River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-25
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY
River Falls the Scene OF a
Blood Curdling Murder
Mary Walton Brutality Beaten
to Death!
Emma Walton Terribly Bruised
and Left for Dead
Luke WALTON, Their Father,
Pronounced the Assassin!
CorOner's Jury Impannelled
and Find a Verdict
Full Report OF the Evidence
and Findings!

Our village was startled on Friday
afternoon with the thrilling report
that two children had been murdered.
For few moments anxious inquiries
were made until it was understood
that the rumOr referred to two chill
dren Of the family of Luke Walton
who reside in frame tenement on the
outskirts of the village on the county
line on the west side. In a very brief
period large number of the citizens
had gathered, and the facts learned
that the two children of Mrs. Walton,
one named Mary, 16 years of age, and
Emma, about ten, We're lying in the
house apparently dead, but Emma soon
revived from the stupor in which she
had pro- ably been lying for
some time. I h pr e m S
were at once taken possession of by
Sheriff Lord and u jury impannelled
under the supervision of W. =.
Knowles, Justice of the Peace, the ju-
ry consisting of MesSrs. A. p. Weld,
foreman, r. S. Burhyte, j.. A. Tozer,
L. w. Eldred. f. G.. Rollins and Geo.
Pratt, who at once proceeded to view
the premises and the body, aided by
Drs. Davis, Ballard aud Gould.
The examination developed the facts
that at the time the murder was COM
mitted the girl Mary was probably en-
gagged in ironing, as a hat-iron was
found upon the floor and other irons
upon the stove while a basket of linen
prepared for ironing was near by,
while scattered upon the floor were
clothes apparently lately ironed; the
ironing board and some other articles
were found III closet just off from
the kitchen stained with blood. The
body lay upon the floor at full length
with DO evidences OF any struggle, al
though owing to the length of time it
had been there it had become swollen
almost beyond recognition. The cloth
ing indicated that at the time the I'M
fortunate girl fell she WAS about her
household duties as already stated.
The body was covered with quilt
stained with blood and another quilt
bloodstained WAS found in the closet.
The principal facts elected are that
Mrs. Walton had been at work for
some time past for 0. S. Powell board
ing his hands; that she had left her
daughter Mary in charge of her house
during her absence, her father being
also there; that her younger daughter
Emma was living with her at Mr..
Powell's house; that on Wednesday
last the younger daughter desired to
90 home to see her sister, that she
consented to this, directing her to re-
turn that evening unless her father
was absent Che having stated that he
Intended to go to Martel where they
u 70 he xayuc u n.
sent she could remain all night with
her sister; hearing nothing from the
children, on Friday she determined to
90 to see them, and the first sight on
entering the kitcheni where she eX-
pected to see her dariings, was their
murdered bodies; startled by the ter
rible sight she rushed from the house
and ran down to heI neighbors crying
murder. Several of the neighhors
among whom was Mr.. G. w. Farms
worth. Mr.. Dexter and Mr.. Michael
returned with her. Mr.. Michael be-
ing the first to enter the house, he at
once went into the kitchen and notlc-
ing that the younger girl still breath
ed he spoke to her and she apparently
arousing from stupor answered him.
1t was deemed best not to alter the
appearance of the room until after the
examination and 50 the younger child
was removed at once to the house OF
Mr.. Farnsworth, and a jury impanneled
as already stated. The physicians at
once proceeded to an examination Oh
the wounds and reported that they
found two places ON the head where
the skull had been crushed apparent