NEW INFO ON TINY TAP SLAYING

Never-Before Released Details of the Crime
A Milwaukeeworld Exclusive

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

Joel Cecil Cain, 37, is in jail charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm. It is expected he will be charged in the February 26^th, 2008 hatchet murder of Pam Roberts, a bartender at Coop’s Tiny Tap, 5501 W. Vliet St.

Cain lived with his wife Sara at 1365 N. 58^th St., within blocks of the bar. Their house, purchased for $123,000 in February, 2006, is under foreclosure action in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Cain, a native of Texas, is a Dallas Cowboy fan, and rooted for that team during its match with the Green Bay (Wisconsin) Packers. He had been a regular at the Tiny Tap, as was suspected.

He is also left handed, which may have led to his capture, based on video evidence. He used his left hand to grab the money he stole during the robbery, and the evidence of Ms. Roberts’ demise indicated that the fatal blows were landed by a left-hander. [The means of her death has not been heretofore released.]

The firearm which is believed to be implicated in the current charges against Cain was stolen from a house in the neighborhood. Around the same time a jar of coins was stolen from the same home, and a hatchet – presumably the murder weapon – was stolen from the garage. The firearm was likely used in a robbery of a drug dealer that occurred shortly before the murder. It appears Cain had an accomplice for the $7,000 heist – and possibly for the murder. He is also presumed to be involved in other thefts in the area. Cain is addicted to methamphetamine, and displays many of the worst characteristics of his sort.

After the murder he continued to visit with neighbors, including those he robbed. He told one, “with all the creepy stuff going on in the neighborhood these days, you can always call me if you need help.”

IN OTHER NEWS

City Attorney Grant Langley held a small reception at Tutto last evening, Tuesday, March 11^th, 2008. Many of the attendees were coworkers in the office he has headed since 1984, and have probably been around as long as he. Atty D. Michael Guerin stopped in to contemplate the state of the electorate these days. The April 1^st election will likely see a very small turnout. Without the presence of national candidates on the ticket, it is hard to imagine a contest for City Attorney would galvanize the electorate. The college students who showed up to vote on February 19^th will all be in Florida participating in Wet T-Shirt Beach Volleyball contests. … Today, Wednesday, March 12^th, 2008, is the last day to register by mail for the April 1^st election. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is March 27^th. For the February primary, 7,935 absentee ballots were requested in the city; 5,979 were returned. That is only about 4 per cent of the 143,949 ballots cast. … Nik Kovac will field questions from 3^rd district residents this evening at Circa, 1754 N. Franklin Place. … Challenger Patrick Flaherty will have his event the next evening at Stonefly. … Ald Michael Murphy holds one fundraiser a year. This one will be on March 17^th, 2008 at the Times Cinema, 5906 W. Vliet St. It is entitled “The Quiet Alderman,” a play on the classic John Wayne movie “The Quiet Man,” which will be screened for the lucky attendees beginning at 5 p.m. If you have never seen any connection between Duke and Altar Boy, this is your one chance. I’d say it’s a bit of a stretch. It’s one hell of a stretch.

SCOTT WALKER TO BE FEATURED AT INACCESSIBLE CONFERENCE ON MILWAUKEE’S TRANSIT FUTURE

“Planes, trains and automobiles … and beyond: Transportation for Milwaukee’s new economy,” is the ambitious title for an event scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, March 13^th, 2008 at the Brookfield Suites Hotel, 1200 S. Moorland in the former cornfield now incorporated as the City of Brookfield. (“Close to I-94,” as the invitation notes.) The event, sponsored by the Wisconsin Innovation Network, is not accessible to transit users, despite its highfalutin’ aspirations. Of course, fewer and fewer places are accessible by transit these days, thanks to County Executive Scott Walker, whose political career is dependent on supporters driving around in automobiles while numbing their minds by listening to AM talk radio. (Transit riders threaten talk radio hosts almost as much as homosexuality.) Walker is a headliner at the event, which presumes to tell us how to integrate Milwaukee’s transportation system with the global economy. I say let’s start with finding a way to get us around our local economy first! Walker’s campaign appearance comes just days before his latest assault on transit is set to take place. That would be the reconfiguration of bus lines 11, 14, 19, and 20 to take effect on Sunday, March 23^rd. Say goodbye to #14 Holton Forest Home, and say hello to #`11 Holton Greenfield Howell. The changes will affect the schedules for virtually every bus route operated by the Milwaukee County Transit System. … Now that bus fares are $2, the transit company should considering adapting the cash boxes on buses to recognize $2 bills, which have been waiting for just a moment like this to stage a return to utility.

CHARTER MEETING OF COMMON COUNCIL SET

We don’t mess around with lame duck incumbencies for our elected officials here in the City of Milwaukee. The Charter Meeting of the Common Council is scheduled for April 15^th, 2008, at 9 a.m., just two weeks after the election. That means Ald. Mike D’Amato better make sure Boris, Barry and Gary are available that morning to help him clear out his office! During the charter meeting, the mayor and other officials get sworn in, council members chose their new leader (at this point expected to be the incumbent, President Willie Hines) and then elect a City Clerk, likely again to be the incumbent, Ron Leonhardt, who has indicated he would like to remain on the job.... Guess which son of a governor is being sued by the electric company in Dane County? If you answered Augustus "Gus" Doyle, you're right!

--Michael Horne