The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-21
MEAD MURDER CASE.
Another Chapter in the Famous
Wisconsin Mystery.
ACCUSED MEN ACQUITTED.


WArPAcA. Wis, July 0.-Aiffed h Lea
and Sam Stout. OF this city; Tad Pryor. Of
Amigo. wia, and Edward c. Bronson, Of
Tacoma, WASH. we're acquitted by jury
this afternoon Of tie murder Of Henry c.
Mead. The trial lasted six weeks The
result will no doubt end in quashing the
indictments against A. J. Poll, David
Holmes and Rodney Chesiey.
The claim was made In the trial ended
today that Mead was murdered BY gang
Of young men who were out for lark, and
who intended to frighten the old man, but
being recognized, killed him and took his
money.
Tonight. after . conference between the
judge and district attorney, the cases
against A. ]. Poll, David Holmes, Rod
ney Chesley and Kenny Sherman were
nolied. The only one against whom pro-
ceedings are left 10 William HanscOmb.
VINO Was arrested in Washington and
held ss . states witness. He disappointed
the states attorney. falling to 60 on the
stand and testify as expected.
Henry c. Mead was . wealthy banker.
who went to Waupaca from Essex county,
n. Y. He was bachelor, IS years Of age.
of eccentric habits. and had lived in
Waupaca about thirty years. He had his
sleeping room in his bank, and took his
morning Of October s, 1SS2. he did not
appear 1t breakfast. When the dinner
hour arrived and he did not come, mes
senger was sent to the bank. Then il was
found that the aged banker had been MUIR
dered and the bank robbed. The bank vas
in . one-story frame building. The
front room was used for the business,
~,~A s,>s ~ q ~ IL
apartment A few feet from where his bed
stood was . window without bars, the sill
about FIVE feet above the ground. There
Mr.. Mead had slept for twenty-five
years. People often spoke to him of
the peril he was in, but he would
reply that he had never harmed any
one. and If burglars wanted his money
they could get it without killing him. The
bankers body was found upon the floor
midway between the window and the door
opening into the bank. His right arm
was under his body and his right leg
was thrown over the left. Both eyes and
parts Of the nose and cheeks were
shot away. His beard was streaked with
flesh and blood and the walls and floor
was undoubtedly killed by the discharge Of
heavily loaded shotgun fired from the rear
window. Mead was sitting ct his desk
making up his cash account. The cash,
amounting to over 5000. he had counted
and left on the cash desk. II 10 supposed
that while sitting as his desk he heard
some noise. looked around and was shot.
Tho murderer, or murderers. seized the
money and bonds in the safe, amounting 70
several thousand dollars. but overlooked
the money on the desk. A reward of
81, 600 was offered for the arrest of the man
or men who killed the banker, but no ar
rest WAS made until two years later. In
the fall Of 1884 Alfred vandecar, q
rested at Oconomoxoc. His vile. while
confined in the Milwaukee insane
asylum. told reporter that her
husband had confessed to her that he had
killed Mead. Vandecar was tried, the
jury disagreed and the case was after
wards nolied. Several years later . man
calling himself Jack Riley Was lynched
fellow-convicts. Just before he died he
said he knew the murderers Of Banker
Mead. In November. 1880. Tab Pryor, ct
the time Of the murder night wafchman
in the neighborhood of the baak, vas ar
rested. examined by justice at New
London and discharged. Sheriff Will.
Jams and his brother. Of WaupacA
had been working on the case for
years. They struck new lead early in
1892. conferred with the district attorney.
+. NJ. Guernsey. and o grand Jury was
summoned which, after long and careful
elaboration. on April 1. 1897, found these
indictments:
Alfred Il. Lea, assemblyman; Samuel
Stout. saloonkeeper; David Holmes.
WOODEN mill spinner and later policeman;
A. J. Poll, livery stable keeper and deputy
game warden Rodney Chesley, logger, all
of Waupacs, Wis. Tab Pryor, blacksmith.
of Amigo. Wis. Edward &. Bronson, clerk.
of Tacoma. Wash.
The arrest of Assemblyman Lea caused
a tremendous sensation. not only III
Waupaca. but ali through Wisconsin.
His father. Richard Lea, was one of
the pallbearers at Banker Mead's fun
eral. He was elected alderman in 1882
and 1883. and in 1855 was elected
mayor Two years ago he was elected TO
the assembly as Democrat in a strong
Republican district. Bronson formerly
kept a dry goods store in Waupaca. then
removed TO Lisbon. =. D.. where he failed.
and finally went 10 Tacoma IN 1891. where
he became clerk under his brother,
W. T.. Bronson, who had charge
of the general store of the
81. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company.
As soon as news of the indictment
reached Bronson on April ?. 1892. he lett
tor Waupaca, and was released on bonds
pending trial. Bronson's brother said at
the time that Edward. With Lea and other
Democrats. had been caucusing on the
night of Mead's death aud were drunk, at
least some OF them were. Lea being put
in a haymow 20 sleep of the effects Of
his cups. W. +. Bronson said that he
could prove tina, Edward was at home at
III y. m. on the night OF the murder. Mead
was murdered at about tina: hour Some
said it was political move TO smirch his
brother and Lea, and others, including
Mr.. Bronson. say man named Gordon,
who had deserted his wife, was attempt
Ing 10 resent the assistance rendered the
woman BY Edward by having him in
dlcted for numbering Banker Mead.
The principal witness for the state be.
fore the grand Jury was Eisii T. Gordon.
OF Chicago. formerly editor OF the Wan.
rsca Post. Gordon and Lea were ey-
tranred by social scandal years ago.
In is:aI Gordon limited in his newspaper at
lea's connection with the crime. and Lea
sued Gordon .or libel a: tia, time