Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-07-27

ech anu cicftH . CiOch, TIE CUdflNar
boys had not come yet. next saw
Emma Sisley next morning when we
forld her out there dead She did not
come down and did not go up stairs.
Mrs. Hamilton and | walked around
quite little and then went and sat on
on the doorstep. Isaid did not believe
they were coming, that Rob and Simon
were only trying TO fool them and make
them believe there was some one com
ing. When Hamilton came for Lewis
rifle we met him at the corner of the
house and it has been told over so many
times | don't know as there is any use
in me telling it. believe asked Ham
ilton who was coming or how many
was coming and believe he said only
few OF the neighbor boys. Have
heard story told in two different ways.
Heard Tom Weleh's testimony. | did
not hear anything about Lew coming
down and filling some one full of holes,
and was as near as any one. As to the
rest | think Tom WEIGH tells it as cor
rectly as | recollect 1t was me said
for them not to break up or destroy any,
thing or that Lew might shoot among
them but said that of my own mind
Lew didn' t say anything aboutit at all.
said 1t just to keep them still, that was
all 1T was for and made it up myself.
don't think | should have said anything
at all about it only thought there was
more than there was. | did not think
there was any indications by the actions
of the crowd or by what was afterwards
said to wound or hurt anybody's feel
ings.
After they went think | went to bed
first. George had laid down on the
bed with his clothes on and | undressed
him and Mrs. Hamilton held the light
so she could take it up stairs Think
Hamilton was waiting for her and they
went up stairs together. | don't think
heard anybody come down II = that.
1t seems like dream to me whai Emma
said about a drink but never would
have thought of it if she had not spoke
oft. think Lew did come down though,
| did not hear anything more until next
morning, as was sleepy and tired and
went right to sleep. First thing / re-
collect in the morning was hearing Lew
come down stairs, and build the fire and
go to the spring and get water Idrop-
ped asleep again or half asleep. new
Hamilton and Emma came down and
heard Lew came in and put the bucket
up. The next | heard was n cry from
Lew, heard him call. Then | heard Mr..
Hamilton say something at the door,
couldn't tell from the sound what it was
but thought that Lew was hurt. The
thought came into my mind that horse
had kicked him or that something had
hurt him. | sprang out of bed, took
my dress in my hand and started as
fast as | could out there. Lew says,
''Oh Ma she's dead, she's deadr' |
thought she must have got up and went
out before he did, said, mo Lew, she's
only tainted, don't be scared" He
said, ''No ma she's shot" By that
time / had got there and saw the revol-
yer and said 'she's shot herself" Lew
was crying and going on and he says
'tOh ma. that is the girl loved And
| said 1--WE all loved her Lew" and he
said ''Oh Emma what did you do this
for" And he said ''she never done it
herself | said she must have done it
for the revolver was the one that was
in the house, And did think she had
done it herself until found out there
was SO many shots and then l thought
she couldn't | don't know how many
thoughts came to me. | thought to my
self it might have went off itself.
don't know anything about revolvers
and don't know one from another and
| did not know what kind of a one it
was. thought and don't know but |
said TO the women that sat there that
she might have got up and took it and
went out there thinking she would have
Il little fun with Lew She would shoot
it off and fetch him out there and that
it mi ,rht have went off accidentally and
shot her. | tried to think of everything
how it could be done or how she could
do it. did not hear anything about
Ribbey until Mr. Bckford came Wit
ness said further that when she first
went out to the body, Lew said ''what
have done that she should do this,
and | said You have not done any
thing. think | asked him then if they
had any trouble. And he said, mo
ma, let her have her own way about
everything" He just walked back and
forth in front of her until he tainted and
fell into my lap. ANY one could see the
path he made. He looked pale and
did not seem to breathe. 1t scared me
and | got water and put on his face.
Witness then gave description of the body
Said it was lying just as it was when
the rest came. She was not touched ex-
Tcept that witness put her hand on her
forehead which was cold, but not so
cold as when witness put her hand on
it afterwards in the house. Lew had
always been industrious and hard work
ing, did not think any one would be
found who would be better in that res
pect Never knew him to drink or use
bad language, | believe | have heard
him swear out at the barn but told him
he need not swear because the others
did
Cross-eXamination. Lived in Platte
vile twelve or thirteen years; was mar
ried to Mr.. Stout there. Was married
ut Washburn. Think lived with him
pretty near four years Don't Know
whether first husband is dead or not
Think last heard of him was fifteen
years ago, that was while was working
at Deitzman's. Couldn't say positively
whether it was fifteen years ago or not.
Was married to him near Cedar Rapids,
Iowa. Think it was pretty near twenty
eight years ago We tried to live to-
gether eight or nine years but he was
not at home much of the time. Don't
see as there is any use talking about
him.
Counsel for defense here interposed
and said he didn't know what her living
with her first husband had to do with
the case. Thought it was useless waste
of time
Witness said: you are not going to
write down any of my troubles. | will
tell all know about this case and moth
ing more.
Witness was then asked if she was not
married to one Ray at Woodman in
1870.
Objected to by defense as immaterial
and prevalent and counsel argued
against any more questions of like or
similar nature being allowed. The
court finally admitted the question and
said witness could answer or not as she
saw fit and called attention of counsel
that a good deal of latitude had been
allowed on both sides and that it was of
no use for the court 10 refer to the time
that had been wasted and with this
the cross examination was taken up
again.
Witness refused to answer the ques-
ton and spicy interchange of words
continued from this point at intervals.
Finally in answer TO a question witness
said she did not know Sisley to be living
until he came to Deitzman's. Did not