Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-06-22
TRACKING A TRAGEDY.
The Supposed Lima Suicide DeveIopes into Mys.
teriOus Affair.

Hamilton and wife, the latter having
bought out Sisley's interest in the place.
That evening a charivari party visited
the house, keeping the inmates up until
a late hour. In the morning Sisley arose
about seven O'Clock and noticed that his
wife had arisen before him. He went
down, built fire, and then, not finding
her, began search. About seventy
five yards from the house he found the
body of his wife lying on her back, her
arms by her side, with four bullet
wounds through and near the heart, and
the pistol, seven shot 22-calibre reyol-
yer, lying in her lap. Notice was sent
to Platteyille and coroner's inquest
was held over the remains. The jury,
after being out for some time returned
a verdict of death from pistol in the
hands Of some person unknown"
Saturday, Mr.. Bickford, father of the
murdered woman, came to Lancaster
and swore out warrant and the county
authorities at once commenced vigor-
Gus investigation into the mystery. Sis
ley was arrested Monday by SheritfLane
at his sisters. in the town of Ellenbo ro,
and brought to Lancaster.
He is a young men of twenty five
or six, of medium stature and rather
stoutly built He is suffering from great
depression of spirits and speaks slowly
and with apparent effort. His story of
the tragedy is, that after they were mar
ried they remained at Mrs. Sisley's faith
er's Monday night, aud on Tuesday
went over to the other place intending
to make it their home for short time,
when Sisley proposed renting farm on
the prairie or going west. Tuesday night
they loaded the revolver before goingup
stairs, standing near the door, Mrs. Sis
ley holding the other part of the pistol,
while he put the cartridges in the cylen-
der. They then all went up to bed.
Hamilton and his wife sleeping in the
same room, a curtain dividing the two
sleeping apartments. Sisley put the re-
volver on the floor under the bed and
near the foot They rather expected to
be chariyaried and had brought the pis-
tol along calculating to fire it out of the
window and make n little racket them
selves, then throw out some little change
and let the charivarieing party 90.
Mrs. Ssley had been complaining of
a headache all day so they went up TO
their room about nine o'clock. The
chariyariers came soon after they re-
tired, but Mrs. Sisley was afraid the fir
ing of the revolver would make her
head ache worse, so her husband didn't
get up, nor did any of them. The party
remained some time and then went
away. After they had gone Sisley went
down and got a drink, returning imme-
diatelv. when, after few words they
all, rs he supposed, went to sleep. 1t
was seven O clock when he arose the
next morning, and noticing his wife was
not there he supposed she had gone
down before him. He built the fire and
got some water, and then, not finding
her in the house, went out to some trees
! situated a short distance about seven
ty-fve yards, he thought the
house, and thinking, as the morning
was Sultry, she might have gone out
there to get breath of air. When he
nearcd The place he saw her lying there
on her back and thought she had been
attacked by fainting spell which she
had told him she had been subject to
once or twice a year or two before He
hurried to her and lifted her up, when
he found she was dead. He gave cry
which brought the other inmates of the
house down, and then Hamilton went to
Platteville and informed the authorities.
When Sisley picked his wife up he no.
ticed something on her mouth to which
he paid little attention, but they after
ward told him it was blood. When
found the body was lying stretched out
full length, the arms by the side and the
! pistol in the lap. The dress was burned
off the bosom and at both wrists.
When asked how he accounted for
her death. Sisley said he could not tell
put he did not think that she killed
| herself rs she had no reason for doing
it. Speaking of the former lover Rebnv
who had been mentioned as making
threats he said his wife had shown him
his picture and also had offered to read
HIM letters from Rcbny saying he would
make it hot for any one who married
her. SisleY had told her that he was
willing to have her tell him as to what
was in the letters and after she had told
him she said She would destroy them,
and She had done so he supposed, as
they had not been found.
After the funeral Sisley went home
with Mr. Bickford and remained with
him until Sunday when he went over tc
his sisters in E!,enboro, where he was
found by the sheriff.
The deeper down investigation goe,
the more mysterious does the Who'll,
affair become. Theories are as plenty
rs blackberrieS in their season, but they
are simply theories with nothing to bach
them up. The prevailing impression i
that murder has been done but to tn,
question by whom. all maintain Devil
: dered silence Hamilton and his wife
} Mrs. Stout and the boy are all under ar,
rest and will he produced ut the exam
ination which will take place as soon a
possible
THE hot, sunny days which prevaile,
last week assisted the corn crop materi
| ally and relieved much OF the anxiet,
that has been felt for that crop, which
is the main stay Of this section.
THE foundation for tie new hotel 0
Mr.. Henry Horstmsn IS progressing
slowly A pounded rock drain is bein.
put around the foundation wall on tn,
outside. which will do much towsr,