Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-05-01
TERMS .s2.oo PER YEAR
WHOLE NO. 1881

had not been long here WHEN a cir
cunstanee marked bis true character
and proved him to be one OF I.aiitte's
men who, tor some outrage commit
ted, had escaped from the vengeance
OF his bucoaneer companions His
GROCERY became the den of the low.
est-lived and most infamous men in
the mines. Here were planned some
OF the deepest villainies of which the
human heart is susceptible and
many an unwary youth and sturdy
miner were the victims of their nefa-
rious schemes.
So bold had the frequentcrs OF this
"breathing hole of help become that
no respectable mans life was safe
who ventured over its threshold, and
none but the most dangerous charac-
tiers oongregated there. One morn
ing it was announced TO the authori.
ties that a miner was lying dead in
Connor's grocery and as they had
been engaged in a drunken debauch
the night before, no one seemed to
know the cause of his death and as
there were no external evidences of
foul play, it was charged to Apo
piexy and the body buried MANY
facts connected with the affair soon
excited suspicion that Counor ana
his pards knew more about it than
they desired should become public,
and the indignation of the better class
OF citizens becoming aroused, Common
and his gang broke camp and dis
persed. 1t was not necessary 10 those
days to go far to get beyond the pale
of justice. as at this time no courts
were organized beyond tn. Missis
sippi and these cut throats SIMPLY
transferred themselves across the
river to the Dubuque mines. Conner
next established himself in his old
misunderstanding a whisky shop
in cabin near the mouth of the Cat
fish. Here for a time the roughs
were accustomed to congregate and
pass away the nights and rainy days
In shutting greasy cards and dispos-
ing of the vill:anous decoction at
Jimmy's bar. ALI decent men soon
learned to give him and his place a
wide berth and here, as in Galena,
it was only the very worst class that
condescended to give him their pat
ronage-and this gradually dimin
ished in number as the brutality OF
the man became known. The noto.
fious Jim Goodfellow who once re-
sided in and was well known about
Potosl for his baseness aud danger
Gus disposition, was one of his init
mate and most particular friends and
those who knew him may form
pretty good idea of his patron saint
The ostensible business of nearly ev-
cry one who came TO the mines, was
digging" whatever other calling
they might resort to or whatever
method they might adopt TO 'raisc
the wind'-and some of these were
not the smallest in the catalogue OF
crimes. Neither was mining the un
certain business it has since become
it was no uncommon thing for
miner one day to be "aat broke" and
the next, the fortunate owner of ga
big lead" Few would work dig
gings when they became so poor as to
pay only wages-but "prospecting,"
as it was called, was everywhere es
teemed creditable occupation aud
those who had not already "struck a
lead" were engaged in working ga
good prospect" To dead beat or
"stropt" miner this latter "collat-
eral or trade" was made to answer all
the purposes of a more substantial
currency and many miner has lived
long and Jared sumptuously by the
color of the ochre upon his digging
pants. Well, Connor was engaged
in "prospecting' and paid bis debts
in kind as many have done since.
HIS partner coming home one evening
from hard days labor found jimmy
in surly mood and the front door
of the cabin locked In reply to his
repeated demands for admission
Jimmy answered from within BY dis
charging his gun, loaded with buck
shot, through the door, into the heart
of his unsuspecting yictim-who fell
dead in his tracks. The dastardly
act was not without witnesses who
soon spread the report of this unpro
yoked, cold blooded murder and Con.
nor was Immediately seized and held
for further consultation. Some were
for Immediately giving him ga short
shritt and long rope" but more
merciful counsels at length prevailed
and it was decided to give him a fair
trial and. if condemned by a jury of
miners, to mete out to him the su.
preme penalty Of the Mosaic law
There were no territorial courts to
which the matter could be referred
and the u. S. Courts, if they had
jurisdiction a. all in crimes OF this
character, were too far off to be OF
any practical use in its punishment.
This, however, did not shorten the
long arm Of justice. The voice of the
people is the voice of God-and the
people soon improvised court, ap
pointed Judge and bis subordinate
officers, empanneled jury of twelve
good and lawful men, giving the
prisoner the usual benefits Of able
counsel and striking the jury. The
trial was conducted with impartiality
and with all the formula and cere
monies Of legally constituted courts,
and after a long, fair and impartial
trial, Conner was found guilty and the
usual sentence pronounced "That
you be reconducted TO the place Of
confinement and taken from thence
on Friday the - day Of 1888, to
place of public execution and there
hung by the neck untiIsoead, dead,
dead and may God have mercy on
your soul! Lorain Wheeler was
appointed sheriff to carry this sem
tence into effect, and though accept.
ing the painful duty with reluctance,
be performed it manfully and to the
entire satisfaction of the concoufpe
of people present, barring the one
most interested, The culpfit executed.
But be demurred 70 the jurisdiction
of court from which there was no
appeal, and his soul was sent unan.
nointed and unannealed into the
presence of his Maker.