Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-07
HARD ON HANSCOM
SUPREME COURT DECISION Is
AGAINST HIM.
MADISON MAY q

MADISON, MAY, 2
The supreme court met Friday to
hand down decisions. Among the
cases decided is that of William Hans
cCm, of Waupaca, which is an out
growth of the last trial of the Mead
murder case. Hanscoms conviction
Of perjury stands The case is an ap-
peal from a conviction by the circuit
court of Waupaca county for perjury
Hanscom, it will be remembered. is the
man who was brought from Tacoma,
Wash, for the purpose of testifying
against Frederick Lea, A. J. Paul, Sam
Stout and the other defendants who
were arrested in March, 1892, on the
charge of having been responsible for
the murder of Banker Mead. The Or
iginal defendants in the murder case
were acquitted, but Hanscom was ar
rested for perjury and was convicted.
HanscOm had made a confession to the
effect that he was in the city of Wau-
paca On the night of the murder, drink
ing and carousing with Pryor and the
others until a very late hour, when
Bronson said Pryor would tan him
home in buggy, his home being in
lola, about thirteen miles from Wau-
paca; that while he waited for Pryor
to get the team he heard two shots
fred that Bronson came running UP
and told him the buggy was ready and
for him to hurry; that as he was get
ting into the buggy Bronson handed a
bag to Pryor and said "All right" that
Pryor drove him to lola and left him.
When Hanscom came on the witness
stand he denied this whole story and
asserted that he had not been at Wau-
paca on the night Of the murder; that
he was at lola all night and had seen
nothing of these parties that night.
After the murder trial had ended he
was arrested for perjury and convicted.
The supreme court affirms the convic-
ton.
The court denied a motion for re-
hearing of the case of Franz Melms ct
al, appellants, versus Pabst Brewing
company ct al, respondents.
The decision of the lower court is re-
yersed in the case Of Arthur E. Bill
Kingsley VS.. Frank n. Mass and VIM.
S. Vent.
In the case CT Mary E. Selleck VS..
the city of Janesvi..e and W. H. Tall
man and E. D. Tallman, defendants,
the appeal is from the demurrer and
the decision is reversed.
case OF Ole E. Hoven VS.. the West SUI
perior Iron and Steel company and the
Employers Liability Assurance COM
pany, limited, is affirmed.
An interesting insurance case is
decided against the company. Lucille
NJ. Johnson by c. c. Johnson, her
guardian Cd Item, is the respondent, !
and the Scottish Union and National
Insurance company the appellant. The
young lady ran photo-engraving
business under the name OF the John
son Photo company at Superior. She
sustained a loss by fire of $500 and then
the company tried to avoid it's liability
by claiming that it never insured
property of infants OR women. In the
lower court the girl however, oh .
tanned a verdict which was sustained ,
The company appealed and the deci- .
sion is affirmed. This is an original
case of it's kind before the supreme
court.
The case of the Gilbert Arnold Land
company VS.. the city of Superior in
wolves the validity of an ordinance
passed by the city Of Superior making
an appropriation for salaries for th4
mayor and members of the common
council. The mayor was to receive ST.
600 a year, and the aldermen $500 each.
The action was brought by the plant
if in his own behalf and in behalf OF
all the citizens of Superior, who were
taxpayers and thus obliged to pay
their quota toward the salaries. The
lower court held the ordinance invalid, !
and the city appealed the case. The
lower courts decision is affirmed.
NEARING THE END.