The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-10-24
A CHASTITY SIGHT
By the Light of a Lantern.
Eugene Sullivan Found Welter-
ing in His Own Life Blood.
Proceedings in the Coroner's Inquest.

On the 18th cay or october, 1859, ABOUT
Z o'clock p. M, Curtis Lavey arrived in the
village of Bristol and reported a bloody
tragedy at the house of George Shields, two
miles south of town. The court and consta-
BILE were Immediately notified, who with
several citizens repaired to the scene of
slaughter On arriving there they were
directed to the barn-yard, where by the
light of lantern they beheld a CHASTITY
sight. Upon pile of manure lay the body
of young man with his arms extended and
eyes gazing at the stars. His throat was
literally cut from ear to ear, with many
gashes in his bosom. The adjoining stable
floor was deluged with human gore. Such
sceue prompted some sad reflections in
the human mind, and some questioned
whether man is diaoolic or divine. The
question then arose as to the "author of the
oblegue" Grave suspicion pointed to Will
liam Gates, fellow workman of the vic
tim. The court prepared warrant and
passed it to the constable, who went and
placed his hand on William Gates shout
der, youth of "a, who was seated in a cosy
corner by the stove and said, ''You are my
prisoner" The young man looked up with
sardonic smile and said 'Yah, YAH" The
constable proceeded to search his person for
weapons and evidences of guilt and discov-
cred that he wore bloody shirt, vest and
pants. He then proceeded to jack his
boots, when out of bloody boot dropped
bloody butcher knife which the lady of
the house recognized as one she had missed
some weeks ago The knife had recently
oeen sharpened on a grind stone, showing
premeditatsd operation for the diabolical
deed. The bloody knife found in such a
place is the strongest witness In the case
The court then proceeded to issue venire
for coroner's jury. A jury was impaneled
from the bystanders and duly sworn on be-
half of the state to inquire into the cause of
the death of the deceased before them.
The Jury viewed the body In the barn yard
and conveyed it to a room in the house.
Curtis Lavey was called as the first wit
ness. He stated that he had but slight ac-
ouaintance with the deceased knew that
such man worked for George Shields for
few weeks past. He first heard OF his death
from Mrs. George Shields, who came over
to his home and related what she had
learned from1gN lillian Gates. That Mrs.
Shields requested him to take a lam
tern and proceed TO her barn-yard and see
if he could discover Eugene Sullivan. That
he did as requested, and that he discovered
the body as above described, being dead
with his throat cut. That he proceeded to
the village Immediately and notified the Of
ficers of the law.
The second witness called was Mrs. Geo.
Shields. who stated that the first intimation
she received that there was any trouble be-
tween the boys was when William Gates
came into the house about seven o'clock
that evening, holding revolving pistol in
his hand, and requested her to give him
some cartridges. That she seized the pls-
toll from his hand and told him that she
had no cartridges to give. That she then
asked him if he had any trouble with the
boys; that he replied and said he had
trouble with Eugene Sullivan; that she
then asked him where Eugene was. That
he, William Gates, replied and said that he
had killed him. That she, the witness,
could scarce believe the story and was too
much scared to 60 out in the dark and see;
but she went to the next house and told
the story and requested Curtis Lavey to go
and see if he could find Eugene, which he
did in the manner described
The third witness called was William
Gates, the prisoner, who came forward and
viewed the corpse boldly. The court asked
him if he knew the body of the dead man
before him. The witness ansMe cred yes
The court then asked him if he cut the
throat of the body before him. The wit
ness answered yes. The court then asked
him if he cut the throat of Eugene with the
butcher knife found in witness boot. The
witness answered yes. The court asked the
witness why he had done So The witness
replied and said that he was afraid of him:
that he was tramp and sung songs to pro-
woke him. The court asked him if he ever
had quarrel or fight with Eugeue The
witness answered no. The court asked the
witness to state when and where and how
he cut Eugene's throat. Witness said: 81
done it tonight; | went out to the stable
and found Eugene seated on stool milking
a COW: | threw my arm around his shoulder
and cut his throat with the other hand. |
then pulled him over on his back and stuck
him in the throat and breast, and when he
was dead l hauled him out in the yard"
Great Scott! can it be that such fend
was sired by human being. If there is a
hell beyond the grave, there are many wor-
thy subjects on this side and the sooner
they pass to their proper place, the better
for the human race.
The Jury returned verdict in accord
ance with the facts, copy of which is
herewith. The prisoner was
then conveyed by the constable to the JUS
tees Office in Bristol where he was ar
raigned and the complaint read to him by
the court, and he. was required to plead
guilty or not guilty. The prisoner plead
guilty, whereupon the court proceeded to
make out commitment to the county Jail, |
there to await trial by the Circuit Court at
the next term, and before dawn of the next
day the constable delivered the prisoner to
the Sheriff at the Jail. 1t now remains to
be seen whether the county officers will |
execute the law in behalf of the state, or
turn the prisoner loose again upon the
world to wave the bloody knife.
Several loving letters from his mother in
Kansas were found on the body of the de-
ceased. A telegram was cent to her, but
she did not receive it in time to attend the
funeral or give orders concerning the body,
the town officers prepared the
body neatly for interment. The funeral
took place at Hosmer Chapel, Bristol, on
Sunday, the Goth inst, and was inferred at