Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-04-30
FIENDISH FIREBUGS.
JOHN DIETzMAN's BARN BURNED
HORSES AND CATTLE cREMATED.
Theology CHRONOLOGY DemonoIogy by
Our Arthur Correspondent-Is there a
Personal Devns

Our Arthur Correspondent-Is there
Personal Devne
ARTHUR. Wis. April 25. Rejecting
upon the late crimes and confessions
Of Hayward DuraAt. Holmes, jackson
and others and we are led to the pro-
posal of the query is there a
personal devil9n We read that
in the earlier periods of criminal juris-
prudence that charges OF murder and
other criminal acts alleged that the
eeused was .Thereunto moved and
ms tigated by the devil
The present criminal code has sim
plifed indictments 50 that great law
yers and medical scientists term them
impulses, frenzy, or more commonly
subjugation Of viii power.
OIey Hall, who has Il large criminal
practice. says .that study and obser-
walton have satisfied him that demon
lac influence is the explanation for all
crimes, especially for absolutely mo-
tiveless crimes;n he further says that
Howard Crosby, a noted Greek
scholar. entirely agrees with him as
to the existence OF demoniae influence.
which he considered as positively
affirmed in the Scriptures and by
Christ Himself These thoughts
suggested while contemplating the
chronicling of the following occur
renee:
On Friday night last John Deitz-
man, Jr., residing about three miles
southeast of Arthur. was awakened
about u o'clock BY the unusual dem
onstrations Of his dog that all was not
right He arose and reconnoitered
without discovering the cause of the
dogs uneasiness and seated himself
al the window to await further devel-
opments. The dog becoming quiet
and general stiffness reigning, he
again sought repose to be again
awakened in half an hour by more
vigorous renewal of uneasiness from
the dog. He at once arose. again
satisfied that all was not right about
the premises, and resolved to make
thorough investigation. While robing
he was startled by seeing flames issu-
ing from his barn. He fastened to
the barn and found it wholly envel-
oped in flames and was unable to
rescue his perishing stock. Finding
it impossible to save anything from
the barn he turned his attention to Sc
curing his corncrib which stood little
distance. with a shed intervening.
He succeeded in this after Herculean
efforts amid the roaring of flames, the
whining of his horses and mournful
lowing of his consuming cows. by
carrying water and thoroughly satur-
ing the shed. The barn was totally
consumed with the entire contents,
consisting OF four good horses. three
valuable mich cows, two set Of double
harness, one single harness. new
pillow, about $50 bushels of oats, a ton
and half of bran and shorts, a guam
THY of hay and straw aud the usual
barn fixtures. A small insurance was
held IN the barn and stock.
This is serious loss 10 young
Dietzman, particularly occurring in
the midst OF spring seeding He had
Just completed seeding with small
grain. The origin Of the fire was in
cendiary beyond doubt and has
aroused the indignation OF the whole
community. who also sympathize fully
with Mr.. d. in his great misfortune.
He is a young, quiet and industrious
man and was married little more
than year ago to Anna Holt, very
nice young lady, who is a daughter of
James Holt, one of Arthur's most re-
spected suburban farmers. The young
couple began housekeeping about a
year ago in a new house erected for
them, with firm ambition and bright
hopes for the future, having the good
wishes of many friends for their pros
perity.
What promoted this fiendish ana
apparently motiveless crime we assign
to the agnostic for solution. We think
that if Col Ingersol would give the
Bible and Christian religion a rest and
turn his great knowledge Of criminal
jurisprudence to an elucidation Of
motiveless crime that he would be-
come more interesting to a greater
number, if not more instructive, and
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