River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-25

tracted struggle or any attempt at out
rage upon the body, and that post
mortem examination was not advisa
BILE as there seemed nothing to war
rant this step. Upon hearing this the
jury adjourned to meet at Mr.. Knowles
office at o'clock P. NJ. to hear the tes-
timony of witnesses.
The jury met at seven O'Clock pur-
suant to appointment and the follow
ing testimony was taken:
A. E. MICHAEL SWORN.
| reside in River Falls, Pierce coun-
ty, Wis, at present. Did not know the
deceased. The first that | heard, Airs.
Walton came across the lot making a
great deal of noise. She went to Mr..
Dexter's house and he came over and
told me her children had been murder
ed. We went over and went in the
east door; thence into the kitchen and
saw the corpse on the floor. | walked
round between the body and the stove
so | could see the face. The body was
covered with quilt. | saw the little
girl lying on the lounge. | took her
by the arm and spoke to her, and ask
ed her what the trouble was; she didn t
know. | then asked her what bruised
her so. She told me her sister was on
the floor asleep. | asked her where
her father WAS; she said up stairs.
left her and went up Stairs-went to
the head and looked, but saw no one;
beds were all tumbled. The little girl
raised up and sat up When l found
no one up stairs | came down and
ii, IL 4 - Il l,,,1
pillow under her head. | met Mrs.
Walton at the door as came out.
S. L. DEXTER SWORN.
| reside in River Falls, in the Mrs.
Horizons house, about 800 yards from
Mr.. Walton's. Have heard Mr.. Mich
ael; went with him. l was lying on
the bed and my wife called me-said
Mrs. Walton was coming across the
field, and said her G. Ildren were muir.
dered in the house. [ started towards
Farnsworth S and told the carpenters.
Mr.. Michael and myself went up.
did not go into the room at all-stoOd
by the door and heard him. | stood
there until she sad her father was up
stairs. l went up with Mr.. Michael
saw the room just as he mentioned.
We both came to town. Don t think
the little girl knew what she said.
She made no mention of men being
about.
MARGARET WALTON SWORN.
reside in River Falls, Wis. l am
the mother of Mary Walton the de-
ceased. saw her Tuesday the last
time alive at the Mr.. POwells sugar
works about 7 or in the evening.
Said she had done a large washing.
Had to iron next day. Generally went
on with her work and did it. SAID
her father got up and built fire at 5
O'Clock. Washing was from outside.
Said her father was at home. He sent
her to see if / thought he had better
90 to Martel. I told her he had. /
could not tell anything about when he
could get back. My daughter Emma
was with me until Wednesday fore
noon between II and II. l let her go
home and told her to come back before
night unless her father was gone, then
she could stay all night with Mary. |
went over to the house about 1880 this
P. NJ. Both doors were closed-Went
In the front door, went through into
the kitchen and found my daughter
dead. Emma was lying on the lounge
in the kitchen, and | thought she was
dead. / ran right out to the neigh
bors. The second time | went in she
came right to me. She could walk
and seemed to know every one. She
came to the kitchen door. She said
the house was full of men. She said
she did not know what hurt her; didn t
know where her pa was. Have had
no talk with her. She walked up a
short time ago and said, 1.-The bad
men hurt Mary. didn't they" She
Peter IsaacSOn and John
Smith. These men were in the house
this afternoon, think. Neither had
been there except Smith to get his
washing. The comforter that was ov-
er the body came from up stairs--be-
longed to the high bed there. Don. t
remember a stick as described--think
there was an old AK helve. Mary
bought half pound of tea Tuesday.
Her father said he couldn't live with
out tea or tobacco. Mary Was is;
Emma will be 10 in Dec. Mr.. Walton
has been very melancholy. The doors
were shut, not fastened. When |
went in the quilt was over Mary's
body and face. She. was in her work
ing dress. Mr.. Walton has shown
signs of insanity before.
DIR. 8. II. DAVIS SWORN.
Am practicing physician; reside
in River Falls. Have been such
physician As years. I know Luke
Walton, saw him last at about 20
minutes of nine Wednesday last. /
was passing down Maple st. by Mr..
Kings. Mr.. Walton was just stepping
through the gate at Mr.. Kings. His
appearance drew my attention, mani
Testing in his countenance blank des-
pair. l said, Mr.. Walton, what is the
trouble! He said "Trouble enough,
am dying every day with my knee and
al. ! ~