Edward "Eddie" Ben Elson
One of Madison’s truly unique characters
???? – February 8, 1983, Suicide at 41
On his business card: “Far Out Lawyer, Specializing in Looney Law”
He did sincere good works for the mentally ill and the dispossessed.
The
Pail & Shovel Party would have never survived
the many legal challenges against them if not for Eddie.
1969 ran for mayor of Madison on a platform that included painting police cars psychedelic
colors.
1970 ran for Dane County district attorney. To show he had nothing to hide, Elson announced
his candidacy in the nude (but for a strategically placed flower bouquet) from the stage of
the Dangle Lounge. His mottos during the campaign
were “Only Obey Good Laws” & “Elson as D.A. Will Protect You from Your Government” The fine print
on his campaign literature read “Authorized and paid for with money stolen from my sister's trust
fund”
He represented Bronson La Follette's dog, Cutter, when the canine patrol kept picking up
Cutter running loose. Eddie first demanded the dog catcher pick Cutter out of a lineup, and next
asked that Cutter be tried before a jury of his peers – 12 Irish setters. Finally, he demanded
that Cutter be given liberty or given death. He lost the case. But Cutter lived and La Follette
paid the fine.
1973 Sold tickets for salvation on the Comet Kohoutek that was going to destroy earth.
Read Full Story
1977 Helps get reverend release from jail with “Funny Money”
Read Full Story
