Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-07-27


Tad Prior and Edward Bronson were
acquitted by the jury this afternoon
OF the murder OF Samuel Mead.
Mead was banker and while working
over his books on the night OF october
-, 1883, was shot, and robbed OF $4,000
in cash and S5OU III bonds.
Several persons have been arrested
during the ten years that have elapsed
and one, IA man named Vandecar,
barely escaped conviction. The claim
was made in the case that ended to-
day that Mead was murdered by a
gang Of young men who were out for
d lark and only intended to brighten
! the old man, but, being recognized,
killed him and took his money.
Lea has since become a leading mer-
chant OF the town and was Il member
of the legislature When indicted. Bron-
son is now leading merchant OF Ia
coma, Wash.
Tonight, after conference between
the judge and district attorney, the
cases against A. r. Lea, A. j. Poll,
d. Holmes, Rodney Chesley and KEN
AS DIS accessories,
were nolled.
The only one against whom proceed
irgs are left is 2. William Hanscomb,
who was arrested in Washington and
held as the states witness He dis
appointed the states attorney, failing
to go on the stand and testify as en-
pected.
Much Indignation.
Waupaca, Wis, July 2O.-Attorney
ii. Y. Quarles closed his argument in
the Mead case this afternoon at about
4 o'clock, after which the judge charged
the jury.
The jury returned about fifteen min
utes afterward, acquitting the three
defendants.
The verdict was SO sudden that it
fairly shook the city, and the people
in general are exceedingly indignant
at the action of the twelve men.
The verdict does not sway the minds
OF the people, for they are all convinced
by the proceedings of the trial that the
defendants are the guilty men.
Many men, and more particularly so
the business people, seem to advocate
violence, but it is improbable that any
such step will be taken.
The trial has been one Of exceedingly
long duration. lasting seven weeks,
and has entirely depleted the treasury
of the little county Of Waupaca. Wit
nesses were brought for this trial from
all parts of the country and it cost
enormous amount Of money. The de-
PENDANTS were unable to help them
selves and the county was forced to
pay their attorneys fees and other
expenses involved.
The case has cost about thirty thou
sand dollars.
When the first argument was made
and even before, it was readily seen
that the jurymen had their minds made
up. Even their attorneys alluded to it
in their addresses.
This has been the cause of much
talk and has given rise to a report that
was circulated here some time ago
that there was jury fixing. The re-
port that the jury was fixed came
from Stevens Point.
The prosecution was confronted with
many difficulties, one being the lapse
Of time, it being eleven years since the
trial was concluded.
The people here are willing and
more than ever anxious to bear the eX-
pense for another trial, and some very
important testimony has been found
since the trial was concluded.
The verdict seems extremely strange
when an attorney for the defense al
most as much as admitted that one
man was guilty. The jury did not even
take a ballos When released from
the court room the jurymen were i'm
mediately embraced by the defendants
and their friends