Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-01-09
N O. II.
"Murder Will Out"

the name Of Charles Whitney, living
at kaukana, Outaeamie Co. confessed
to Mr. Rice with whom he was living
that he was an accomplice in the mu,-
der of Peterson. HI afterwards relat.
ed the same story to Sheriff Lehman of
that county, by whom he was arrested
and confined. Word was sent to She
riff Newton who went to Appleton and
brought him to Jefferson on Monday.
When arrested he had on the boots be-
longing to the murdered man. He al
so gave information concerning one
Ed Eckhart, whom he alleged was the
instigator of the deed Armed with
the necessary authority, Sheriff Newton
proceeded to Outaeamle and arrested
the man tckhart, whom he found sew
en- miles from Appleton in the woods,
engaged with gang of men getting
out stave bolts. H. was arrested and
brought to Jefferson and safely lodged
In Jail on Tuesday. Hearing of the
facts as above related, we proceeded to
Jefferson on Tuesday afternoon, and by
the courtesy of Sheriff Newton. was
accorded an interview with young
Whitney. He is young man, we
should judge about 20 years of age, and
is son of Il j Whitney of this vii
lage, who is worthy man, and to
whom this sad story comes with crush
Ing effect Young Whitney has lived
tor sever al years, mostly in the north
ern part Of the state, leading wild
lite Last spring he came here and
worked for short time 10 the Furni-
ture Factory His story is substantial
ly as follows: after leaving this
place, sometime in the summer, he
went to Pi,tsburg Penn, where he fell
IN with this man Eckhart, with whom
be took tramp to Little Rock, Ark.
Thence they turned northward, work
ing their way along. On night Of the
II h of Dec. they met Peterson on the
railroad between Milton and Janesville.
Peterson asked the way to Green Bay.
Whitney told him to follow the track
and 1t would lead him to that place.
Eckhart and himself then came on, and
when they reached Koshkonong they
got aboard Of the night train which
reaches this station at 10 o'clock.
Here they were put off the train, but
went north of town half mile, where
they stopped, kindled fire and after
taking some boards from the fence, lay
down. About one or two o'clock In
the morning Peterson came along and
seeing the fire, came to them and lay
down to sleep. Whitney states he was
awakened by Eckbart, who pointed to
the sleeping man, saying, IL am going
to shoot him" To this Whitney said,
"Oh! don't" Eckhart made no fur
ther reply but drew his revolver and
fired at Peterson's head. Peterson
screamed "Oh T! Oh! y and springing to
his feet, started to run. Eckhart then
tripped him down upon his face, shot
him again in the head, and placing one
hand on the oack of Peterson's neck
held him down, while with the other
he pointed tie pistol at Whitney, aud
ordered him to strike Peterson with
hatchet, or be would kill him. I'm
PEELED by terror, Whitney states he
struck Peterson one blow on the back
Of the head, and then threw down the
instrument, declaring he would not
strike another blow. At this Eckhart
took up the Ratchet and struck the
victim number Of blows. They then
dragged the body to the brush heap
and lett him covered with brush.
When asked how it came that Peterson
was found outside Of the brush heap,
he said he could not tell, that when
they left him he was groanng, and if
he got out, it must have been by his
own struggles. Whitney farther stated
that after the murder, Eckhart took
Peterson's boots, blankets, pair of
pants, pocket looking glass, coat and
shirt He does not remember seeing
any money. They then started north
on the track and at the culvert near
Cobb Greek they secreted the blankets.
shirt and several other articles. Eek
hart forced Whitney to travel ahead
threatening him with death if he
turned back On their arrival at Ka-
kauna, Whitney stopped with Mr..
Rice; but the memory of the terrible
deed he had witnessed, filled him with
horror and remorse, until as he ex-
pressed it, II could see the murdered
man in my sleep" Driven by this
feeling, he at last, made the confession
as we have related. There is nothing
vicious in Whitney's looks, and We are
satisfied that he has told the truth.
Eckhart has very had, brutal appear
ance, and looks as if by nature, and
education both, he was we'll fitted for
such a deed. The murder, the cir
cumstances attending it, the actors in
the bloody tradegy, one of whom is
son of one of our respected citizen all
conspire to make chapter in or me,
the like Of which we hope never again
| IN he called on to relate