Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-01-10
From ,hc Chicago Times, January y
Arrest OF n Murderer-Ehe se-
quel To u Terrible Tragedy
Confession Of lhe Prisoner.

| The inhabitants Of la Crosse Wisconsin
were thrown into an alarming state OF excite
meni, about the lst inst by the discovery thai
cod-blooded and atroc,ous murder had beet
| perpetrated near that cily y.--Ihe sheriff o
La Crosse set out 10 search Of the murderer
and succeeded, after many iruitless attempts
/ IA capturing the criminal in this city yesteI
I dag morning.
I The circumstances connected with the case
are briefly as fellows On the 3lst day OF
/ December German named Robert L4nge,
who kept grocery store near Yiroca. Vernon
county Wisconsin, started for La Crosse 10 a
sleigh drawn by a team OF horses. Al he weHt
for the purpose of purchasing goods, he took
with him all his available funds, which, it is
supposed, amounted TO about 5000
a young man named James A. Clear be.
longing to the 18th Wisconsin infantry, being
about to leave tor he field, asked permission
to accompany Mr.. Lange. The latter assenlOd
and The twain started on their journey. When
about Ihreo miles from La Crosse, the soldier
seized an axe, which was lyins in the sleigh,
and dashed out The brains OF bis unsuspecting
companion lie then riAed the pockets OF the
murdered man and dragged the body out upon
the open prairie, about sixty rods from the
road, where he placed a couple OF beer kegs
upon IL Mounting the sleigh once more be
drove boldly into the town; and, having Ar
rived there, stepped out OF the vehicle, leav-
ing the horses to go where they pleased -
The animals Immediately proceeded to the
hOtel where their owner had been accusion.
ed TO stop; and the hostler, thinking that
Mr.. Lange had gone into the house to warm
himself, put the team into the barn without
asking any questions On the next morn.
ing, two gentlemen, seeing the sleigh, re-
cogn2ed IL as belonging to Mr. Lange; but
inquiry for him disclosed nothing concerning
his whereabouts
This excited suspicion, and an examina.
ton OF the sleigh disclosed splashes of blood
found upon the seat and dash board. There
upon party started out on the road lead
ing TO the residence OF the missing man,
and, when three miles ont, found his body
in the condition described above
Meanwhile Clear was making arrange
meuts to destroy all evidences of his guilt
and leave the vicinity Entering the Har-
rington House, he changed $50 in postal
currency for SO in greenbacks, alter which
he purchased Il complete new suit of clothes
and took the cars for Milwaukee. While on
hie way thither he managed to change his
garments, throwing his old clothes, which
were blood.siained, from the car window
But the sheriff of La Crosse county, Mr.. Il.
N Schoelberg had obtained description of
TIE man who changed the money, aud imme-
diately recognized Clear as the criminal
After searching through Wisconsin he
came to this city, and, having procured the
services Of officer Sherman continued the
search. All efforts, however, were in vaiu,
and the sheriff was about to leave, when he
happened, yesterday morning to see para
graph IN the Times announcing that the 18th
Wisconsin regiment had arrived in this city,
knowing that Clear belonged to this regiment
be procured the services Of officer Sherman,
who went to the Soldiers Rest and found the
murderer On being confronted with the
sheriff the'prisoner exclaimed ''All right, boys
| know what you want" He was takan AT
once to the central police station, where he
confessed his crime, but stated that the mut
dered man had only 1925, which he had takeu
and expended.
The prisoner is about twenty five years o.
age. His parents reside in Minnesota Sher
iil Scholberg left, last evening, for La Crosse
taking with him the prisoner in irons