Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-03-30
TRIAL OF PETER KEENAN,.


Court for Iowa County, On Saturday, the gosh
INST Most OF the day was occupied in empan-
neling jury, 50 that the testimony was not
commenced until Monday morning.
The following gentlemen were sworn as ju-
rors TO Try the case John Ivey, Michael Grif-
fin. Patrick McGoven. William James, Richard
/ I}ablin, James James, John p Tramel, George
Priestley, James Robb. VIM. Doyson, Henry
Leaahan and Edward Cornish
De'l'sis Rooney, the first witness sworn, test
fed that OF the evening Of December 22d, 1856. /
Peter Kenan, the defendant, Peter Pagan. the
deceased, with several others, We're al his house,
IL the town of Millyille, Grant Co, Wis saw
motions between Kenan and Fagan as if they
were about to fight; told them To stop soon
after them go out the door, and saw Kenan
strike Pagan IS they went oat; followed them
out saw parties upon the ground Kenan on
top; saw no blows while parties were down
helped take kenan off Pagan and carry F. in
the house water was poured on Fagan's breast
which caused himss;o roll his eyes-the only
I signs Of life witness saw ; had body carr ed in
to another room and placed on bed found be
/ was dead; examined body and found seven
wounds-one on left thigh, one on the left groin,
\ three on the body and two on the back Of his
neck the thigh was the largest. being
F two or three inches were clean cut wounds:
don't know how deep wounds were saw no
weapon in kenan's hand keenan, told witness
be killed Pagan with knife saw no knife till
I next morning, when it found by boy in
the snow; blade OF knife was three inches
long, and had blood on it when witness saw 4
did not see Pagan strike defendant. q knife
was presented and identified by witness as the
one to which he alluded Witness heard moth
ing Of the dispute between Pagan and KEENAN,
Pagan went out Of the door first; when out q
few steps turned round and met KEENAN,, when
the fray commenced. From the time they went
cut uutil witness found them on the ground
might have been five minutes. keenan, left after
Pagan was brought in ; was followed, brought
back and tied. X. tried once in the morning to
run away.
. pom the cross examination the witness said
whiskey was drank by several on the night of
the killing also card playing in the house
ltness played one or two games of euchre no
money paid for liquor that night, but next
morning so cents paid by Lawless witness
drew pint of whIskey which partly drank
when lie filed up the measure again; which
was only partly drunk when the fray took place
80 one was drunk saw Kenan strike as par
ties went out the door; Pagan was feet or
. 10 inches high, well proportioned and stout
built; witness struck prisoner and knocked
him down after they went iato the house struck
him again next morning with a boot because he
would not keep still; thinks prisoner was not
drunk that night; witness did not like prison
er; never made any threats or tried to prevent
his getting bail.
James Cary0H sloorn.-Was present at RooHey's
on the night of December 22d, 1856 heard Ke-
nan and Pagan disputng to which was best
thought Of; betting was talked of between par
ries heard Pagan tell Kenan he could put him
in his pocket Kcaan said he could not heard
no more words, except that Pagan said he would
not have anything more to do with prisoner
Pagan got up and asked Kenan to 90 out, he
wanted TO speak to him Kenan followed him
out when witness went to the door the par
ties We're the ground Kenan was asked how
he dare strike a when down K replied
=" BY Jasus III Kill himl" Rooney and Dam
phey pulled Kenan off and Pagan was carried
IN; water poured Pagan Kenan said
he was bleeding deceased was put on a bed
K. left and was brought back Kenan said he
did not know as Pagan spoke after they left the
room until he struck him; heard no more till
morning, when Humphrey asked Kenan what
kind of a knife ne struck Pagan with kenan
replied with pocket knife witness saw the
knife when it was brought in, and identified the
one presented in Court as the same
The only new matter brought out by the
cross-eXamination of this witness, was that the
parties We're quarelIing about girl, and that
kenan did not leave the house after the occur
renee until he was told to leave
John D.m2phey testified that TIE first he saw
keenan, and Pagan were talking cross and offer
ing to bet; them 90 out of the house
! next saw hem oatside the door standing M
hold of each other; saw them fall; Kenan got
on top; helped take Kenan OF; Pagan was
dead or nearly so when carried in heard Ke-
/ nan say next morning that he stuck Pagan.
/ oss-EEapiRatiol.-Saw drinking and card
; playing in the house drank himself, so did
keuan aad Pagan witness called for LIQUOR and
/ paid for it that night thinks Kenan's hands /
! we're swelIed by the tightness of the rome with
/ which he was tied heard him complaining Of
/ the rope hurting him.
/ ,Io5n LIpaess 5'rora-Heard no difficulty in
+ the house; saw keuan give one strike outside
and both fell, Kenan on top; they were parted |
tagan carried in and was dead saw no knit. /
+ until on the examination before the SQUIRE
had seen same knife before in Kenan's posses /
sion; henan said il was his witness identified
the knife in Court the same saw clothes Ia /
ken from deceased saw the wound on the
thigh and one on each side; wounds appear to
have been cut with knife
Cross Examined Had known deceased or
months; known Kenan years went to I
Rooney 5 with Pagan at F.s request several
persons present We're playing cards for 7Thiskev