Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-09-14
WerIey Warfare.

OF the peace in this county of late. In
all cases reported thus far it has proven
a success, on the principle that dead
men tell no tales.
The latest shooting ARRAY which has
startled the county occurred last Thurs
day evening near Werley, the two prin-
cipals being Joseph IveY and Orlando
Bacon. While Ivey's daughter was on
a visit to New York stota some years
ago she met Bacon and was married to
him. Two years ago they came back to
Wisconsin and settled down on a farm
near Iyey's which Bacon purchased of
John Ivey. Both places contained sixty
acres cornering on each other, and were
about n and a half miles northeast of
Werley. According to the story told by
Iyey and his friends the former assisted
his son-in-law in every way he could
when he first vert on to his farm and
every thing went on pleasantly up to
the end of the first year. Last winter
Bacon went up to the pineries. During
his absence Ivey's wife died and upon
Bacon's return he wanted his father-in-
law to make over his place to him and
take up his abode with them. This the
old man refused to do and considerable
bad blood was generated, so much that
the parties did not speak. In the mean
time Iyey had gone security for Bacon
at the stores where they did their trad
ing. He now claims that he, a short
time ago, learned that Bacon had threat
ened to clean him out by running him
in debt. Ivey then went to Hildebrand
IL Co.'S at BOscobel, where the most OF
their trading was done, and gave notice
that he would no longer act as security
for his son-in-law. The firm thereupon
sent out q constable and attached the
grain belonging to Bacon which so en-
ragged the latter that he swore vengeance
and threatened that if he found that it
was through Ivey that this had happen
ed he would kill him. He went to Bos-
cobel and there found his suspicious
confirmed. He then left for home con-
slderably enraged. On reaching home
Ivey claims he started at once for his
place. This was about six O'Clock in
the evening and Ivey, according to his
own story, was out with an old musket
hunting rabbits, accompanied by a
young girl Laura lvey. an adopted
daughter, about thirteen or fourteen
years old, who has been the only one
living with him since his wife died.
While out in a field, some thirty-tive
rods from the house, the girl espied
Bacon coming across the lot and called
Iyey's attention to it. Bacon had a
club in his hand when he came up and
threatened to kill his father-in-law then
and there. The latter told him to 90
back home and let him alone. The
other kept pressing on and Knocked the
musket out of the old mans hands. He
picked it up again and cooking it shot
his antagonist just back of the ear. the
ball passing through the head, killing
him instantly, so quickly in fact that he
did not drop his club. lvey came into
Werley at once and gave himself up and
Friday morning was brought into Lam
caster and delivered over to the county
authorities. The grand jury being in
session witnesses were summoned and a
bill for murder was found against Ivey.
This is lvey's side of the affair but
the other is not quite SO unanimously in
his favor. Parties living neal there
speak OF Bacon as a very fair sort of a
man and although it is admitted that he
uttered threats against his father-in-law
it is claimed that the latter went to
Bacon's house the evening before and
threatened to shoot him down if he
stirred. That he expected Bacon's COM
ing Thursday evening and laid in wait
for him shooting him Us he passed,
which accounts for the position of the
wound in the head. Mysterious hints
are given of what is to be proven when
the case comes up for trial, but the fact
remains that lvey, the girl and Bacon,
are the only mes who witnessed the ia
tai ending of the family feud. 1t re-
mains to be seen how closely the stories
of the two living witnesses win harmon
ize when placed upon the witness stand.