Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-07-29

Waupaca, Wis, July 70 Sam Stout,
Tad Prior and Edward Bronson were
acquitted By the jury this afternoon
OF the murder OF Samuel Mead.
Mead was bunker and while working
over his books on the night OF October
20, 1888, was shot, and robbed Of $4,000
in. cash and 5000 in bonds
Several persons have been arrested
during the ten years that have elapsed
ana one, Il man named NaDdecar,
barely escaped conviction The claim
was made in the case that ended to-
day tnat Mead was murdered by u
gang of young men who were out for
Il lark and only intended to brighten
the old man, but, being recognized,
killed him and took bis money.
Lea has since become a leading mel-
chant of the town and was a member
Of The legislature when indicted. Bron-
son is now a leading merchant Of Ia
coma, Wash,
Tonight, after a conference between
the judge and district attorney, the
cases against A. II. Lea, A. j Pul,
ID. Holmes, Rodney Chesley ana ken
ny Sherman, indicted as accessories,
were nolled.
The only one against whom proceed
ipgs are left is +. William Iiauscomh,
who was arrested in Washington aud
held as the states witness. lie dis.
appointed the states attorney, failing
to 20 on the stand ana testify as OK
pccted.
Much Indignation
Waupaca, Wis, July 2O.-Attorney
j. " 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 ii
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 viii 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
ur. Even their attorneys alluded to it
in their addresses.
This has been the cause Of much
talk ana has given rise TO 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. il being eleven years since the
trial was concluded.
The people here are willing and
more than ever anxious to bear the eN-
pensc 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 rs much as admitted that one
man was guilty, The jury did not even
take a ballot When released from
the court room The iuwmcn We're inn
me,liately embraced by the defendants
ana their friends