on lot 2 of block 22 of the city of Chaska ….

Judgment: Complaint read to the defendant to which she plead guilty. It is therefore adjudged that the defendant pay a fine of $10 and costs taxed at $1.50, total $11.50 Fine and costs paid and defendant discharged.

Date: September 1917

Charge: Fred. J. Lestico, being duly sworn, makes complaint to the above named court and says that on the 10th day of September A.D. 1914, within the corporate limits of the city of Chaska … Samuels Bros. & White Canning Company … did willfully, unlawfully and wrongfully … employ and permit to work in the said factory or workshop that certain minor child, to wit, Bernard Winkel.

Said Bernard Winkel being then and there a minor child under the age of 14 years, to wit, of the age of 8 years, contrary to the statutes in such made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the state of Minnesota; therefore complainant prays that said offender may be arrested and dealt with according to law.

Judgment: Case Called: Frank White, president of Samuels Bros. & White, present in court, complaint made and upon same pleaded guilty. It was adjudged by the court that Samuels Bros. & White pay a fine of $25. It was granted by the court that fine by suspended for the period of 90 days.