Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-05
A Horrible Deed.

hve 1hurSday evening the CITY was
electrified with the startling intelli-
gence that so often in the past has
made faces in this community turn
pale with horror, "a cold blooded
murder had been committed at the
very threshold of our homes, A deed
so dreadful. 80 terrible in it's awful
reality, that ITS very recital chilled the
blood Of the listeners
At the time above mentioned, Just
as it was growing dark, Vernie Young.
a druken, reckless fellow, well known
to the tough element in this city. Sc
cured a revolver and repaired to the
boarding house of the Mcdonald
Lumber Company, located in the
southeastern part Of the city, where
his divorced wife lived and entered the
rear door of the kitchen, where were
two other girls besides his wife. The
brute demanded the clothes brush of
the woman, who turned away remark
ing, "Vernie, so away, there is
nothing of yours here" When her
back was toward him he drew re-
volver and sent a bullet crashing
through her brain. AS she fell she
turned partly around and another shot
was fired. the bule5 taking effect in
the unfortunate wOman's throat and
breaking her neck During the ex-
element that followed the murderer
disappeared Officers were notified
and the news spread rapidly through
the city. A CENTRAL reporter was
one of the first at the scene Of the
tragedy, where dreadful and appall-
ing sight was witnessed. The kitchen
was spattered with blood; the woman
lay as she had fallen, her head turned
slightly to one side, horrible wound
in the throat from which the blood
was still flowing, while the CHASTITY
wound in the head was partially con-
ceaIed by blood beSpattered hair.
Either bullet alone would have caused
instant death The friends of the
murdered woman tenderly cared for
the remains
The officers arrested Young and
placed him in jail Mob violence was
threatened. The causes that
led to the awful tragedy were domestic
troubles. The woman's maiden name
was Ostrander and her parents reside
near the town Of Hancock in this
state. Five years ago she Was married
to Vernie Young and for year there
after the couple made their home at
Abbottsford. From there they remov
ed TO this city and have lived here
most of the time since. A year ago
they became estrayed and at the last
term of the Circuit court the vile
obtained divorce.
Yesterday morning Young was seen
by reporter in the Jail He is Of a
sandy complexion. smooth, round face.
j. FIVE feet and eight inches in height.
has quite pleasant appearance and
does not look like a man that would
murder Said he had no particular
motive in killing her; had some words,
few into passion, drew his pistol and
shot her; was married five years ago;
she was aged twenty six he the same;
had been drinking, but was not drunk
when he commtted the deed; knew
what he was doing; meant to have
killed him self afterwards; don't know
whv he didn t; knows he will have to
suffer and feels the enormitv of his
crime. He is quite reticent and will!
not talk much, but says that he will
say more at the proper time
! Joseph Ostrander, the father of the
murdered woman, was telegraphed at
Hancock and is expected to arrive In
the city to day
The dead woman is highly spoken OF
by all that knew her in lie And the
family troubles is attributed to her
husbands abuse of her.
Young was taken before Judge
Alban yesterday forenoon, plead guilty
to the charge of murder, and was re
manded to jail to await the action Of
the Circuit court.
Thus will another horrible crime
blot the pages of Wausau's history
Two wife murderers are now confined
in the county Jail. People are won
dering where it will end. Is there
no remedy? Who will be the mex
victim? The CENTRAL WISCONSIN
believes there will be no end 50 Ions
as men are led to believe there is ne
punishment for murder eammitted il
Wausau.