Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-03-04
ASSASSIN is BURNED.
Tragedy in a Chair Factory at
Jefferson, Wis.
L. M. Smith the Intended Victim How
the Building was Fired.

Jefferson, Wis, Feb. 29-This city
was in a mad whirl of excitement last
insight caused by an attempt to assassin
ate L. NJ Smith, secretary of the Wis
Fensin manufacturing company, and the
burning Of the building in which the
assassin took refuge and his probable
incineratiOn therein.
Mr. Smith entered the factory shortly
after o'clock last evening to make the
rounds to see that everything was all
right as was his invariable custom.
When he stepped inside the factory door
he was confronted by a man who, with
out saying a word, pointed a revolver at
his head and fired. The shot took eff
feet over the eye and glanced under the
scalp, coming out across the forehead.
Enstinctively the wounded man turned to
flee AS he ran out of the door the man
shot him again, the second shot taking
effect in his right shoulder. A third
shot was fired, but missed its mark, and
the bullet was afterWard found imbedded
In an adjoining building.
Mr.. Smith ran out into the street and
called for help. He soon became weak
from the loss of blood and was carried
by friends to the Office near by of Drs.
w. w. Reed and George NJ. Smith.
These physicians found that the wound
on the forehead was not serious one
and began probing for the bullet in the
they were unable to locate it. DR.. Palm
er of GAINESVILLE was telephoned for and
will assist the local physicians in caring
for the wounded man.
Searchers Fired Upon.
Ia the meantime the news of the at
tempted assassination had spread over
the city and a large crowd gathered,
headed by Sheriff Shannon and his I'M
1ersherif and Jail officials SO sudden
had been the alarm that the man had no
chance to get away. Lanterns were
secured and the sheriff and a party of
volunteers started through the building
armed with revolvers: They went
through the two lower floors without in
t-ident. When they climbed the stairs
TO the third floor, the upper one of the
building, they moved with extreme eau
ton, as they felt that the trail was get
ting hot.
As they reached the top of the stairs
they were saluted with a fusilade of
shots from tie attic. The bullets ripped
through the floor and battered about the
seaEchers in a way that convinced them
chat was no place for them just at the
time and they beat hasty retreat. Aft
GER going down q floor they rallied and
were about to make another attempt
so reach the rufian when the cry was
raised from the outside that the building
was set on fire. Jets of flame were
seem darting red tongues out through the
CRACKS Ia the DQ1lQ10S ana IdlnI CLOUDS
Of smoke were beginning to curl up in
the air.
The alarm of fire was sounded, but
Before the engines could reach the scene
and get water Oh the building it was a
mass of flames. Sharp eyes kept watch
to see that the would-be assassin did
mot escape, but no one obtained the
Eeast sign of him, and it is believed that
the man persisted in the flames. The
fire was communicated to the three adj
Joining buildings of the plant, and they,
The loss Will be about $4,000.
EYOuId-Re Assassin Unknown.
Who the man was that made this muir
deroUs attack cannot be conceived. 1t
is thought it was someone acquainted
with Mr.. Smiths habits, as from a pool
of tobacco juice found near the CHM
ney when the searching party first went
IN the building, it was evident that he
had been waiting for some time for
Mis- intended victim. Mr.. Smith can
give no description of the man, as it was
TOO dark for him to see more than
dim outline.
one could have escaped the hundreds
of eyes fixed on the building. There
a&p some, however, who think that in the
sa8le9Itetnent of the fire the would-be muir
tfegeC ESCAPED and took the 8 o'clock
train north to Fort Atkinson At $50
ajtclOck last night a horse was stolen
from the street in Fort Atkinson, and
If tthe thief is discovered it is posi-
dole he will be found to be the one who
attempted TO murder Mr.. Smith.
Al 3ast accounts Mr.. Smith was rest
ing easy, and it is believed that his
wounds, though serious, are not fatal.