History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 78

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?]
Number of Pages: 1050

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

return to his seat, promising that the troublesome attorney should not again interfere. After some persuasion, he consented to do so, at the same time-while pressing his hat more firmly upon his head-he exclaimed, 'Well, I'll try it once more, but d-d if I'll stand any more of that fellow's nonsense.' The attorney gave up in despair, and the opposite counsel had it all his own way."

A third illustration of the manner in which the dignity in which the law was upheld, some- times under serious difficulties, comes from the southwestern part of the county. Two parties became embroiled in one of those bouts at fisticuffs so common in the mining region at that date, but before any considerable damage had been done, a third party stepped between the combat- ants, and restored order. But the peace of the village had been disturbed ; the dance was over, but now some one must pay the piper. Accordingly, a warrant was issued and one of the pugilists arrested. His trial came off in due form, and resulted in his acquittal. Thereupon the other party to the fracas was brought before the dread bar of justice, with a similar result. Matters were now becoming serious; insulted justice demanded a victim, and a warrant was issued against the body of the peace-maker. Thoroughly astounded, that individual was brought before the court, and convicted of disturbing the peace of the commonwealth. In the meantime, astonishment had given way in the mind of the victim to a feeling of righteous indignation, which was shared to the full by his friends. Suddenly the tables were turned, not only figura- tively but literally. The Court was obliged to take refuge in flight, and the last seen of his honor he was making hasty strides over an eminence in the vicinity, with his erstwhile prisoner trailing close in the rear, while the latter's friends obligingly remained behind, to reduce to chaos the scene of their favorite's disgrace. The pound of flesh, tradition assures us, was never obtained in that case.

It was genial Daniel Gellipsie who, after listening impatiently to long-winded arguments upon law and evidence when he was seated on the bench, gave vent to his feelings by exclaiming with emphatic earnestness : " Gentlemen, you may go away with your Blackstones and your whet- stones. It is my private opinion that the plaintiff has got the right of the case, but the Court reserves its decision until Monday."

The northern part of the county comes to the front with a well-known instance where the Court, not waiting for the slow and ponderous movings of the law, took upon itself the double role of Judge and executioner. A case was on trial, and the small carpenter-shop, covered with its cleanly litter, was filled with legal talent, witnesses and spectators. The trial had not pro- gressed very far before one of the witnesses cast a doubt upon the veracity of the Court, or in other words, suggested that his Honor was "a d-n liar." This was more than Scotch blood could stand. Rising from his seat, the incumbent of the bench remarked to himself: " Your Honor, I dismiss this court for fifteen minutes," and then, pulling off his coat, proceeded to inflict swift and terrible punishment upon the vile slanderer. Having finished his self-imposed task, his Honor resumed his seat, opened court, and no more insults were offered to that fount- ain of justice. A volume might be filled with incidents, pathetic and humorous, of the early administration of the affairs of the blind goddess, but the few given will show to those reaping the benefits of the pioneer labors of the fathers of the county, one of the many crucibles through which came the present forms of law and order.

CAPITAL CRIMES.

Grant County in its earlier and middle-age history was the abode of many representatives of the rougher elements of society, drawn hither by the mines and its proximity to the Missis- sippi, that famous water-way which served for many years previous to the war as a promulgator of vice as well as a pathway of commerce. This roughness gradually wore away under the nat- ural and social laws of the advancing civilization, until the cuttings, shootings and brawls, of which the county was so prolific in an early day, are now remembered only as vague traditions of the past. It does not come within the province of the present chapter to take note of every disturbance which resulted in loss of life, but only of such as at the time created a strong ripple

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of excitement, so as to for the time being shake the foundations of society in the neighborhood where the crime was committed.

JIM CROW MURDER.

Among the earliest assassinations which took place in the present confines of Grant County, and one that, at this date, seems most brutally cold-blooded, was the shooting of "Jim Crow,' at Potosi, by a gang of claim-jumpers. The following account of this murder is compiled from different sources, chiefly from a history of the crime that appeared in the Grant County Herald some years ago :

" The 'Long Range' was one of the most prolific ranges of mineral ever worked in the Potosi mines. It was originally discovered by a man by the name of Fipps, who, failing to dis- cover the fortune it contained, and, after working awhile on side crevices, sold out for a trifle to more fortunate parties. A mining claim, at this time, was a lot two hundred yards square, as allowed by the Government. Moor & Watson held one of these lots, and, in proving their claim, struck the main body of mineral, or, in more modern parlance, the ' bonanza.' There was liv- ing in 'Snake Hollow,' at this time, a gang of roughs, whose business was to make an easy liv- ing by any means that might subserve their own nefarious purpose. Sometimes they would decoy their victims into the saloons and fleece them out of their 'piles ' at the gambling table. Failing at this, they did not hesitate to adopt means that would compass their design and place them in possession of the coveted treasure of the fortunate and hard-working miner; and woe be to the man who fell under the ban of their displeasure. Their plan once devised and adopted, they did not fail to execute it, however hazardous and villainous the means used in its accom- plishment. No retreat, however secure, was safe from their invasion. With the stealth and persistence of the India thug, they pursued their victim, and, once within their meshes, there was no escape. The 'Long Range,' with its deep, capacious crevices of glittering ore, was a prize, and the band resolved to have it-by fair means if possible, by foul if necessary. Moor & Watson learned their design, and resolved to beat them in their own way. They gave 'Jim Crow' a fighting interest. He was a man formed in a perfect mold, and well skilled in the ' manly art of self-defense,' his right name being James D. Morga, but, through the mines, he went by his sobriquet of ' Jim Crow.' It was a pastime for him to ward off the blows of his antagonist and send him sprawling to the ground with a force that beats the Keely motor. He was never known to seek a quarrel nor to back out from one in behalf of an insulted or injured friend. A few well-directed blows was sufficient for the occasion, and the recipient never asked to have them repeated. Bill Goodfellow, also a powerful man, thought to dispatch him once, at a saloon in Dubuque, striking him in the back with an ax, severing his ribs from the bone ; but Jim, quick and fierce as a she tiger, turned on him, wresting the ax from his hands, and, before feeling the effects of his severe injury, dealt him such a thrashing that Bill ever after kept the peace. Such was the new partner in Moor & Watson's diggings, whom the miners had learned to respect for his unobtrusive devotion to the right, and the roughs to fear for his swift and ter- rible punishments of the wrong. A fellow by the name of John Calder was the first to assert his claim to the diggings, and, for this purpose, armed himself with a gun. Jim saw him com- ing and advanced to meet him half way. His first move was to wrest the gun from his hand, and then administering a few well-placed kicks, ordered him to return by the path he had come, or he would blow the top off his head; Calder obeycd, and relinquished all further claim. A few days after, the whole gang, consisting of Sam Rountree, Bill Clark, Cyrus Harper, Jake Derrich, Bill Cooley and Lindsey Evans, all armed, were seen approaching.the diggings. Jim Crow was prepared for them. He stood, as they approached, leaning on the windlass at the mouth of the ' hole,' armed with his knife, pistols and rifle. When they came within thirty yards, Jim ordered a halt along the whole line. They knew too well the determined character of their foe, and to advance farther was certain death to one or more, and they wisely concluded to obey the order and remain where they were. Harper tried to commence conversation and said : ' Crow, we have come up to settle this difficulty, and would like to talk with you a little.'

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Crow replied, ' You can't talk to me; you have come with a d-d pack of thieves. Now, take the path. you came, and go home and attend to your own business.'

"They did leave and were only too glad to get beyond the reach of the well aimed rifle. Though held at bay and baffled in their nefarious purpose for the time, for there is little doubt they purposed to kill Crow then and there, if they could do so without endangering their lives, they were not to be thus easily thwarted, and slowly returned deliberating a more successful revenge. It was not long delayed. All was kept quiet. No intimation was given of the work they had in view, and it was supposed the strife was at an end, and Moor & Watson were to be left in the peaceable possession of their rich diggings. A few weeks after, Jim Crow was sitting in Owen Mclaughlin's grocery, quietly smoking his short pipe, when Bill Cooley, Jake Derrich

and Lindsey Evans entered. It was observed that Evans wore a cloak. All walked up to the bar and called for something to drink, inviting Jim Crow to do the same. There was nothing in the words or movements of the men to betray suspicion when the two turned to leave the house. Cooley and Derrich had passed out, when Lindsey Evans turned suddenly round sent a ball whiz- zing through Crow's heart, and left him weltering in his blood. He expired in a few moments thereafter, while the assassins mounted horses that were held in waiting by their cowardly asso- ciates without and escaped down the Hollow. Crow was buried in Whittaker's field, on the hill, to the left of the road leading from Potosi to Galena. The events succeeding the cowardly as- sassination stop not here, and were fraught with more than mere local interest. The number and influence of the gang, some of them being men of means and holding respectable connections, defied the law. The local authorities were mere minions of their authority, and, if not willing tools, were but too anxious to avoid giving offense. The three principal murderers, after skulk- ing a few days in the neighborhood, were arrested, and, after a farcical examination, were set at liberty. It was then the people became aroused. Nelson Dewey was serving his first term of Justice of the Peace in the town of Lancaster. From him a new warrant was. procured, and the villains re-arrested and brought into court. The prisoners were held to bail and com- mitted to the guard-house at Prairie du Chien, there being no jail yet in the county. The ex- amination lasted all night and some time into the next day. Many of the persons who attended were known to be armed, and their previous intimacy with prisoner and known desperate char- acter fastened the rumor that an attempt at a rescue would be made. A guard was organized to protect the officers, and thus under a strong guard the prisoners were started for Prairie du Chien. They were afterward brought before Chief Justice Dunn on a writ of habeas corpus and admitted to bail. This action on the part of Judge Dunn aroused the slumbering passions of the better class of citizens. These lawless desperadoes again at liberty, defiantly returned to their old haunts in Potosi. Forbearance had ceased to be a virtue in this case, and meetings were held to take into consideration the best mode of getting rid of them. It was finally determined to drive them out of the country, and a limit fixed to the number of days they might remain to ad- just their business. At the end of the time an armed body of men numbering two hundred and over, marched into the town; but the desperadoes had made good their retreat, and put the waters of the Mississippi between them and all danger. The principals never returned. As an episode showing the animus of the times and of the kind of characters that went to make up a mining town, the following incident will show: Dr. Hill was a friend of some of the parties implicated in the murder, whom the mob compelled to leave. One of them went to him for advice. The Doctor said: 'I will not advise you one way or another, but there is not men enough in Wis- consin to drive me out.' This remark identified him with the gang, and a meeting was called to dispose of his case. Dr. Hill hearing of it armed himself to the teeth and walked into the meeting. Taking off his hat, and standing straight as a lamp-post and bringing his rifle to a ground arms, he addressed the meeting as follows: 'Mr. President, I understand this meeting has been organized for the purpose of driving me out of Potosi. Sir, is that the object of this meeting? G-d d-m your souls ! you can't drive me out! and you shall not discuss a matter of that kind.' And every one present knew that speech portended death to the first man who should open his mouth. The meeting was cowed into silence and one by one they dropped out,

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glad to get beyond the range of the belicose doctor's rifle. He was not driven out. Harper, a merchant was, however, afterward arrested and brought before the Vigilante Court and proven guilty of loading the pistol with which 'Jim Crow' was killed, his own clerk testifying against him. He was then given two days in which to settle up his affairs and leave town. Before the expiration of the limit set, he was out of town glad to escape so easily."

Nearly forty years have elapsed since these events occurred, and but few remain who were cognizant of the facts. Lindsey Evans was never tried, and few if any learned the sequal of his life. Some returned Wisconsin soldiers, while in a Southern prison, relate that one of their keepers, learning whence they came, confessed himself to be Lindsey Evans, and by kindly acts to the prisoners seemed to desire to atone for his great wrong. But his name and memory will ever be attached to the most infamous assassination that ever occurred in the lead mines.

RUSSELL MURDER.

On the 1st day of March, 1838, Edward Oliver and John Russell, living near Cassville, became involved in a discussion arising from the loan of a skiff which Russell had borrowed from Oliver to go across Turkey River, and had not returned as he agreed. The wordy warfare aroused Oliver's passions to such an extent that he drew a pistol and attempted to shoot his an- tagonist. Parties near by interfered, but reaching around the would-be peacemaker, Oliver pulled the trigger and the ball from the pistol struck Russell in the left breast killing him in- stantly. Oliver was arrested and tried at September term of court and sentenced to be hanged. This sentence was carried into effect a short time later, the gallows for the execution being erected a short distance from where the old jail now stands. Harvey Pepper was Sheriff at the time, but a deputy named Reynolds released the fatal drop that sent the murderer into eternity. Previous to his execution, Oliver expressed a wish to make a confession as well as give a history of his past life, and Judge Barber, then a young lawyer, went to his cell to commit this recital to paper. The entrance to the cell was effected by first going into the upper story of the old log jail and then descending into the cell. As Mr. Barber sat writing, he happened to notice Oliver slip his hand from the shackles which he had unloosened in some manner and stealthily reach for an iron bar that lay near him, his evident intention being to brain his visitor and then perhaps escape.

Mr. Barber stopped writing and looking the murderer squarely in the eye, commanded him in a stern voice to replace his hand in the shackle. For a moment they sat eyeing each other, but the piercing, unflinching gaze was too much for the murderous ruffian, and he sullenly obeyed the command, and when he was securely fastened, his visitor took his leave informing him that some other time he would take the remainder of the matter. But no further attempts were made to gratify the fellow's desire for posthumous notoriety.

Oliver's son, a young lad, threatened, previous to his father's execution, to kill the officers should the sentence be carried out, and a short time after the verdict of the court had been fulfilled to its awful end, young Oliver was found in a thicket on the edge of the town with cocked gun waiting for his victim. He was, however, seen and captured before he had time to do any damage. His weapons were taken from him, and he made, so far as heard from, no further attempts for vengeance.

LATIMER MURDER.

The death of Charles Latimer in February, 1844, at the hands of one Gloster, at Potisi, created at the time much local excitement and was characterized as " the most tragical occur- rence that has disgraced this portion of the Territory for years." Latimer was an Englishman by birth, and had fled from Canada in consequence of his participation in the patriot war. He was a lawyer by profession, a man of brilliant parts and a ripe scholar, but unfortunately ad- dicted to intemperance and the abuse of the American eagle. The former habit was viewed according to the custom of the time, with a great deal of tolerance, the latter with quite the reverse.

ARBushnell

LANCASTER.

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

On the evening, about the middle of February in the saloon of Clark & Woods, Latimer became involved in a discussion on the right of foreigners to vote, and during the discussion he animadverted somewhat severely upon American character and customs, when he was knocked down by Gloster, who was present. Latimer continued his remarks and was again knocked down, he making no show of resistance. Soon after this, having in the meantime indulged in more liquor, Latimer approached Col. White and charged him with being the cause of his hav- ing received a black eye. The Colonel was a professional gambler, a Kentuckian by birth, and a man of fine physique and polished manners, who had the reputation of having upon more than one occasion "winged his man." The tone used by Latimer was highly insulting, and the Colonel immediately knocked him down. This was on Saturday night. On the following morn- ing Gloster went to Latimer, begged his pardon, and they parted apparently good friends. On Monday morning, a note was received by Col. White from Latimer asking for the satisfaction usual among gentlemen. The challenge was accepted. and weapons-rifles, at one hundred yards -agreed upon, the time being set for the next morning. Gloster acted as the friend of Col. White, Latimer being also provided with a friend who acted as his second. At 3 o'clock on the morning of the intended meeting, the two principals were arrested and held to bail. This how- ever, only resulted in changing the place of meeting from Wisconsin to Iowa Territory. Promptly to the hour all were on hand, and the principals posted. At this juncture, Samuel Morris, an Acting Constable of the county, James F. Chapman, Justice of the Peace, Maj. John R. Coons, and one or two others appeared upon the scene to assert the majesty of the law and act as peacemakers. Being worthy citizens and men of honor, averse to all such bloody pro- ceedings, they went earnestly to work to stop the combat and succeeded. After much solicita- tion, both parties agreed to refer the dispute to a committee, who after a review of the case, decided that it was a misunderstanding all around, and no apologies were necessary on either side. The reconciliation having been effected, they returned to town and all might have been well had not malicious busybodies whispered in the besotted ear of Latimer that Gloster had further intentions against his person. Maddened with the fumes of the poisonous liquor, each day added to his frenzy until the erstwhile talented gentleman was reduced to an irresponsible maniac. On the night preceding the fatal encounter, Latimer was again informed that Gloster had used menacing language against him. In the state of delirium which then enveloped him, this was like touching a match to powder, and after passing a sleepless night, Latimer armed himself with a Bowie knife and two horse pistols, one of which, in his deranged condition of mind. he loaded with powder and the other with ball and sallied forth to met his foe. Intercepting Gloster as he was going to breakfast, he fired at him once, but as the pistol was only loaded with powder it simply burned and blackened his face. Gloster cried that he was unarmed and asked his antagonist not to kill him, and the latter told him to go and arm himself. Gloster hastily withdrew, and some time afterward re-appeared armed with a double-barreled shotgun. Latimer had been impatiently awaiting his return, whittling a pine stick with a Bowie knife in the meantime, and as his eye caught sight of the man approaching with the gun in his hand advanced with raised pistol. His gait, however, was unsteady, and his aim uncertain. Gloster cocked his gun and raised it to his shoulder, but retreated step by step until he came to an open culvert where the branch runs near the corner of Lewis' store. Here he stopped and warned Latimer and his friends that if he advanced a step nearer he would fire. The words were unheeded, and a second later, poor Latimer lay weltering in his gore. Samuel Wilson who was his friend and intimate, and who, during the morning had made several unsuccessful attempts to disuade him from his purpose, received him in his arms as he fell and conveyed him to a place near by where he expired. The authorities were strongly censured for not preventing this un- timely meeting. Gloster surrendered himself to the officers. and, upon examination, was acquitted on the ground of self-defense. He remained but a short time in Potosi after the com- mission of the deed, and died a few years later in Chicago. The pistols used upon the occasion were preserved by a citizen of Potosi, and one of them still remains in his possession. The other was donated to a California emigrant and by him lost in the country of gold. They were savage and formidable looking instruments. M

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

DE LASSEAUX MURDER.

A few months after the murder of Latimer, namely, in April, 1845, occurred another mur- der, the murderer and his victim residing at Beetown. The ownership of a certain lot was claimed by two parties-Brewer, a miner, and a companion ; and De Lasseaux, the owner of a smelting furnace in that vicinity, he also being engaged in trade at that point. De Lasseaux had fenced up the lot in question, and the day on which the murder occurred, had started to re- move some rails from the ground. This Brewer had forbidden him to do. As De Lasseaux approached the lot, Brewer seized a rifle which he had concealed in the limekiln near which he was standing, and, as he did so, the gun, which was at half cock, went off. De Lasseaux was a large, powerful man, of whom the other stood much in awe, and supposing that this accidental discharge of the gun would be taken as an excuse for an attack, he did not wait to see if his surmise should prove true, but, shifting the gun in his hand, he brought it down on the head of the unfortunate man, knocking him down. Brewer then drew a long knife he had upon his person and stabbed De Lasseaux in a savage manner, from the effects of which he died in a short time.

Brewer was immediately arrested. The court had barely closed its spring session, Judge Dunn not having left Lancaster. The grand jury was summoned to return, a true bill was found, and the trial commenced. The result, under the popular feeling-which, owing to the general lawlessness which had seemed lately to develop, ran high-was a foregone conclusion, and the unfortunate victim to an insane craving for vengeance was sentenced to expiate his crime upon the gallows, and his execution took place a few weeks later. The gallows was erected a little to the northeast of the village, and up to a recent date. the posts were still to be scen, but were dug up afterward by future owners of the ground. Brewer's claim that his gun went off accidentally on the fatal day, was not very generally received. Some time after his execution, the person to whom the gun had been given by him was hunting in the woods, when, on two dif- ferent occasions, the weapon was discharged at half-cock, showing, when too late, that the unfor- tunate man spoke the truth.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 78

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?] Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?]
Number of Pages: 1050