River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-25
SLAIN AT COURT
Prominent Attorney. samuel Wesner
Killed by CoIey Brown in . Courthouse
at Danyille, Ind.

a Prominent Attorney. Samuel Wesner
Killed by CoIey Brown in . Courthouse
at DsnvilIe. Ind.
DANvILLE. Ind, May GA startling
tragedy was enacted in the Hendricks
county court room Saturday immedi-
ately in front of the judges desk. ]. c.
Brown, otherwise known as Coley
Brown, a wealthy citizen of Boone
county and president of the Lebanon
Natural Gas company, just after the
case in which he was defendant had
gone TO the jury advanced on Lawyer
Samuel Wesher, of Lebanon, principal
attorney for the plaintiff IN the case,
and shot him.
The court had just taken the noon
recess, but the judge and attorneys,
with many spectators, were still in
the room when the shooting took
place Wesner, who was one of
the best known lawyers in his
section of the state, had given
Brown a fierce scoring before the
jury in behalf of his client, Marion
Hohl, of Lebanon, suing the company
for damages. Wesner had exposed
Browns schemes against the water
works and charged him with being OPP
posed TO public improvements general
". doing much - undermine his local
influence.
At the close of Wesner's argument
court adjourned for dinner and the jury
was dismissed, the court saying that he
would instruct them after the noon adj
iournment. Wesner took seat
near an attorney and was pleas
antly chatting with him when
his attention was directed To
Brown, who was standing just in
side the railing, apparently mutter-
ing something which those nearest him
could not understand Wesner was
told that he had better keep an eye on
Brown, as the latter was very much
excited; but he replied that he did not
fear him. and turning To Brown, said:
IF you have a CUR, ruiI il; l dare you
to shoot"
Brown had his right hand upon his
hip pocket at tine time. and. just as
Wesner spoke, he put his right hand
into his bosom. Quick as a flash Brown
drew revolver and fired, and at the
same instant Wesner drew a dagger
from his bosom and gained his feet.
As he reached standing posture
and made step toward Brown the lat
ter fired a second shot and Wesner was
noticed to tremble violently with a
sudden impulse, and, as if nerving him
self for the effort. he threw himself
upon Brown with the uPlifted dagger
in his hand.
Brown caught the blade in his left
ha,,I ae - ,lae.arJaI md tho -.I,raI
instrument cut deep cash across the
palm, causing the blood to flow in
stream upon the floor. Wesner
clutched at Browns throat and
the two fell upon the floor, but Nes-
ner's strength was not equal to fur
Their effort and his hold gradually re-
Taxed while he stared Brown in the eve
with look that plainly spoke his dis
appointment over his failing strength.
As the hold of the dying man relaxed
Brown shook him off and regained his
feet and Wesner expired in a few mo-
mentS
In the meantime the most intense ex-
element prevailed throughout the
courtroom. The jury was just retiring
for dinner, the attorneys were arrang-
ing their papers and a number of ladies
were just passing out at the door.
With the first shot from Browns revol-
yer the scene changed like magic. The
attorneys and jurors still in the room
sought shelter under the benches and
the ladies ran pell nell frGm the room,
struggling in the doorway, which was
soon blocked by the crowd, rendering
| exit impossible. At the second shot
screams of the women added to
the confusion, and the entire
crowd was panic-stricken and rem
dered escape from the room i'm
possible by reason of their terror. As
| Brown recovered his feet the sheriff
reached the scene, having heard the
shots from his office below. and at once
placed him under arrest. The remains
of Wesner were removed from the room
at once and Brown was taken to Jail
where he was followed by large and
intensely excited crowd
As the news of the murder spread over
the city thousands of people assembled
upon the street and around the jail
and for several hours there were
grave fears that a lynching would be
attempted. The fact that the cOmmu-
nity is one of the most quiet and
law-abiding in the state, and that the
older and cooler heads advised that nc
violence be done, saved Brown from the
Indignation of the people. At 10 o'clock
Sheriff Taylor took the prisoner to In
dianapolis to avoid the mob, which ha0
u