Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-04-10
TRIAL OF PETER KEENAN,,

/ +
The case of the State-of w isconsin VS.
Peter keenan,, indicted in Grant County
for the killing of Peter Pagan, on the night
/ of the s22d of December, 1856, came np
for trial before the Circuit court for Iowa
county, on Saturday, tha Goth inst. Most
Iof the day was occupied in empaneling a
Jury, so that the testimony was not com
lmenced until Monday morning.
The following gentlemen were sworn as
Jurors to try the case: John Ivey, Michael
Griffin, Patric McGoyen, William James,
Richard Rablin, James James, John P.
ITrammel, George Priestly, James Robb,
Vim. Doyson, Henry Lenahan, and Ed
ward Cornish. vs
+ Dennis Rooney, the first witness sworn,
testified that on the evening of December
l22d, 1856, Peter Kenan, the defendant,
Peter Pagan, the deceased, with several
Iothers, were at his house. in the town of
Millyille, Grant county, Wis; saw motions
between Kenan and Fagan,as if they were
about to fight; told them to stop; soon
latter saw them go ont the door, and saw
Kenan strike Pagan as they went out; fol-
lowed them out; saw parties on the
ground ;Kenan on top; saw no blows, while
parties were down; helped take Kenan off
Pagan and carry Fagin in the house; wa
Ter was poured on Fagsn's breast, which
caused him to roll his yes-the only signs
of life witness saw; had body clrried in to
another room md placed on bed; found
he was dead: examined body and found
seven wounds one on left thigh, one
lon The left groin, three on the body and
two on the back Of hiss neck !. one Old the
thigh was The largest, being Two or three
inches; reclean cut woun Is; don't know
how deep woundswere; saw no weapon in
kenan's hsnu; Keenan, told witness he kill
led JFaganwithsa knife; saw no knife till
next morning, when it was found by a boy
In the snow; blade of knife was three inch
es long, and had blood on it when witness
saw it; lia not see Pagan strike defendant.
A knife was presented and. identified by
witness as the one to which he alluded. -
Witness heard nothing Of the dispute be-
tween Pagan and keenan, Pagan went
out of the door first; when out alfew steps
turned round and met Kenan, when the
FRAY commenced. From the time they
went out unti witness found them on the
ground might have been five minutes
Kepan left after Pagan was brought in:
was followed, brought back and tied =
Kenan tried once III the morning to run
away. a
L pom the cross examination the witness
said whisky was drank by several on the
night Of the killing; also card playing in
the house. Witness played one or two
games Of eucher; no money paid for Ii
qnor that night, but next morning 80 cts.
paid by Lawless; witness drew pint of
whisky which was partly drank when he
Titled up the measure again; which was
Ionly partly drunk when the fray took
place. No one was drunk; saw Kenan
strike as parties went out the door; Pagan
was 5 feet s or 10 inches high, well pro-
portioned and stout built; witness struck
prisoner and Knocked him down after they
went into the house; struck him again
next with a boot because he would not
keep still: thinks prisoner was not drunk
that night; witness did not like prisoner;
never made any threats or tried to prevent
his getting bail.
James Carroll sworn-Was present
lat Rooney's on the night Of December p,
1856; heard Kenan aud Pagan disputing
as to Which was best thought of: betting
was talked Of between parties; heard Fa-
gsr tell Kenan he could put him in his
pocket Kenan 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 20 out, he wanted 10 speak to him; Ke-
| nan followed him out: when witness went
to the door the parties were on re ground
Kenan was asked how he dare strike a
Imam when down; Kenan replied, "By ia
sus I'll kill him = Rooney and Dumphey
pulled Kenan offland Pagan was carried
in; water was poured on Pagan; keenan,
said he was bleeding; deceased was put on
a bed Kenan left and was brought back
| Kenan said he did not know as Pagan
Ispoke after they left the room until be
struck him; heard no more Till morning,
when Humphrey asked keenan, what kind
| of knife he struck Pagan with; keenan,
replied with pocket knife; witness saw
THE knife when it was brought in, aud
identified the one presented in court as the
same. s. -
| The only new matter brought out by
1.-THE cross examination Of this witness, was
that the parties were quarreling about a
icirl, and that Kenan did not leave the
}house after the occurrence until he was told
10 eave.s 5 9 A
John Duaphey testified that the first
he saw keenan, and Pagan We're talking
cross and offering to bet; saw them go out
fof the house; next saw them outside the
door standing up, hold ofeach other; saw
them fall; ! Kenan gos on top; helped take
Kenan of; Pagan was dead or nearly SC
when carried in; heard Kenan say mem
morning that he struck Pagan
Cross ,rauined.- Saw drinking and
lcard playing in the house; drank himself
$50 did Kenan and Pagan; witness callee
flor LIQUOR and paid for it that night; thinks