The record-union., 1894-11-01
Special to the REcoRp-UNrox.

MERRILL (Wis.), Oct. 31.-Two men,
charged with the murder of man who
lost his life in the recent wreck on the
500 road, had their preliminary hearing
here to-day, and were held for trial One
OF the prisoners confessed and his story
details the methods pursuet to derail the
through Minneapolis Boston limited,
near Heaffard junction, on the night of
October l4th.
IN the crash Fireman Charles Cottrell
was instantly killed, and Engineer James
Dutch seriously injured
The plan was to cause a wreck that
would Kill every person on the train, and
then the bandits would rob the safe Of the
express car, as 1t was supposed the safe
contained large sum OF money. The
man who confessed is LeaVitt Hazelton, 20
years old, who claims to be resident of
Brainard, Minnesota. His companion,
Aaron Williams, stoutly maintains that
he knows nothing OF the wrecking
The officers traced these men from
Minneapolis to this city. On September
3OSh they broke into and stole an oil can
and an overcoat at the tool house at Prem
tlce. That night they sawed a bridge
near that place, but owing to the short
time IN which they had to do the work it
was lnconlpleted, and the train passed
over 1t. The following weeks time was
spent between Prentice and Rhinelander.
On October 9th they were seen III Rhine
lander, where they purchased some gro
ceries. On October 7th they sawed the
piles and stringers OF the high bridge
near Heafford junction, and the west
bound passenger train went crashing
down 25-foot embankment. The train
az hn renl- not
as complete as the wreck kers expected.
Ihe baggage, smoking and day coaches
and two sleepers were not broken, and
none OF the passengers were hurt.
On October Ilth Sheriff Paytzer re-
celved telegram from the station-agent
at 1rma to look out for two suspicious
looking characters. That night the Sher-
III, accompanied by others, stationed
himself about a mile from the city near
Lakeylew, and about 2 o'clock two men
appeared. They were taken into custody
and were found to be heavily armed,
The $500" officials were notified, and de-
Lectives put on their case. The men were
sentenced for thirty days for carrying
concealed weapons. Last Wednesday
they were taken before Court Commits
sloner Helms, charged with the murder
OF Fireman Charles CottreIl. They
pleaded not guilty, and their examina-
tion was set for to-day.
his Willingness to confess. His statement
was taken before l.. ID. Kluetz, Notary
Public, in the presence of Sheriff Paytzer,
the District Attorney. and others.
Hazleton said: "a bout dark we set to
work with the purpose of wrecking a
passenger train sc that we could rob the
express car. We expected the wreck
would be much worse than it was. We
expected that the cars would all be
thrown FROM the track, smashed up, and
the passengers and train crew all killed.
so that we would have no one to prevent
US from accomplishing our purpose We
thought most of the money we would get
and not TOR the loss of life. We began
work east of the center of the bridge We
cut all the strlngers across the bridge and
two sets OF them at the ends, and then
sawed the piles or posts upon which thew
rested. We also cut a brace. After a
train passed over we sawed the outside
posts and the other brace took the bolts
out OF the ishplates. pulled the spikes
next to the fshplates, and removed the
bolts from the iishplates a: one end of the
rail. We waited at the east end of the
bridge until the west-hound passenger
traIu came and broke through the bridge,
We were on the south side OF the track at
the east END of the bridge when the crash
came. Then we walked westward to the
point where the wreck was. We heard
some one crying, Are you hurt? The
other man answered. a little.' Then we
heard some one crying out again. We
dld not wait to hear more. a man was
coming toward us, and that scared US out
We walked away and went down pretty
near TO the next town on the Chicago.
Milwaukee and st. Paul track and went
into a hay barn. We remained there
three days and then started for Merrill"