The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-09-13
From the Jaue>ytl- cas- 1az.t'e
BRUTAL MURDER AND GREAT EN-
CITEMENT AT IA CROSSE

We learn from Mr.. l.awton, the Sheriff
of this county, who has just returned from
visit to La Crosse. the particulars of the
brutal murder Of Mr. Dennison and the
assault upon Mr. West Mr. West is son
of David West of this city, the fa,her-in-
law Of Mr. Lawton.
On the morning of the 10Th inst, Mr.
Dennison and Mr.. West, whose residerce
is in Minnesota, started on a fishing ex.
curson. and in the course Of the day.
(about three o'clock in the a;lern""r) reach
ed Mormon Cooley, about ten mile, from
La Crosse. While passing quietly up the
creek. they were surprised 10y the barking
and appearance of three dogs, accompanied
by German girl, who was setting the dogs
on Messrs Dennison and West They de-
Tended themselves from the attacks of the
dogs as well as they could, and the girl or
dered the men away Mr. Dennison en-
deavored to purchase the privilege of fish
ing by Offering the girl dollar, and re-
quested her to call off the dogs This offer
she refused. and Mr. Dennison then sought
the father, who Was unloading some hay,
with two sons, short distance from the
creek, and renewed to the father the offer
made to the girl. The offer was also refu-
sed, and Mr. ID. returned to the creek and
informed Mr. West they must leave
While consulting what course TO adopt, the
father, his wife, two SONS and two daughters
appeared on the opposite side Of the creek
and Mr. Dennison crossed over, and offer
ed two dollars for the privilege Of staying q
short time and fishing. As he was making
this offer, with his hand in his pocket t.
get the money, one of the girls aimed {
) blow at him with pole. He turned tC
ward off the blow. when the eldest sol
struck him on the back of the head with
the butt of a gun and felled him to the
. earth. Mr. West Immediately started Il
3 the aid Of Mr. Dennison and while in th'
creek, was assailed by two of the womer
3 with pitch-forks One of the forks whicl
) was aimed at his breast he warded off, bu
! the other was run through one Of his arms
5 Mr.. West was then Knocked down by I
: : blow on the head from gun in the hand
8 of one Of the men, the blow breaking th'
: stock Of the gun. After being thus knock
. ed down, the men jumped upon him, press
/ ed their knees upon his chest, seized hin
3 by the throat and forced his head under th'
water This treatment was continued unit
5 his assailanrs apparently thought him dead
: as had ceased struggling. They then lef
him. and he raised his head above the wa
. ter and attempted to raise his body. A
I; soon as this was discovered, the iicnds agail
2 assailed him with greater violence than be
fore, and again lett him for dead Wher
: thus left, his face was above the water, ant
Mr. West remained quiet until the entir
party had left the spot and ct away som
Y distance; then he revived himself by wash
d ing his face and head, and sought Mr.. Den
u nison. Mr. ID was lying insensble, hav
> ing received several cuts and wounds o
- the head and other parts Of the body (be
|. sides the blow from the gum from the w
men while men were engaged with NJ,
Wes, in the creek Mr.. West carried W.
ter in his hat to Mr.. Dennison and succeed
d ded in partially reviving him. He the
e left Mr. Dennison and started for the higf
, wav, some half mile distant, for aid, whe
d he fortunately met another party of fishe,
Of in buggy, who Went after Mr. ID. o
n their return t. Mr. u, one Of the sou
a of the German was met with gu
D. in his hands. seemingly determined to fir
II ish the work Of murder if it was n. a
ready accomplished.
Mr. Dennison was carried to the neares
house, where he received every attention
was possible 70 render His skull was bac
= ly fractured, the fracture xterding frol
i. the place where the blow was received
~ the eye, while the bone where the blow W.
received was literally crushed He die
the next night at ii o'clock, his wife ha'
ing been sent for and vas present with BIZ
when he died. He vas unconscious fro'
the time Mr. Wes, reached him to the tiu
" Of his death
ne Mr. Vests injuries are very severe. B
% sides the wounds inflicted By the men,
,s ,s was mangled By the dogs. His physician
give hope Of bis recovery, if infammatic
can be suppressed He thinks that the "