The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-01-25
(From the Chicago Times. Jan. ~
ha.est oi a Murderer = he
Sequslts a Terrible Tragedy--Csnfes
sien Of the Prisoner.


The inhabitants of La Crosse, Wisoon-
sin, were thrown iate an alarming state OF
excitement, about the lst inst, by the
discovery that a cold bloodsd and afro
cisus murder had been perpetrated near
ltaat city. The sheriff of La Crosse ceun-
ty set cut in search of the murderer aud
succeeded, after many fraitless attempts,
ia capturing the criminal in this oity yes-
terday msrning.
The circumstances connected with the
case are briefly as follows:
On tho 31st day of December, Ger
man named Robert Lanss. who kept q
grocery store near Viroca, Vsraen coun-
ty, Wisconsin, started for La Crosse in a
sleigh drawn by team Of hsrses. As
he went fer the purpose of purchasing
goods, he took with him all bis available
funds, which, it is supposed, amounted to
about $500.
A young man named James A. Clear,
belonging to the 18th Wisconsin infantry,
being about to leave for the field, asked
permission to accompany Mr. Lange.
The latter assentsd and the twain started
on their journey. When abeut three
miles from La Urssse, the soldier seized
an axe, which was lying in the sleigh, and
dashed cut tho brains Of his unsuspscting &
cempanien He then ritled the pockets
of the murdered NAN and dragged the
bedy out upon the epen prarie, about
sixty rods iro m the road, whore he placed
a couple of empty beer kegs upsn it.
Mounting the sleigh snce more he drove
boldly inte the town; and, having arrived
there, stepped out Of the vshicls, leaving
the horses to &c whore they pleased. The
animals inmediatsly proceeded to the
hetel where their owner had been aocus-
toned to stop; AMI, the hestler, thinking
that Mr.. Lange had gone into the house
to warm himself, put the team ints the
barn without asking any questions. On
the next morning, tive gentlemen, seeing
the sleigh, recognized it as belonging ts
Mr. Lsnge; bat inquiry fer him disclosed
nsthing concerning his whsrsabouts.-
This excited suspicion, and an exanina-
tisa Of the sleigh disclosed splashes si
blood found upon the seat and dash board
Thereupon a party started eat en- the
read leading to the residence of the nis-
sing man, and, when three miles cut
found his body m the condition described
above.
Meanwhile Clear was making arrange
meEts to destroy all evidence of his guilt
and leave the vicinity. Entering the
Harrigton house. he changed $50 in postal
currency for SIS in greenbacks, after
which he purchased conplete new suit
o.. clothes and tesk the cars for Miiwau-
kse Whils On his way thither he maH-
aged to change his garnents, throwing
his old clothes, which were bleed stained
from the car window But the sheriff
of La Crosse county, Mr.. H. N. Shoel
berg. had obtained description Of ths
man whe changed the money, and imme.
diately recognized Clear as the criminal
After searching through Wisconsin anS
Miaaessta, without success, Mr.. Schael
berg came to this city, and, having pre-.
cured the services of officer Sherman
continued the search All efferts. how,
ever, were IL vain, and the sheriff Mas
abeut to leave, when he happened, yes
terday morning, to see paragraph in
The Times announcing that the 18th
Wisconsin regiment had arrived in this
city. Knowing that Clear belonged te
this regiment, he procured the services o.
officer Sherman, who went to the Soldier
Rest and found the murderer. On being
confronted with the sheriff the prisoner
exclaimed "All right, beys, | know what
you want" He was taken at once to the
central police station, where he confessed
his crime, but stated that the murdered
naa had snly s225, which he had taken
and expended.
The prisoaer is about twenty five year:
si' age. His parents reside in NinResota
Sheriff Schelberg left, last evening, fel
La Cresse, taking with hin the prisoner
in irons.