Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-03-25
Attempt 70 Poison c has d. Shrader.
Etc.


Charles d. Shrader, the wel-knox n
Waverly farmer, who has had more or less
trouble with some Of his neighbors recently,
Was almost made the victim last Friday Of
some iend who desires to see him shuttle of
these mortal coils.
Several months since, Nc. Shrader had
stolen very valuable mare. He traced her
to this city and beyond, and from different
circumstances, connected with the stealing,
one Griffith, a neighbor,was charged with the
theft So strong we're the circumstances
that the matter was brought before the Grand
Jury and that body found an indictment
against him for horse-stealing. When the
case was brought into court the evidence
failed to establish the fact that the prisoner
was guilty, through the circumstantial evi.
dence against him was decidedly strong.
During the progress of the case, NJ Shrader
assisted the prosecuting attorney in prosecut-
ing the case so much so that many thought
it was case of prosecuting upon the part of
Shrader. At all events the jury brough in q
verdict of mot guilty." aud the prisoner was
discharged. Since that time Mr.. Shrsder has
been prosecuted 10 . malicious manner,
whether by the Grifiths or other neighbors,
We are unable 10 say. The friends of Grifiths
claim that he has not been Ia the neighbor-
hood since the trial, and therefore could not
inflct any punishment upon Shrader. On the
other hand, farmers living in the vicinity Of
Waverly, affirm that he has been in the neieh>
hood. Whether he has or not we dent pre-
tend to say: but we do know that one day
during the early part oflast week, one of Mr..
Shrader's valuable horses was taken suddenly
ill. and died. The stomach of the animal was
brought into the city and analysed by Prof
Aughey, who found arsenic enough in II to
kill dozen horses The next day one of his
colts dropped down dead, from the effects of
arsenic poison. But the worst feature in the
case 10 yet to come.
Last Friday, while Mr.. Shrader and his son
Lemmie were watering their stock from the
the water That night. about IL O'Clock both
were taken violently i'll. A physician, living
st Waverly, few miles away, was sent fer,
and arrived early in the morning. He prov
nounced the symptoms those of poison, and
administered antidotes. which had the eaect
of alleviating the pain, and perhaps saving
the lives of his patients. While the doctor
was st the house, another one of Mr.. Shra-
der's colts dropped dead, making the second
colt in less then twenty-four hours besides
other stock of less value. Mr.. Shrader is
confident that he knows the fend, but has
very little confidence in juries, and has no
desire to bring the matter into the courts,
but hopes an outraged community will take
the matter into their own hands, and deal out
Justice to them.
This is briefly the status Of the case. and we
should dislike very much to hear of the ci.i-
Gems of Waverly taking the law into their own
ba
ture Of doubt, that they have the right man.
Mr.. Shrader is a very positive man in all
things and requires at times, much very testi-
mony to convince him that he is wrong
That there is william who is capable Of CON-
lurking about Waverly there is no doubt, and
the people of that usually quiet burg will have
to bide their time, and watch and pray, and
perhaps they may be successful in bri nging
him to speedy justice.
The account above given is taken from the
Nebraska State Journal. Mr.. Shrader was
born in this place, and lived in this county
until, few years ago, he moved to where he
now lives. He belongs to a family in whom,
generations up and down, we have never
heard of anything criminal, ard Charley we
believe was generally regarded as the most
of the whole flock In fact
his natural hatred of evil doers-we mean
the vicious, not the passive class-sticks out
so prominently that no one can help seeing it.
A rogue can't hear him talk five minutes
without feeling, "Well, you are my enemy I
must either avoid or wsylay you" Such
men are not always lovable. Goodness is al
ways liked while it keeps within itself, and
never crosses the other fellows path. Char
ley's disposition is to try to break down the
evil he sees in others. and be makes enemies.
The fact that people are TRYING to destroy his
in this manner and to poison him
and his family indicates the kind Of men who
are his natural enemies. OF course we are
not saying that he is altogether lovabla and
amiable in his manners and practices, but,
knowing him thoroughly, we believe him to
be man of the best intent, and his neigh
bors should rally around him aud enable him
to Sc tie the bash of this kind of enemies on
very short notice. If such cases of worse
than beastly proceedings as these here nara
ted are successfully carried on, they will put
in bad odor the whole State of Nebraska