Lemberger murder case

Date: 6 Sep 1911 to 9 Sep 1911
Location: Madison, Dane, Wisconsin, USA

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On 6 Sep 1911, Annie Lemberger was kidnapped from the Madison, Wisconsin home of her parents, Martin and Magdalena Lemberger. Three days later, her body was found floating in nearby Lake Monona.

The police initially suspected Martin Lemberger, but a black neighbor, James Johnson confessed to the crime and plead guilty. Shortly thereafter Johnson recanted and began a years-long quest to clear his name.

During Johnson's 1921 clemency hearing, Mae Sorenson stated she had seen a bloody nightgown hidden in the Lemberger house, that the Lemberger's son told her his father had committed the crime, and that the family had threatened her to keep quiet. Her testimony freed James Johnson and put Martin Lemberger, Margaret Lemberger, and Louis Lemberger on trial. Charges against all were dropped because of procedural issues. In 1933, Mae admitted to having fabricated her accusations.

The case was never officially solved.

Memories: 1

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Michael Lemberger

The murderer's name was John "Dogskin" Johnson, not James; and he was Norwegian, not black. He had a previous conviction for molesting young girls in Wiota, Wisconsin; he was present at the crime scene the morning after Annie disappeared, and burst in on the autopsy while it was in progress.

As mentioned in the Wiki, Mae Sorenson admitted that her accusations were false, but she also confessed that she was paid to make them by then-district attorney Ole Stolen.

posted 23 Oct 2018 by Michael Lemberger [thank Michael]