Paul Anderson Kraby - 1889-1934

Paul Anderson Kraby was born in Toten, Norway, in 1889. He was one of nine children and immigrated to America at the age of 17. He lived with his uncle Albert Burull of Stoughton, WI who sponsored Paul and became a naturalized citizen. In 1917 he joined the United States Army and served in France during WWI. After the war, he returned to Stoughton, rejoining his American family, the Burulls. He became employed at the Mandt Wagon Works where his Uncle Albert worked. Paul was described as a man of strong and disciplined character, was kind, affable, generous, with a sense of humor, and always a gentleman. He married Clarice Torgeson and was supportive of her and stepson.

Life changed in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s bringing both hardships and evil to the Stoughton community. The 1929’s depression, the 1928 Prohibition, and the unusual drought conditions for farmers added to the already declining economy of no money and no jobs. This combination, including liquor, was, in many cases, disquieting for many residents and invariably brought new stresses and challenges to Stoughton’s small police force.

In 1934, Paul joined the Stoughton Police Department and began to help fight the growing evil and illegal activities evolving in the community. With his keen observations, he began to discover evidence of local crimes including bootlegging and theft. His discoveries while on duty, and his knowledge of the local participants in their illegal activities, ultimately led to his being ambushed and murdered around 1:15 a.m. on September 30, 1934 while he walked his beat near the A.E. Skinner Fuel Company, by the railroad depot on E Main St. An arrest was made, and the defendant, Joseph Pliner, was held in jail for seven weeks until a trial was held at which the defendant was found not guilty. Incredibly, Paul’s murder, with no satisfactory continuing hunt for justice, was quickly forgotten.