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

tion.-IIis Trial will take place
about the second week in May.
The Inquest held AID Fenner
Found Guilty.
Great satisfaction was expressed on
all sides Friday rnorning. on learning
of the recovery Of the body of John
J.. Hesier who was cruelty murdered
on the morning of the 10Th day Of
January last. by Marvin NJ Fenner
who now lies in Jail awaiting his trial.
The REPORTER having published
from time to time the facts and cir
cumstances concerning this case deem
il unnecessary now to repeat all that
has taken place since this cold blooded
murder was committed. Nothing has
so thoroughly aroused public indigna-
ton in this vicinity since the Cochran
HAYDEN murder case Cool headed
men spoke favorably of using rope
as the best means Of insuring a speedy
punishment.
Mr.. Moses Blair, resident Of
Rudolph, discovered the body by the
assistance of his dog on the afternoon
of Thursday, at two O'Clock P. m.
Mr.. Blair is French canadian. He
searched for the body faithfully several
days previous with determination to
succeed and did so.
Friday morning Sheriff McCamley
summoned jury of inquest IN this
vicinity consisting Of the following
gentlemen Messrs. S. A. Spafford,
a prominent merchant; VIM. Scott,
County surveyor Phil Ward, a saloon
keeper; o. Gordon. surveyor from
Centralia Fl. 2. Chase, a lumber
man and w r. Young, who is not
engaged in any business at the present
writing, also H. W. Lord, justice of
the Peace and DR.. B. T. Robinson.
These parties accompanied by District
Attorney Williams. repr esentative of
the REPORTER and several citizens
proceeded by the first train TO Briggs
switch about one mile west Of Milla-
dore, a small station on the Wisconsin
Central railroad A short walk and
we were at the place where lay the
body Of deceased as left by his MUIR
derer.
Mr.. Blair and his dog were the only
ones present on our arrival. The To-
cation where the body lay was a half
mile east from where the blankets
were found, and the old sled was about
thirty rods west from where Fenner
left the blankets.
On reaching the spot where the
body lay we were Mortified at finding
it partly exposed and the face and
neck eaten by wild animals, supposed
to be foxes. After swearing in the
Jury and DR.. Robinson, justice Lord
ordered the snow removed from the
body and the doctor to make an exam.
inatiou. A brief one was made after
which the remains were taken to the
switch while the jury, justice, Dist
Attorney and citizens made their way
down to Briggs mill, where they ate
dinner and took the testimony of sew
sral witnesses. Mr.. Blair stated how
he found the body and then cut of
a small piece of the old mans coal
and proceeded to Briggs mill where be
informed the town clerk of his discov-
cry and claimed the reward, $3.50
The clerk, in company with three
other men accompanied Mr. Blair &c
the place where he claimed the body
Law and all were satisfied that the
corpse was that OF Mr.. John Hester
DIR. Robinsou's examination dis
closed the fact that Mr.. Hesler hat
received severe blow upon the lef
side of his head with soma heav,
weapon, supposed to be the heav.
mule whip which Fenner purchased il
this city on the 18th of January, o
I'll. w. Lord. He had also received
two shots. one bullet penetrating tn
forehead and the other the left tenn pie
The body was identified by severa
who knew Mr. Hesler we'll. His RICH
hand had the second finger missing
Rev. Andrew Taruntzer, from Portag
City, stated that he knew Mr.. Hesle