Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-08-28
An Eloquent Temperance Lecture.

SOME sixty years ago there was born in
| one of the midland counties of England
one William Hops, who, when about
twenty years of age, came to this country
and settled in Vermont. He possessed a
powerful frame and an indomitable will,
and amassed considerable sum of
| money, while cultivating small farm in
a comparatively sterile country. Hints
wen e sometimes thrown out that he OBJ
taine,.' his money not so much from agri-
culture Is from smuggling goods over the
border from Canada. After a time he
concluded to come West, and bought a
farm near Wheeling, in Cook County,
where he settled witt. his wife and family
more than thirty years ago Every thing
he touched seemed to prosper,his farm OF
three hundred acres was one of the best III
Cook County; he built upon it g splendid
mansion, entirely of pressed brick, and
for years everything was lovely. With
the increase OF his wealth his family also
increased, until, in 1868, he had thirteen
children, all living. Hops had, however
become an lnveterate topper, and in cODse
quence, family troubles frequently arose.
In the month of June Of that year, the
whole community was startled with the
news that William Hops had murdered
his wife. The news proved true While
under the influence Of liquor, he disem-
boweled her. An inquest was held and
he was found guilty and committed to
take his trial. He had no sooner been
safely lodged in the jail of Cook County
than he inquired for the lawyers who had
defended JumpertZ, and soon after Col.
John Van Amman and Mr.. E. w
McComas became his counsel By the
time the trial was reached, Col. Van
Amman had left, with his regiment, for
the seat of war, and his place was filled
by Mi. Writ Dexter, who put in plea of
emotional insanity. The case was tried
before the Hon. George Manierre, then
Circuit Judge, and the prosecution was
conducted by the Hon. Joseph Knox,
State -Attorney, assisted by the Hon.
W. X. MacAlister After twelve days
trial, the jury, on the 31st of December,
1868, brought in verdict of guilty,
and William Hops was sentenced to
death
On the application of his attorneys, a
supersedeas was obtained from the
Supreme Court, and, on appeal, that
Court reversed and remanded the case,
and ordered a new trial. 1t was not until
1866, however, that the new trial took
place, his counsel evidently considering
that the fact ofhis having been long
time in Jail would have a good effect
with a jury. Atlast the trial came off,
and he was aquitted, and again walked
the earth a free man. He went back to
his old ileighborhood and commenced
work but no one would have anything to
do with him-even his own children re-
fused to see him, and he felt that he was
truly and utterly alone in the world. His
farm had been mortaged to pay the eX-
pcnseS Of his defense, and was at length
sold for $4,000. OF this sum, So 500
went to his counsel for their own and the
court fees, and $500 was left to him. This
quickly disappeared in the maelstrom OF
whiskey; and then, as if good fortune
and kind Providence were always help
ing him with golden opportunities to do
well, Legacy of $500 came to him from
England. At last this all disappeared,
and William Hops, upon whom bright
hopes had so often dawned-William
Hops the whiskey- drinker and wife
murderer-had not place to lay his
head; not a friend in all the world; not a
child who did not revolt from contact or
conversation with him. Alone, and an
outcast, his misery and destitution at
last caused him to ask for admittance IN
to the Cook County Poor House, at
Jefferson, and few days ago he became
an inmate in what will probably be his
| last home on earth, and when he dies
instead Of leaving magnificent inheri.
lance to his children, and having a
splendid monument erected to his mem
Dry, he will descend to the grave union
ored, if not unsung.-Ch5cago Tribune.