What’s Next? I love my beautiful, but sometimes troubled, small town. First and foremost, I hope that the man (and his family) that Coan unfairly pursued, confronted, and falsely accused is doing well. I have no connection to them, and have never spoken to them, but I have thought of them each day since I…

Part 13, “The Wrong Man.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) Chief Coan finally decides upon the blogger’s identity, and to confront that man. He shares his experiences with the City Clerk. It was upon learning about the encounter – that took place at the…

Part 12, “The Call Would Be a Mere Pretext” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) Coan settles his gaze on one family, and receives an email suggesting that someone call the family when the husband might be away, to see if the husband’s travel schedule…

Part 11, “California?” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) I have a link on my website to a California blog called “The Foothill Cities Blog.” It’s well-known in the blogosphere (what bloggers call their part of cyberspace) as a pseudonymous blog, covering the foothill cities…

Part 10, “A Person of Interest.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, in perhaps December 2007 — Over time, Chief Coan, aided apparently by citizens in our community — your overly inquisitive neighbors and mine — begins to focus erroneously on…

Part 9, “Wikipedia? Yes, Wikipedia.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, with the date and sender deleted by the City of Whitewater — Someone writes to complain about a link that I have in Wikipedia. As I’ll show, it’s someone who…

Part 8, “Watching People at a Celebration.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, in November 2007 — Many people worked hard, and contributed time, effort, and funding to rebuild Whitewater’s Stone Stable. It was a proud moment for our city. I…

Part 7, “Chief Coan’s Researcher.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, in September 2007 and November 2007 — I’m not sure if Whitewater Police Detective Tina Winger ever found the intelligence she promised to find about a lawful political commentator, but…

Part 6, “Asking About Former Residents.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, in September 2007: If you once lived in Whitewater, but moved to a nearby town, that doesn’t mean that you’re free from Chief Coan’s suspicious gaze. In this exchange,…

Part 5, “Running Plates on Citizen Photographers.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, in September 2007, our Director of Public Works, Dean Fischer, asks Chief Coan to run the license plate number of an elderly man who had been taking pictures…

Part 4, “The List of Suspects.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) Later in August, a private citizen writes to our City Clerk, Michele Smith, and lets Smith know that the citizen’s husband is not John Adams. (Of course not — I’m John Adams!) It’s…