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

: sCStiAOo 25 iOiionSs
I reside in Adams CO I am
farmer I hold the Office IF sheriff
[ have seen the body of this lead man
l should call it the body f J. L.
Hesler. | am well aequaited with
him. Have known him for Is years.
[ have no doubts as to the idatity
SAMUEL DRfoTT.
JAMES MEEHAN.
lumberman at whose cam, Fennsr
came on the morning of Jan 10, who
being sworn testii ed as folloss:
[ reside in Portage Co, town of
Linwood. Have been engaged in log
ging this present winter in Wood Co.
near Briggs mill about 2 mihs North
west from this camp on Sec. 2, Town
ship rs, Range east. [ ould not
give the exact date, but abou, Jan. 10
or 20, 1888 There was a nan came
there with a mule team in the morning
about half past 4 O'Clock was in
camp sitting on bench. Shutly after
the men were called to breakfast and
all the men went in but myself and
, this man. We were there aloae in the
camp and he wanted to knows if [ did
not want to buy mule team and
said no. [ took lantern and went
out and examined the team; found the
off mule quite stiff and lame | asked
him where he brought the team from
and he said from below Hancock. He
said he wanted to sell them or trade
for light driving team We had
quite conversation and from his talk
[ came to the conclusion he had stolen
the mules and he wanted nae to make
him an offer and [ would not. He
ate breakfast with me. / asked him
out and at first he said he had his
breakfast at Milladore at half-past 3.
There had been man there at 3 and
one man said he was the same man.
knew it was impossible for him to
have done so. He did come in and
sat down at my right hand and ate
about half a breakfast aud went out.
He left there after a m, it was
after day light when he left He did
not enquire of me, but did enquire
of man by the name of
Boland when he first went to
hay-shanty, for Briggs mill. This
man was paid off few days since and
went home to Calumet Go. When be
left l saw him 60 He took the road
toward Briggs. He nad only the
mules, harness and Whip-a large
blacksnake whip. He seemed quite
nervous and ate little breakfast. He
seemed excited. [ have seen him since
in jail, the one known hersas Fenner.
[ picked him out from 5or six other
persons as the man wh was at my
camp on that morning With the mule
team. [ cannot tell fom my own
knowledge which way he came to my
camp. | saw the bag o oats at the
sleigh several times in pssing. The
sleigh was a little over ole mile from
my camp, south and east.
JAMEsMEEHAN.
JUHN GLEN ENISfN.
teamster in Meehan's employ, who
directed Fenner the way 0 Auburn
dale, was next called and being duly
sworn testified as follows !:
I have been working fol Mr. Nee
han, at Herron's camp mar Briggs
[ saw the team when he ,ame about
three in morning, this wasabout Jan
uary Is or so. This man asked me
about the road to Auburrlale. This
was three o'clock in the mGning. He
came into the shanty [ : as up. 1t
was young man. [ went out with
him and showed him the road and
told him which way to go. | took my
lantern with me. He had small
mule team. lie had little jumper
or sleigh just so that two men could
ride on it. [ did not take much no.
tice to sleigh. There was man on
the sleigh who drove the team. [ am
sure This young man and [ went on
ahead Of the team. | did not hear
him say anything to the man on the
sled; did not hear them say anything.
When we got to the corner of the
road the team passed US andthe young
, man went on behind the sled and |
went to camp. They were going
south l told them to take the tote
road to the south and then follow the
track up to Auburndale. | was the
only man up in camp [ have seen
him here in Jail to-day. 1t is the
same man [ showed the road. / saw
him again the same morning at our
camp, he came back about one or one
, and a-half hours later, between four
and five in the morning. saw the
, team when he first came to our camp,
, but did not see it the last time.
Cross examined by Attorney Cox.
We just stepped to one side and let
, the team pass. [ went about twenty
or twenty-five rods The mule team
was following US as we went olt. We
: two went ahead. team followed. He
; said he wanted to go to Aubarndale.
; I directed him to Briggs switch and
: follow track. He told us lie came
! from John Edwards camp. He did
: not say anything to the man VINO drove
r the mules. He did not warn him
4 self I was up and dressed when he
t came. He had on an overoat and
4 cap, cap pulled close down over his
head. He had blankets on his lap.
III