, 1859-08-19
Brutal Murder and Great Excttemeu
at La Crosse.

a. La NEUkbEs
1Fro:n tee Janesvi!e t;tzrtt
We learn from Mr. Lawton, the Sheriff Of this
county, who has just returned from visit to
La Crosse, the particulars of the brutal marder
Of Mr. uenuison aud the assault upon Mr. West
Nr. West is a son of David West Of this city,
the fatier-in-law Of Mr. Lawton.
On the morning Of the 10th inst, Mr. Denri-
son, and Ar- West, whose residence is in Min
nesota, Started oil fishing excursion, and in
the course Of the day, (aIout three o'clock IN
the afternoon) reached Mormon Cooley, about
ten miles from La Crosse. While passing qui-
city n1 the creek, they were surprised by the
larklng and appearance Of three dogs, accom-
panied b,y German girl, who was setting the
.togs on Mcssrs. Dcnuisou and West. They de-
Tended themselves from tire attacks of tue dogs
as well as they could, and the gi.t ordered tile
men awny. Nr. Dennison endeavored to pur-
chase the privilege Of fishing BY Offering the girl
u dollar, and requested her 10 call of the dogs
This offer she refused, and Mr. Dennison tLen
then sought the father, who was unloading
the crs ok, and renewed to the father tue offer
made to the girl. The o1er was also refused,
and Mr. d. returned 10 the creek and Informed
Mr. Vest they must leave. While consulting
what course to adopt, the father, Lis wife, two
sons and two daughters Appeared on the oppo.
site side Of Tue creek, and Nr. Dennison crossed
over, and offered two dollars for the privilege
<-1 "
making this ole7, with lis hand in his pocket to
get the money, one Of tl'e girls aimed blow at
him With pole. lie turned to ward off the
blow, h'n til. eldest SON struck him on the back
Of tue head with the butt Of 4 gun and fellcl
him 10 the earth. sir. West Immediately start
ed to the aid of Mr.: neEn;:on. and while in the
creek, was assai1ed By two Of the women with
piscl-torks. One Of the forks which was aimed
at his breast Lc warded OF, hut the other was
run through one Of lis arms. MF. West was
then knocked down by blow on tue head from
! gun in the hands of one Of tue men, the blow
breaking the stock Of the gun. Alter bcin:
thus knocked down, the men jumped upon him,
by the throat and forced his head under the wa
ter This treatment was continued until his
assailants apparently thought him dead, Us 1c
had ceased struggling Tney then lei: La,, and
lie raised his lead above iilc water, and attempt
ed to raise his body. As soon rs this WAS dis
covered, the fends again assailed him, with
greater violence than before, and again left linn
for dead. When thus left, his face was above
tue water, and Nr. West remained quiet uut,
the entire party had left tile SPOT and rot away
some distance, tle, he revived himself b. wasli-
inng his face and hc3d, and sought Mr.. Dennisou
Several eats and Wouuds on IT, ''' ,pd rte~ n,,n.
parts of the Id :sy besdvs the i,u hIo,r au ir 0'ea M
gum from the women while the mea we're Gu.
gagged With IT. Eesi iu the creek, Mr.. West
cairled wnter i'll his hat to 3Ir. Usnpison and
succeeded III partially reryng him. He then
lett Mr- Dennison and started for the highway.
some halt mile distant, for aid, w],cn he fortu:
na9ely met anot!!er party Of fishers in Il buggy,
who went after Mr.. d. On their return to sir.
H., Que ol tue sons oi the Gern,:.n was met with
u Eun IN Ills hands, seemingly determined to
finish the work Of murder il it was not already
accomplished.
Mr. Ucnn1son was carried to the nearest
house, where he received every attention it was
possible to render His skull was badly frac-
tured, the fracture extending from the place
where tue blow was received 10 tho cye, while
tic bone where the blow was received was lit
orally crushed. lie died the next night at II
O'clock, nis vile havin;: been sent for and pres
ens with Inn when he died. lie was unconscious
from the time Mr. West reached him to The
time Of his death.
5lr. " est's injuries are very severe. Besides
tue wounds inflicted by the men, he WIS man.
glcd by tho days. His physicians give hone OF
his recovery, If inflammation can be suppressed.
lie thinks the water Which revived him, alone
sared his life.
The greatest excitement prevailed n La
Crosse about this occurrence. The criminals
have been arrested and are confined in tile couu-
ty jail. The STREETS are nightly thronged, and
while thEests are made by Americans Of lynch
ing the .perpetntots OF the outrage, counter
threats by the Ger1nans Of releasing the prison,
ers aud u desperate defence if the lynching is
attempted. The night 3lr. Lawt6n left La Crosse
a report was current that l5y armed Germans
were on their way to tho city. There ha,l pre-
yiously been visitation Of Germans with the
avowed design Of releasing the prisoners. but
they were met tv the AMERICAN citizens IN suce,
Hnnner us induced them to fUrego.their de-
sign. We look with anxiety for further reports
from that city