Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-21
CURRANS IN COURT.

STEVENS POINT, Feb. 1S.-The interest
taken in the trial of Henry and John
d. Curran, charged with the killing of
Attorney W. w. Haseltine on election
day, in the spring of 1888, caused the
court room 20 be crowded this afternoon
when it was expected that the case
would be called up. The court did not
open until $3.50 and Immediately after
the calender had been gone through
with Dist, Atty. Lamoreux asked that
G. w. Bird, of Madison, might be APP
pointed to assist the prosecution. This
application was objected to by G. w.
Cate. for the defense, but the applica
ton was granted by Judge Webb. Mr..
Cate then stated that he would ask for
a change of venue to some other county,
and read a long affidavit signed by
Henry and J. d. Curran, setting forth
that their case had been freely dis
cussed by the people and newspapers;
that the election of sheriff in this
county last fall was fought upon So
called Curran and anti-Curran basis,
and that the present sheriff, j. S.
Mitchell, had said he would spend
money to convict the murder of Hasel-
tine; that the father-in-law of Haseltine,
NJ. Wadleigh, is an old and wealthy
resident and he had spent large sums
of money to elect the present sheriff.
These, among other reasons, were
given by the applicants to show why
they could not secure fair trial here
on account of the prejudice of the
people, and they therefore asked for
change of venue. Among others whom
they claimed had been employed in
prejudicing the minds of farmers
against them were Matt Stapleton,
George Urban and James Ritchie. An
article in The Sentinel on the 10th of
last April and charges made by The
Chicago Herald in April and January
were also read to prove that the minds
of many in the community had been set
against them. They closed their
affidavit by saying that they had been
Republicans during the past twenty
years and had voted for the candidate
of that party for sheriff last fall, and
not because he favored them in any
way to their knowledge.
An affidavit of Jerome Nelson, ex-
assemblyman, was then read, saying
that he had heard the case of the
Currans freely discussed by the people
of Portage county; that he had heard it
represented before the election last fall
that the Republican candidate for
sheriff was favorable to the Currans,
while the Democratic candidate would
be elected to convict them, and he did
not believe an impartial trial could be
had here. Similar affidavits were read,
signed by S. A. Sherman, James E.
Rogers, James B. Carpenter, James
Buemmer, w. S. Arnott, ]. O. Johnson,
R. G.. Wallace, Frederick Huniley, F R.
Houston, w. Ghoca. A. R. White, Ed.
Grant, VIM. A. Ollie, D. L. Jones, J.
r. Mcdonald and other residents Of
this city, as well as residents of Plover
! Amherst, Buena Vista and other towns
in the county.
Mr.. Arnott stated that he was present
at the polls, in Stockton, where the
election was made Curran and anti.
Curran issue, and that circulars were
distributed calculated to affect the same
setting forth specified charges against
Currans. At the conclusion of the
reading of affidavits the district attorney
arose and asked time to prepare
affidavits to show there is not the
prejudice here claimed, which he saiG
would not be procured from relatives OF
or paid attorneys of the parties inter
ested. and time was granted unit
Wednesday morning, at which time the
matter will again be brought up and Nc
doubt disposed of.