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


tify him by his teeth, long gray hair,
clothing and his crippled hand He
was positive it was Mr.. Hesler's body.
The body was carried to Briggs switch
where box was made and the body
placed therein for transportation.
The inquest was then adjourned to
be completed in this city, which was
done Saturday afternoon.
The body of Mr. Hesler was placed
in Arpins building north Of the First
National Bank and allowed to remain
there nearly all day for the benefit of
those who wanted to view the remains.
1t seemed as though the city was fairly
alive with people. Many severe ex-
pressions were made against Fenner
and what ought to be done with him.
Men, women and children expressed
themselves favorable to using Judge
Lynch proceedings. Not one word
did we hear favorable to Fenner or his
case. His friends are indeed few if
he has any. The depths of this young
williams operations are gradually com
ing to the surface. His name is
connected with the supposed suicide
Of an old lady which occurred in the
neighborheod in which he lives, several
years ago. The old lady had several
thousand dollars she had received from
the sale of property and some
time afterwards she was found
hanging and it was supposed she COM
mitted suicide, but more recent devel-
opments connected Fenner with the
case. AS the story is given to US it is
claimed that Fenner hung the old
lady and then robbed the house of It's
valuables including the money and
imm ediately went to Chicago, where
he led rather hard life. How true
this is we cannot say, but from Fen
ner's Indifference to the crime with
which he is now charged, and his
being unable to explain away the cloud
or prove his innocence we are ready to
believe him a fend capable of any and
all crimes His conduct is simply
damnable. Outraged law and justice
call loudly for his speedy punishment.
Testimony of witnesses sworn at the
inquest held upon the dead body of
John l.. Hesler, at the town of Mil
ladore, Wood Co., Wisconsin.
A. G. BRIGGS
proprietor of mill and purchaser of
mules from Fenner. being first duly
sworn testifes as follows:
As | stepped out of boarding house
in the morning | saw this man Fenner
coming down with the mules [ have
seen this man Fenner since he was in
Jail at Grand Rapids where [ there
saw him. He said to me he under
stood that | wanted to buy some more
teams. [ replied that | had been
wanting to but did not care to get any
more now. He said that he wanted to
sell the team and that he would sell
them very cheap; that he had re-
ceived a telegram saying that his father
was very sick. think he said that
his father lived in st. Charles and
that he was not expected to live and
that he wanted to get home. From
there we went over to the store and he
still made this same statement to two
or three others. Then [ asked him if
they were his mules. He said they
were and that he got them from his
father. I says, | don't know, your
being stranger but you might have
stolen the mules | looked at him but
did not see him vince We were to
pay $3.50 for the mules. We paid
him $25 down, gave him an order on
Mr.. Sherry for 5000. One of the
mules was little lame and if the
mule got over it I was to send him
the other $25. The name in the or
der is the same given to my son who
drew the order. The check shown
was given at the Office of H. Sherry,
at Neenah. He gave 500 in cash
and gave the check for balance The
mules were identified by young Hesler
and another man who came with him,
beyond all doubt. [ have no doubt of
the fact myself [ purchased this
mule team on Jan'y 10, 1888 He
had an ga 0" mule whip with him, a
very heavy whip. The blankets were
found by Mr.. Stewart and Mr..
Smith. The whip was delivered to
Mr.. FL. w. Lord.
A G. BRIGGS.
REV. ANDREW TARNUTZER
formerly Presiding Elder of the dis
trict in which Hesler resided, was next
called as a witness who being duly
sworn testifes as follows:
reside in Portage City, Wisconsin.
Am a clergyman | saw the dead
body upon which the present inquest
is being held. [ identified it as being
the body of Mr.. John Hesler, who
lived in what is known as the Fenner
settlement. He lived about seven or
a;rbt miles west of line of railroa n