Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-02-15
HELD FOR TRIAL.
Banker Maad's Day Of Van9e-
an5e Approaching.

Tuesday morning Vandecar, thu
man who is under arrest for the muir
der Of Banker Mead last fal
was brought before Justice Cheasley
for his preliminary examination. Dis
trict Attorney Packard, of Stevens
Point, and District Attorney Dunful
of this county, conducted the case OF
behalf of the state, and Judge Cate
appeared as counsel for the prisoner,
The prosecution first brought cut the
witnesses who discovered the body
and DR.. Manchester, who made the
examinatin of the murdered mans
body. Nothing but what has been
before published was brought out
by his testimony. Afterwards
THOMAS WELSH
was sworn, and testified as follows
The Saturday night before the
murder, which was the night of Oct
tober 7th, Van de Car and Freeman
were together, engaged in earnest
conversation. He saw them several
times. About 1870 p. m. of Saturday
Van de Car approached him and call
ed him out of saloon and asked him
what he was going to do this winter.
Welsh replied that he was going to
work in the woods Van de Car told
him if he would go with him that
night on the train he could make
more than he could in the woods fol-
several winters. Also told him he
needed two men-one to watch. He
said he Van de Carp would do the
inside work. Welsh started to sci
ready, but one Nellie Frazier, pros
titute of st. Point, persuaded him
not to go. The next Monday he
heard of the murder. He had not
seen Van de Car since until they met
in the court room to-day.
CHARLES FREEMAN.
testified that he was acquainted with
Van de Car, A few days before Van
de Car told him he was a fool to work
for the r. r. Co. at $3.50 a day,
when he could make more at Other
things. Said he knew a place where
he could go and make a big haul-tar
bank. They could go down on the
train and do the work and get back on
an early train and no one would ever
know the difference. He said the
building was small and only one per
son in it. If he (Freeman) was
afraid he could watch outside and be
would do the work inside. He wa,
also shown some burglar tools. Free
man and Van de Car roomed together
at the Adams House in St. Point
Recollected of seeing Welsh with him
that day. Had conversation and
passed the time Of day. Van de Ca
explained what kind of building tn
bank was, and told him he coulC
watch outside. He said there wouldn'
be more than one person inside tn,
building. Van de Car showed hin
some burglar tools took them from
one pocket and put them in another, 0
under pillow. Cautioned him no
to say anything about having see
them. Explained different tools
Was in St. Point on Sunday, on south
side on Saturday. Occupied room
Adams House on Saturday nigh
Van de Car was not there Saturda,
night. Left home shortly after Dime
Saturday, with Van de Car. Befor
leaving had seen him register owe
leaf on register, explained that he di,
SO to show that be was there on Sun
day. Saw him last at 4 p. m. Van d
Car then went by the name Of Reed
Saw him again Monday morning, whel
he told him that he had been in tn
country and that he (Freeman) wa
foolish not to have. gone with him
Learned of the murder on Monda
when in Del. Earle's saloon, o.
Saturday Van de Car told him he wa
short and would have to make raise
said he had borrowed S1.O
or $3.50 of a Mr. Thompson
Was with the prisoner most of tn
sine Monday and Tuesday. Did no