The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-06-03
MURDER AT MAPLE GROVE.

MURDER AT MAPLE GROVE.
MICHAEL O'BRIKN of Maple Grove
shot and killed James Fielding near the
home of the formers father on Saturday
evening last, 4. p. NJ. O'Bren is I'm,
doubteoly insane on the Idea that there
existed conspiracy to murder him and
that Fielding was engaged in 1t. He is
a powerful man, aged 80 and for the last
few years has fallen into melancholy
moods. He seems to have been haunted
by the belief that his life was sought and
a group of men conversing together gen
orally attracted his suspicion. He was
not frequenter of saloons, but occasion
ally took glass of VINE. On such Oc-
to test it, feeling suspicious that it was
poisoned. When at a party his suspi-
clons were always on the alert. He was
sane on every other point and as he was
DOT violent, no attempt was made to seq
uestrate him. The unwlsdom of this
course is now apparent.
OBrien, some time ago, purchased a
Winchester rifle. He practiced shooting
in wood near his fathers farm with
such asslduIty that he became a dead
shot. The trees where he practiced are
riddIed with bullets. His rltis was his
inseparable companion and at night he
placed it under his pillow. His suspl
cions were keenly aroused last week by
the frequent consultations OF the farmers
10 that section regarding the survey of a
road which was to be opened. County
surveyor PITT was to go out there on
Friday last to make the survey but was
prevented from doing so because Of some
business he had before the county board,
1t is the belief that had he gone, and had
the farmers assembled, wholesale
slaughter would have resulted. Some
believe that the failure of PITT to arrive
was what convinced O'Brien that the
survey was only blind and that the real
purpose of assemblage was to kill him,
He has said that while walking home
with party, the plot to shoot him was
frustrated by his keeping one of the par
ty on the opposite side of him. These
suspicious led to a most acute state OF
feeling His suspicious were mainly dl-
rected against ten persons of whom Field
ing was one.
Mrs. Fielding, the murdered mans
mother, Fielding was only 26 years old
was visiting in Chicago. During her abb
sence Mrs. O'Bren. MIchael's mother,
baked bread for the Fielding family. On
Saturday afternoon Fielding called at the
U'Brien home for a batch of bread. While
| he was there, Keehap, the road overseer
also called to order the men out to work
and engaged IN conversation with Field
| ing. This was observed by C'Brien who
was outside and he evidently thought
| the Crisis had arrived. When Fielding
| left for home he started to cut across
| lots. O'Rrlen was III the orchard stand
ing under an apple tree. He fired at
Fielding; the bullet crashed through his
brain and after passing out on the Other
| side, penetrated the bread and passed
throw the hand with which he was sup.
| posting the bread on his shoulder. Two
other bullets we're fired into the PROSTATE
body, aud then leaplng the fence which
separated them to get at closer range
two more bullets were fired The body
was shot to pulp IN many places.
He then entered the house. To hi
sisters anguished exclamation my God
Michael. what have you done?" he re
piled, she would have killed me if | hat
not shot him." HIS sister advised tina
he give himself up to some constable, bu
he said he would only surrender to tn
sheriff and asked that he be sent for
Later he changed his mind and resolved
to escape HIS mother furnished him 81
and he left.
10 that section of Maple Grove theI
} is an almost .mpenetrable swamp cover
; :ng large area. O'Brien took to thi
: swamp. Armed as he was, desperate an
t dead shot, with the knowledge that b
had practically declared vendetta a
gainst nine other persons, the feeling c
terror aroused may be better imagine
than described.
The house was closely watched by off
. GERS as 1t was thought O'BrIen might n
> turn to it during the night. Unless b
chose to surrender It was known he coul
; not be captured except with loss of lif
He had with him, besides his rifle, tvs
sticks of dynamite. OnSunday the poop
who attended church at Maple Grove dI
cussed the murder with bated breath an
: 10 detached groups. There was gener
q feeling that rifle shot might ring out
A any minute. The large swamp lies b
y tween O'Brlen's home and the churc
Everyone who could secure firearms ",
d armed. There was not a gun IN the cas-
" ern part of Maple Grove where the pc
> pie felt comparatively safe, which had n
y been borrowed by those whose proximl
r to the scene OF murder made them fe
they we're threatened 10y danger. II