The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-08
WHOLESALE MURDER.
Terrible Deeds of Farmh and in
Wisconsin.
KINDNESS REPAID WITH BULLETS.

Former EmpIoye Who Attempts to Kill
Harris, His Wife. Maid Servant and
the Hired Man-Two Already Dead and
the Others Probably Fatally Wounded
Escapes on Bicycle.
Milwaukee, May S.-A dou.se, and
what may yet prove quadruple mur-
der at the farm home of Alexander Har-
ris, who resided in the southeast corner
of the township Of Waukesha. about
five miles south Of Waukesha, at an
early hour Friday morning, the victims
being Mr.. and Mrs. Harris. their hired
girl and hired man. The crime was
committed. it is supposed, by a farm
hand named William Pouch, who had
been sheltered by the farmer over night.
The dead and wounded are: Alexander
Harris, aged about 45 years. killed out
right; Mrs. Harris, aged Al years. killed:
hired girl, fatally wounded; hired man,
probably fatally wounded. Early FRI
day evening William Pouch. a farm
hand who had worked for Mr..
Harris about two years ago, called at
the house and requested lodging for the
night. He was taken in. given supper,
and assigned room.
Shooting of the Men.
About o'clock Mr.. Harris and the
hired man arose and went to the yard
to milk the cows. Mrs. Harris and the
hired girl remaining to prepare break
fast for the family. Pouch left his room
quietly, and going to the yard where the
men were milking the cows. bade them
good morning. Harris and the hired
man were sitting on stools near each
other and before they were aware of
any evil-doing, Pouch drew a revolver
and fred at the farmer, killing him al
most instantly. The murderer then
turned the weapon on the hired man
and shot him in the body. inhicting a
probably fatal wound. The man fell
motionless on the ground and Pouch
evidently supposed him dead also The
terrible sight did not unnerve the de-
mon, for he left his victims where they
fell and walked leisurely to the kitchen
of the farm house. There he met Mrs.
| Harris and the hired girl and chatted
pleasantly with them for a few minutes.
lie said that Mr.. Harris would not be in
for a few minutes, and that he would
partake Of his breakfast at once. The
woman waited upon the murderer, who
seemed to relish the meal.
Continues His Bloody Work.
After concluding his breakfast Pouch
! arose from the table and started to walk
toward the door, but suddenly wheeled
around and before the woman realized
what was about TO happen, he shot Mrs.
Harris in the breast and then fired at
the hired girl. The farmers wife fell
to the floor with fatal wound and ex-
pired soon afterwards. The hired girl
has a chance of recovery After finish
ing his bloody work the murderer
mounted bicycle and rode away He
started in a southwesterly direction over
the MukwoHago road and the SUPPOSE
tion is that he headed for Burlington.
A posse of farmers are in hot pursuit
and the chances are he will be capt
ured. The farmers residing in the vicin-
ity of the murder are greatly excited
and enraged, and should they get hold
Of the man before the officers, he may
not live to tell of the crime. They OPEN
ly vow that they will lynch the mur-
derer The suppostion of the authori-
ties is that the man is either insane or
that he committed the terrible deed in
order to hide evidence of another crime
Deliberate In His DeviIishness.
The manner In which the murders
were committed show plainly that he
had been deliberate i'm arranging his
plans and had carried them out to the
letter. Mr.. Harris was one OF the best
known farmers i'm the county and was
quite well-to-do. lie had resided on the
farm where the murder occurred for
the past twelve years, and had always
been or the best of terms with his neigh
bors. Pouch had worked for him some
time during the summer of 1895, and
nothing occurred. so far as is known.
TO cause any enmity between them The
entire detective force of the Milwaukee
police department are securing the out
skirts of the city under the supposition
that the murderer is headed this way.
He is described as about 8 ft. i'm height,
20 years old, wears a mustache, and has
blue eyes. He had on a black coat,
brown pantaloons, and a light Fedora
Rat. The name Of the hired man is
Nelson McEolt. He is 20 years Of age
The girl is Helen Vesbach aged 26.
1t transpires that after shooting his
victims Pouch went upstairs and robbed
the house This is the only known mo-
tive for the crime.