Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-10-07
BLOODY DEEDS.
A Brief History of Crime IN Our oWl



John Kerwin, a prominent young
man of Neenah, was taken to the Osh-
kosh Jail on the goth, charged with
assaulting Dollie La Grange, whose
parents reside on the Lake ShOreroad,
short distance from that city. The
first intimation of the terrible crime
was received on the Goth, when Miss
La Grange was found writhingin death
agony at her home. having taken g.
dose of CROUCH on Rats" 1t is SAID
that the unfortunate girl LETT a letter,
detailing the story of her disgrace and
giving the name Of the perpetratOr OF
the act. Kerwin and the young lady
attended dance at Brooks Corners
on Friday night. 1t is alleged
that on the return home Ker-
win drove the buggy into a
secluded spot and there executed his
base design. The news Of the crime
spread rapidly and the police began
searching for Kerwin. He was found
on Main Street, Menasha, by Chief
| Sawyer, of Neenah, and Capt. O'Brien
Of the Oshkosh police force, who led the
prisoner through alleys and by-ways
to the outskirts of the city, where con-
veyance to Oshkosh was secured.
The feeling against Kerwin In Neenah
is said to be intense and 1t was feared
that violence would be resOrted to II
the prisoner was lodged in the local
Jail. Kerwin, who is about 80 years
of age, comes from good family, and
has always borne an excellent reputa-
ton. His father resides on a farm
near Neenah. A reporter interviewed
the prisoner soon after his incarcera-
ton, but the latter was very guarded
in his replies to interrogatories and
nothing tending to eliminate him was
elected by the scribe. He has engaged
G. w. Felker, of Oshkosh, as his at
torney. J. n. Peasants, an attorney
of Neenah, received instructions from
Kerwin' s attorney to hold the remains
of Miss LAGRANGE until Drs. Kempster
and Russell, of Oshkosh, have arrived
to examine them. The funeral Of Miss
LAGRANGE was to have occurred at 10
O'Clock on the 28th, from the residence
of her father, Rev. T. G. Wilson otfici-
ating The feeling against Kerwin is
intense, and loud threats of lynching
are heard on the streets. Justice
Stowe, of Neenah, went to Oshkosh on
the 2Sth for a preliminary examlna-
ton Kerwin waived the examination
and was held in So, 700 bail.
Byron Simpson was shot at a dis
reputable house, at Green Bay, on the
night of the 28th, by man named n.
B. Leppere. The shooting was done
at short range, the charge Of shot en-
tering Simpsons breast and penetrat-
ing the right lung, causing instant
death. Leppere, a woman, a man and
a boy were arrested and the hovel
RACED. Both Simpson and Leppere
are married men and were strangers
to each other. No cause is assigned
for the shooting Leppereclaims that
it was accidental.
The trial of Alexander McCloud, on
charge of killing Michael Bledel, at
Fox Lake, on the evening of July 4,
last, began in the circuit court at
Juneau on the 29th. District At
torney Malone, assisted by E. P.
Smith, of Milwaukee, prosecutes and
W. II. Austin, of Milwaukee, defends.
The trial lasted four days, at the end
of which time, on the LIST inst, the
jury returned verdict of manslaught-
er in the first degree, the penalty of
which in this state is Imprisonment
for from five to ten years. Sentence
was rosewood