Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-12
ease of David HBOElaaal..

mated on small tract OF cahai iaIi"' -
tho town of Menomonee, Waukesna
Co This mill was erected some years
ago. by the joint means and labor OF
Mr. Noting ham and a Mr.. FhiPpln'
Who Of course, were joint owners
The last named individual sold his IN
terest shortly after the mill had been
erected, to MIR. Henry Keene, Of Prai-
neville. between whom and Mr.. N,
there appears not to have been good
understanding. from the out-start.-
At the canal land sale, in Milwaukee.
in April last, Mr.. Keene bid OIL and
Maid for. the tract of land upon which
The mill is situated; and thus became,
in law. the entire owner Of the proper
tv in question. Mr.. Nottingham at
this time, and for some weeks after,
assumed and exercised exclusive con-
troll of the mill. Shortly before the
fatal occurrence, the mill was placed in
possession of D. Bonham, as lessee of
Mr.. N, who as appears from the testi-
mony, was fully aware Of the difficult
ties which existed in regard to the prop
ertv; and it appears farther, that
leading object in view, on his part IN =
taking it, was to prevent, by force II
necessary, its falling into the hands OF
the legal owner, who it was supposed,
would soon attempt to enter into pos
session. Mr.. Bonham had been some.
what conspicuous as an advocate of
what was termed settlers rights
was very familiar with the rules and
regulations which had been adopted
by settlers for mutual protection in
these rights; and being, withal. a man
of some courage and determination,
was of course, the very first one who
would be most likely to fight the thing
successfully through against the claim
of Mr.. X. Indeed, he had; it seems,
expressed determination to do SO;
and for two nights prior to the night of
the 22nd of May, when the murder
was comitted, had guarded the mill
with deadly weapon-a gun in his
hands. Early in the afternoon of the
22nd Of May last, Mr.. Keene, acting
under the advice Of his counsel ap-
peared in the mill, which was then in
charge Of a Mr.. Frary, hired man of
Bonham. After making some inqui-
ries in reference to Nottingham and
Bonham, the former of whom he was
told had gone to Walworth Co, and the
latter to Prairieville after the Lisbon
mail, he informed Mr.. Frary that he
intended very soon to take possession
of the mill. He then left; but return
ed a short time before shutdown; and
seizing favorable opportunity, when
Frary had stepped outside to point out
to Mr.. Foster where certain lumber
was to be found, he shut down the gate
and stopped the mill. When Frary
stepped back again, Mr., X. told him
he had taken possession, and that his
services were no longer needed. Fra
ry soon started away leaving the mill
in peaceful possession Of Keene, who
proceeded to take out the saw & reno
we'd it, with a segment of the rag wheel,
&c., and discharged a loaded gun
which he found on the premises
Bonham by this time, had returned
home from Prairieville with the mail.
By this mail, he received letter
from Mr.. N. then in Milwaukee, in
forming him Of the design of Mr.. K.
and advising him, at all hazards, TO re-
tain possession of the property. Bon
ham sent his brother George to a
neighbor to borrow gun directing
him to be at the mill with the gun, in
the course of half an hour, and immc-
diately, himself, started for the mill,
the distance of which, from his house,
is over mile. He met Frary within
a few rods of the mill, who informed
him what had taken place. When
Bonham entered the mill, nc found
Keene, Foster, and young lad, by the
name Of Dunn, there. He shook
hands with MIR X, to whom he said
"you have stopped my mill" K. re-
piled ''Your mill? you couldn't expect
a mill so easy as that" Bonham
then went away, and was absent five
or ten minutes, when he returned with
Frary, and commanded Sir. K. to
bring back the articles he had taken
off. This, K, refused to do. B. then
ordered allexcept Frary ont of the mill.
X. declined going, and requested Eos
ter TO remain. About this time, Geo,
Bonham appeared with the gun which
he had been sent for--David Bonham
Immediately took it, and again. with
the gun in his hand, ordered Kecne,
Foster and Dunn, out Of the mill who