Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-12-25


and his fsthst had been 10 WATERFOWL
and the old man either threw him out or
ordered him out of the wagon; he did not
tell of a quarrel between his father and
mot her; no said he got mad, and went into
the house. and snapped the pistol.
s. X. Vaughan (sherif ssoorn for the
state--Soldiers pants are uniformly made;
| have never seen a pair with strap and
buckle upon the back; I was lieutenant
COLONEL served between four and FIVE
years. 9z9 = ssr..s H..
Here the prosecution rested their case.
THE DEFENCE. 4-ss l.. s.
The defence was opened by Mr.. vii
liams. The learned counsel commsn.ed
upon the responsibility and duties incident
to the position Of juror. and this fearful
interest of the prisoner in the result of
their deliberations. He said it would ap-
pear to the jury that no such great fire as
claimed by the prosecution had occurred,
but that. on the contrary, vegetation At
the very margin of ash,heap had survived
it; and The roots beneath it had been uti-
injuteds that the tracks in the snow were,
as they would be able to show, those OF
the alleged deceased; that testimony would
be introduced showing that Schnepf did
go to Watertown that day. He also CON
mented upon the nature of the testimony
for the prosecuion,-its contradictory
and unsatisfactory nature. The mystery
of The case WAS not for them to explain.
fie called attention TO the fact that yes-
terday morning they obtained subpoena
for one Frank Meyers, who, it seemed, was
one of the nearest neighbors and an old
hater of Schnepf's-a man who, while
other peighbors were searching, refused to
do so; that their suspicious Of Meyers had
been aroused and they had been on his
track. But Meyers would never respond
to that writ of subpoena. On yesterday,
by his own hand, he had placed himself
beyond the reach Of earthly courts, before
another tribunal, where there were no
mysteries. The counsel advanced the
theory that, if the bones lying upon the
table before them were the remains OF
Charles Schnepf, Meyers was lie murderer;
that, on the return OF Schnepf from Water
town. on the evening of tue Sd OF April,
they had met near the fire, which sug-
gested the means of dis posing Of the body
intense, lie long hatred, and perhaps
belief that Schnepf had the money paid TO
him in his possession. prompting the
bloody deed; and that Meyers, and not the
prisoner, was the man seen by O'Connor's
girl on that night of crime, at the FIRE, if
she, indeed, saw anyone.
Mrs. Scknepf was placed upon The
stand, and examined by Judge Orton for
the defence.
Brooks, Fuller, Orson Whitmore, and
were at our house on Wednesday,
the dav before the bones were found; we
were getting supper Mr.. Fuller said,
"Joe. how are your colts getting on; and
asked him to lead them out; they went to
the barn; Whi.more said, ''Joe, Sweeney
says they say you are to be arrested
Joe said, "They can't arrest me; hain't
done nothing; the first two days after
husband left. thought nothing about it,
he WAS that way sometimes; we would be
working in the field, and he would say,
Come, let's 60 to town; He couldn't
get along without tobacco; he had used it
every since I knew him; [ did not hear
Joseph get into bed the night of the dis
appearance; il was more than half-past o
when ne went to bed; in the morning
heard him get out of bed; the night be-
fora, l know the girls had the front door
locked before he went in; [ don't think
the front door makes a great naise; my
husband and Frank Meyers we're enemies
for ten years; one harvesting. Meyers hogs
were in our grain for fve days; my bus
band took them home, and they would
come back sgain.
The district attorney here interposed an
objection to testimony relating to particu-
lar difficulties between Meyers and
Schnepf, and insisted that, while it might
be proper to give evidence of ill-will, gen
erally, it was not competent to gise evil
dence of particular circumstances.
Mr.. Thorn also argued the proposition.
Judge Orton followed, arguing that
they had right to show any facts indi-
eating that any person other than the pris-
oner was the guilty party.
This view was sustained by the court.
The witness continued:
They often quarreled; they had quar-
rel about year and half ago about cattle.
Meyers came out with q gun; went TO
the house: heard nothing about shooting;
Meyers said to husband, 81 can hurt
your cattle"; my husband said, "You have
cattle, too" The last quarreal was about
a year ago, 10 Watsrtown. at Spohn's; joe
got between them to help his father; when
they met, if they were both sober, they
would not pass the time of day or speak;
while my man was in the army, Meyers
I Z i L i