River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-07-30
A Prominent Lawyer Committed to
Jail for Assaults 4 pom the Defenders
OF His Sick Wife.

A Prominent Lawyer Committed to
Jail for Assaults 4 pom the Defenders
OF Isis Sick Wife.
lOmaha Daily Herald, 2lst.l
The Herald has carefully refrained,
heretofore, from making mention of a
local scandal which has excited good
deal of comment in this community, but
now the matter rises to the status of o
domestic tragedy, unparalleled in civil
lied community and must receive our at
tention. With the origin Of this scandal
in which Mr.. Jacob 5. Spaun--so recently
respected citizen of Omaha and prom
inent member of the legal profession has
borne so disgraceful part, we do not
propose to deal, as the circumstances
connected with the same are well known
in this community, and hence we will not
burden our columns with recital of what
would be only offensive to our readers.
Last Saturday Mrs. Spaun instituted
proceedings in the district court for di-
vorce from her husband, alleging in her
petition that Spaun had been guilty Of
cruelty and neglect, in addition to the
crime of adultery. Sheriff BuTley en-
deayored to serve notice of said pro-
ceedings upon Mr.. Spaun, Saturday, but
was unable to find him.
Monday the latter heard that suit
for divorce had been instituted, and i'm
mediatcly FASTENED to his home, which it
is said he had not visited for six weeks
previously. There he found his wife had
given birth, last Sunday, to child, and
was at that time in weak and helpless
condition. She had been attended by DR..
5. ID. Mercer and that gentleman, at the
earnest entreaty of Mrs. Spaun, had left
Constable Hanlon on guard at the house,
Mrs Spaun declaring that her life would
be endangered if her husband were ad-
United. Monday morning the officer was
compelled to come down town and it was
during his temporary absence that Spaun
visited the house. He was met inside the
hall door by the colOred nurse who OBJ.
jected to his going TO Mrs. Spaun's room,
whereupon Spaun struck the nurse
cOwardly blow, knocking her to the floor.
Then he entered his wife's room and
blusteringly declared he would shoot, on
sight, DR.. Mercer and Messrs. Savage and
Henderson, his wife's attorneys. At
this his frightened children ran down to
the office of Savage 4 Henderson and in
formed them Of their fathers conduct,
whereupOn those gentlemen FASTENED to
the house to protect their helpless client
from the assaults of brutal husband.
They found Spaun in his wife, room en-
deavoring to induce her to sign paper
of some kind, doubtless hav-
ing reference to the divorce proceedings.
He declined doing any shooting at that
time, and soon after left the house, but
was aiterward arrested on the charge Of
assault and battery committed upon the
nurse and taken before Judge Porter.
Yesterday morning he again returned
home, and when DIR. Mercer visited his
patient he found that Spaun had been en-
gagged in firing his pistol in the back
yard, putting his wife and children in a
terrible fright, and that he was then in
the house. In the meantime complaint
had been made to Judge Lake, and a war
rant for Spaun's arrest had been placed
in the hands of deputy sheriff David
Burley. About the time DR.. Mercer ar
rived at the house the officer also put in
an appearance and served the warrant,
Spaun agreeing to 90 quietly to the court
house in company with Mr.. Burnley. lie
insisted, however, upon taking his
pistol along, the weapon being in
his wle's room near the door
Of which DIR. Mercer was then standing.
The Doctor objected to his taking the
pistol, when Spaun seized him by the
throat, exclaiming that he would have it.
At this DR.. Mercer promptly knocked
him down, and when he rose to his feet
and rushed toward him knocked him
down again, by which time the officer
came to the rescue and took Spaun down
to the district court, which was then in
session, when Judge Lake set the hour of
2 a. NJ. tomorrow for a hearing Of the
case, fixing the bail bond Of the prisoner
at $500. This bail Spaun was unable 20
obtain, though he was allowed couple Of
hours to accomplish that purpose, being
accompanied in his search by deputy
sheriff David Burley, and last evening he
was committed to Jail. As long as he oc.
cupics his present quarters his wife will
be protected from his brutal demoustra.
tons, and We feel assured from t.e com.
ments made upon the streets yesterday
that the respectable portion Of this com.
munlty join us in the hope that Judge
Lake RAY keep him in confinement until
>paun is restored to sense Of his man.
hood.