Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-04-05

what his name was and he said it was
Moses Blair, and he said he claimed
the reward. | said | am town clerk
here and | will guarantee that no one
will try to beat you out of your money
if you have found the body and l will
go with you at once. AS we started
Chas. Briggs came along and when we
got to the bridge Messrs. Miller, White
and Cady went with US, also G. G.
Wood. 1t was by him that We sent
the telegram. We went direct to the
pine tree at the corner where the path
leads down to the body, this is at the
quarter stake. AS we stepped out OF
the road Blair said he had lost his
dog and would look for him. Mr.
Briggs and We went in and found the
body and stopped and viewed it. We
might have got to the body about one
minute before Blair got there. There
wasn't any tracks around except
Blair's and his dogs, excepting some
fox tracks We looked and found
indications of a team having been
turned around early in the winter
about s rods east of this place. ex-
amined the coat, and found that the
piece cut off by Mr.. Blair must have
been cut off by him as stated by him.
CHARLES 2. NUTTER.
JOHN STEWART
book-keeper at Briggs mill being first
duly sworn testified as follows:
| reside at Briggs mill, Wood Co.,
Wis, [ found some blankets on the
18th of Feb'y 1888. 1 found them
Oh Meehans tote road this is on the
same road where the sleigh and body
were found. We found tie blankets
about IL mile west of the sleighs.
The blankets were behind log com.
pletely covered with snow. They were
partially folded up-but seperate
The blankets were bloody. | could
identify them if | saw them again.
The blankets were given into the Gus
tody of the sheriff of Wood Co.
JOHN STEWART.
Evidence taken on inquest at ad-
iourned hour, at council chamber.
city of Grand Rapids. 2:40 p. NJ.
ANDREW HEsLER
Son of John Resler deceased being
duly sworn testified as follows
I reside in town Of Lincoln. Adams
Co., Wis. Have seen this dead body.
[ do recognize the person. 1t is the
body Of John L. Hesler-my father.
l have no doubts in the least.
ANDREW HEsLER.
JOHN HEsLER JR.
second Son being duly sworn testified
as follows:
| am brother Of the witness first
sworn. We both reside at same place.
[ am Is years old. [ recognize this
body as being that of John l.. Hesler
my father. [ came to this place
to-day. last saw my father on Jan
uary 18th, at home, in Adams Co.
at noon He left home at that time
He left with span of mules and an
old bob. [ had repaired the bob. [
1 have not seen this bob since he left
home about noon. There was man
with him, young man, did not hear
him state his name. He came the
day before and left and returned about
noon on this day. He ate dinner
there. | have seen this man since
l saw him here and at Mr.. Oransbys
He was under arrest at that time and
is the same person confined here in
jail known as Fenner. I did hear
conversation between him and my
father about the purchase of the mules
He wanted to know if my father
would sell them this was when he
first came. Ny father asked him $500
and he said he would give him that
for them delivered at Junction City.
This was the purpose my father had
in starting out with the team. [ have
seen these mules since, they are at
home. They we're brought back by
my brother. This brother who is here.
[ did not hear him give any name
while at our house. | have no doubts
but what this is my fathers body. |
have no doubts about this man Fenner
being the man who went away with
my father. This is the same mule
team which my father took away with
this young man. He has on the same
clothes that he wore away from home.
Cross Examined by Attorney Cox
He first came about dark This wa:
Tuesday. I saw him when he came,
he came from the west. He was com
ing in the road when | first saw him,
about II rods distant [ was at the
we'll, when [ first saw him. We were
all out doing chores. He left after
staying short time, did not go into
the house. Saw my father in the
stable. My father was in yard and
went to the stable; while they were
looking at them went into the stable
to water the mules He went east
said he was going to Lawrence, die
not name any particular house. Tbs
bargain was made that night for the
mules. Next morning just befors
noon he returned. He came from the
east. [ saw him coming. He was or
foot. A little before noon when h.
returned. He staid until after dinnel
and ate dinner with our family, thel
We hitched up. My father was pas
&C years old. [ never saw this mar
before he came there this time.