The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-07
DELIBERATE MURDER.
Wisconsin Farmer Killed by His
Hired Man.
THE CAUSE A VERY THRILLING ONE.

Because Farmer Davids Would Not Allow
His Hired Man to Beat "a hoy lie Is Way
laid aud shot from Ambush In the Pres.
enee of His Wife aud Chiii-Posses Out
Hunting for the Murderer. Who win be
Lynehed.
FOX LAKE, Wis, April Edward
Davids, wealthy farmer. who lived two
miles north of this place was shot and
fatally wounded in ths presence OF his
wife and child by a farmland named
Julius Zilka Saturday night. The mur.
derer hitched fast trotter to light
wagon and made his escape. AS the
news OF the crime was not communicated
TO the authorities until Sunday morning
Lilka had twelve hours start of the
pursuing posse that was organized here
by City Marshal II. j. Evans ana Deputy
sheriff Davis. BY liberal use Of the tele-
graph, however. they were enabled to
trace his movements through part of the
night. The last definite Information they
received about him came from Cambria,
but before use could DO made of IL tho
telegraph Office WAS closed and Zilka got
away again.
win BE LyncIed IL Caught.
The whole country Is being aroused as
fast as messages can be sent through to
the various railroad offices, and at least
400 men are on the track of the fugitive,
besides the posse from Fox Lake. Ii he Is
captured hereabouts no will certainly be
lyncned for the feeling among the farm
ers OF this township Is running very high.
The murder was a reiully planned cold
blocded crime and was the outcome of a
qua rel which Zilka had With "a l6-year-
old lad named Greenleaf Zilka, who is 20
years old, stalwart and strong, made u
fierce attack upon the boy and would
have beaten him had not Farmer Davils
intelf1rred and dragged him away. Zilka
suddenly withdrew to tho barn, while
young Greenleaf took refuge in the house
with his protector shortly after noon,
Mr.. Davids, accompanied by his lO-year.
old son, set out for tho farm OF a neigh.
Dor, where Mrs DLyids was paying a
visit
Had Not Forgotten
Zilka helped him To hitch a team Of
horses to road wagon without exhibit
ing signs of resentment and Mr.. Davids
drove away under tine impression that the
Farmland had forgotten the encounter
with young Greenleaf. The denouement,
however, proved that Zilka had not for
gotten Mr.. Davids did not return with
| his wife and son until nearly 4 o'clock.
| 1t was very dark when the team entered
| the narrow avenue leading from the road
| across the farm To tho house. When they
were within 800 feet OF the threshold and
| was pulling up IA rilo cracked from
| the underbrush. The muZZle OF tho gun
was SO close to Mrs. Davlds that the fash
nearly blinded her and the powder singed
| her hair Mr. David dropped the reins,
| threw his hands above his head, and then
pitched headlong over the side OF the
wagon TO the ground. The horses In.
| stead If running away, began to rear and
plunge and Mrs. Davids took advantage
| OF the circumstance to jump from tho
wagon taking the little boy with her.
Recognized the Farmland.
Just as she alighted on the ground she
| saw a dark form speeding across the farm
| In tho direction OF tho stable, and she
recognized z Zlka, the farmland lie was
CARRYING Mr. Davids' "A -callbre rifle. Mrs.
| Davlds could see the gloam of the metal
| and she was afraid that the wretch would
| shoot her down If she made an outcry.
She, therefore, ran to the house, carrying
| tho boy In her arms, and notified young
| Greenleaf, who was asleep, OF the shoot
| ing. The boy got up put on his clothes
| and fastening To tho scene of the shoot
| ing found the wounded farmer lying on
| the road Mr. Davds was still alive but
his life was going fast Greenleaf picked
| him up and carried him into the house.
| where he ascertained that the heavy bul.
| let had crashed clear through the farm
| er's body, entering just over the heart.
| He Thought there might DO q chance ia
| save Davids' life, and suggested to the
| heartbroken wife that no saldle horse
| and get out for doctor ut Fox Lake
Zillsa Fires at Oreenieaf.
| Mrs. Daviis told him TO go and she re-
| mained alone with her dying husband
| while surgical aid was being brought
| him. Just rs Greenleaf reached the barn
he saw Zilka driving away and the fugl'
| tive. catching sight of the boy at the same
time. raised tho life, took deliberate aim
| and fred nc him, but tho jolting of tho
| light wagon made his aim bad and the
| bullet few harmlessly past Greenlcaf
| Zilka whipped his horse into furious
| GALLON and was soon lost TO view. Green
| leaf executed his errand In less thar
three hours Whom the doctor reached
the farmhouse Davids was dead. and tho
wife, frantic with grief. was clingine t'
his stiffening be dy in n dark room, while
the boy was crouched upon the floor by
his mothers side. The physician and The
me ssenger brought but little comfort u
the poor woman.
| Carried the News to Fox Lake.
They remained in the barn until aftel
daylight. when Greenleaf saddled hors'
again and gallopei here as fast as M
could come. He rode to the homo OF Mar
shall Evans and told him OF the murder
Evans spread tho alarm. and In less than
an hour had assembled posse OF over ion
armed men and ordered them to use thei'
utmost efforts The marshal offered re
ward of 500 for the capture OF Zilka Th'
men of the pursuing party are all farm
ers and as they are heavily armed they
are determined to take Zilka dead o.
alive. IL they reach him The whole o
Dodge county is aroused, for the news o
the crime has spread in every direction
and armed men arc guarding every roac
and railroad station.
| ---------------
Funeral of Polen's Victims
4 C,,>,roN lila April 7-Whilo Edward