Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
HOMICIDE.
Louis La Mere Shoots and Kills
Ashby III. Sidmore

reckoning him to come over. On
crossing the avenue, he was told by
LaMere that he had killed Sidmore,
and desired to give himself up; also
asking the sheriff to look after his
family as he didn't know but they
would kill them" LaMere was taken
to jail, and Immediately thereafter Mr.
Richmond repaired to the house in the
Third ward where the tragedy was said
to have been enacted, to ascertain if a
murder had in fact been committed.
About the same time Sidmore's twelve
year old boy appeared on Main street
in search of an officer, and announc-
ing that his father had been killed
SCENE OF THE SHOOTING.
The house where the fatal tragedy
occurred stands on the south side of
Jefferson street, short distance east
of Reserved. It is a small one story
structure, and contains sitting room,
kitchen, bedroom, pantry and closet,
what was evidently originally designed
for a sitting room being now used for
bed room. The house was occupied
by A. II. Sidmore, (nick-named Tink)
and his divorced wife and their three
children, the Oldest being II years of
age, the youngest three, and Mrs La
Mere and her four children, the oldest
being aged about 9 years and the
youngest 7 weeks. When the jury
entered the house they found the dead
body of Sidmore lying on the kitchen
floor, his head in one corner of the
room, being nearly the same position
in which he fell The breakfast table
stood as it had been partially prepared
for the morning meal, part of the IN
tasted food being on the table and part
on. the stove, from which the fire had
now gone out.
THE SHOOTING.
LaMere has not been living with
his wife for some months. In con-
versation we had with him at the Jail
on Thursday he stated that about three
weeks ago, just before going on the log
drive, he went to the house where his
wife and Mrs. Sidmore were living.
At that time Sidmore was not there.
His children had the Whooping cough,
and he remained there two nights,
sleeping with his boys, to take care of
them. He then went on the drive,
returning last Tuesday. On Tuesday
evening he went to the house, where
he found Sidmore. He then came
down town and staid at the Arlington
House On Wednesday he again visit
ed the house, but found that Sidmore
and Mrs. LaMere had gone into the
country, taking the latter's children
with them. Wednesday night he
s spent at the Arlington, and on
Thursday morning, between 7 and
S O'Clock, again went to the house. He
stated that he and his wife had some
words; that she ''bore down on him
pretty hard,'' but denied making a
demand on her for $1,100. He said
that during the days of his prosperity
he had given his wife large sums of
money, as high as a $1,000 at a time,
but that since he had got in debt he
could get nothing from her; that it
had been given out that he had receiv-
ed quite large amounts, whereas the
truth was that $40 was all that he
had ever received from his wife. He
said that he was in the house that
morning only about 20 minutes, and
that no words were passed between
himself and Sidmore; but the latter
remained in the room, and LaMere's
tone more than anything he said, led
us to believe that his presence was very
exasperating to him. He said his wife
didn't have as much money as she used
to have, but that when she built the
house on Clark street, that was after
wards burned, she had, as near as he
could learn, about $4,000. At the
time we saw him, LaMere did not seem
to be laboring under much excitement,
though he stated to DR.. Rood, who had
been called and prescribed for him,
that he was suffering from cold con-
tracted while on the log drive. He
also asserted that he had not been
drinking to excess, but had taken some
beer the day before.
MRS. LA MERE.
Stated that when her husband came
in he babe them good morning and
kissed the children. That be did not
appear to be laboring under any undue
excitement; on the contrary she
thought he was unusually cool. Ac-
cording to her story he had been there
several times during the winter, some
times taking his meals and sleeping
there. She stated that he demanded
the 81, 100 she had robbed him of, and
said if she would give him that he
would not talk about her any more.
That he had at times threatened her
with violence. She saw him take the
revolver out of his pocket, and at first
thought he was going to shoot her.
Instead Of that, however, he aimed
the weapon at Sidmore. LIE Mere was
sitting in chair, near the table. Sid
more had been washing and preparing