Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-09-12

Fanny q. James \. Owens 2 3 3
Time, A. 81 Z, 4,l4
In the last issue of the TRIBUNE
it was reported that murder had
been committed at Centervi.le, this
county, but as stated at that time,
we were unable to give particulars
for want of time. The Chronicle.
which is issued later in the week,
has the following account in its coll
amns;
At about noon on Monday, an al
tercation occurred between Henry
Topp aud Frank Harding in which
the latter stabbed the former so that
he died almost instantly.
The particulars of this sad and
terrible affair, as developed in
preliminary examination, held before
Squire Fitch, of Highland on Tues
day, are as follows:
The men were engaged in loading
carts from the old Giggipgs, to bo
hauled to the crushing mill of Thos.
Allen. At abont half past eleven,
Harding came over to where Topp
and VIM. Chesterfield were at work,
for the purpose of borrowing some
money from Chesterfield preparatory
to going to, Platteyille He had
scarcely reached the spot before
Topp commenced abusing him by
calling him names, cursing and chal-
lenginglhim to fight, accusing him of
carrying a revolver, and saying he
was not afraid of him and his revol-
vers. Harding replied that he did
not want to fight him. that he had
nothing against him, and that he
wasn't armed, and that Topp might
search him. Topp pulled out his
pocket knife saying "uim is all the
weapon / have. Harding pulled his
knife out and made Il like remark.
Both men put their knives back in
their pockets, when Topp stopped
down to pick up stone, Harding
seeing the movement grabbed stone
and threw it at Topp, missing him /;
picked up another stone and started
around the dirt pile, calling to the
men working there to keep Topp
away from him, Topp following him
with stone in his hand. The men
then interfered and separated the
belligerents, Topp returning to his
work and Harding going on around
the dirt pile, coming out on the
same side with Topp and stopping a
few yards from him. Topp seeing
him standing there, ordered him to
so away, that he didn't want him
about there. Harding stood still.
Topp picked up stone, aud remark
ing, "G-d d-n you, you've got to
fight or run" started towards him,
came up to him, and struck at him.
Then they "clinched." Harding gets
loose and starts to run. Topp starts
in pursuit, stone still in hand, runs
few steps, falls, calls ont to Ches-
terfeld, "Oh, my God, Bill, I'm dy-
ing and expired.
n post ntOrtem examination, con-
Quoted by Drs. Egan, OF Highland,
and VanDusen, Of Montfort, showed
thnt Topp had received four stabs-
two penetrating ,he heart, one Oh
the LETT side, about the center of the
seventh iib,and one in the left groin,
penetrating the abdominal cavity,
and from which the entrails pr0trud-
ed
Harding was arrested by the by
ISLANDERS, taken TO Highland and
lodged in the calaboose, and on We'd
nesday arrived at DodgevilIe Jail,
Squire Fitch adjudging that the
facts warranted his being bound
over to await the action of the Cir
cult Court.
Henry Topp was about A years
old. n man abont six feet tail, and
weighing about 10 lbs. He leaves
wife and a number Of children
to mourn bis uutimely taking oil.
Hard ng is about 30 years old, rath-
er below medium size, and has
wife aud three children.
Nuw DlotTnr, fun Caafa6