Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-06-10
fl GREWSOM6 FIND.
Water Ditch Diguers Find me Grave of an
EARLY Grant County Murderer.

Considerable excitement was caused
in thi, city last Monday by the re-
port that the water ditch diggers had
found aud opened grave and soon
everybody in the city had heard some
sort Of story about it and some Of
the stories were sensational enough
The find was made a little before
noon by Otie Cook and Arthur Gill
bert They were digging in hard
clay on Tyler street just in front of
L. Weber's house aud as Gilbert went
TO take a spade full Of earth he was
surprised at the spado sinking full
length OF the blade 50 easily He and
Cook then made an investigation and
found what appeared to be the sides
and bottom Of one end Of box the
size and shape Of coffin Further
examination confirmed the first sup
position and it was proven beyond
'oubt that about six inches OF the
west end and head of a grave lay in
the course of the water ditch.
At first it appeared that the coffin
was without top but had double
bottom; but later it was found that
the apparent double bottom was sim.
ply the top having settled down upon
the bottom. When the two parts
were separated a little a sickening
odor came out. proof that the ravages
of time had not entirely destroyed the
body of the graves forgotten oecu-
pant. The workmen reached in
foot or two and removed some OF the
matter between the boards in which
were found small pieces OF cloth Of
texture like broadcloth, two teeth ali
arm bone and fragments OF other
bones. The rest OF the grave was not
disturbed until Wednesday forenoon
when, by order of Commissioner
stephens. the pieces of coffin and the
few fragments Of bone and clothing
were taken out and properly put away
where the prying eye OF man will
never again penetrate.
The question next naturally arose
"whose grave is it?" and soon some of
the older settlers remembered that it
was at about that place that Edward
L Ol;var 1,-ar l,n,;ol - II
killed Jack Russell at Cassville. was
tried for murder convicted. SEN
fenced, and in October. 1888, hanged
in Lancaster.
This murder case was one OF the
famous ones in the early history of
the state and the hanging the first
Judicial execution in the county.
The Grant county history says Of
the case:
son the 1st day of March, 1888, Ed
ward Oliver and John Russell. living
near Cassville, became involved in a
discussion arising from the loan of
skiff which Russell had borrowed
from Oliver to 60 across Turkey Riv-
er, and had not returned as he agreed.
The wordy warfare aroused divers
passions to such an extent that he
drew pistol and attempted to shoot
his antagonist. Parties near b. in
terfered, but reaching around the
would be peacemaker, Oliver pulled
the trigger and the ball from the pis-
toll struck Russell in the left breast
killing him instantly. Oliver was
arrested and tried at September
term of court and sentenced to be
hanged. This sentence was carried
into effect short time later. the gal
lows for the execution being erected
short distance from where the old
Jail now stands Harvey Pepper was
sheriff at the time, but a deputy
named Reynolds released the fatal
drop that sent the murderer into
eternity Previous to his execution.
Oliver expressed a wish to make
confession as well as give a history Of
his past life. and Judge Barber, then
a young lawyer, went to his cell Il
commit this recital to paper The
entrance to the cell was effected BY
tirst going into the upper story OF the
old log jail and then descending into
the cell As Mr.. Barber sat writing.
be happened to notice Oliver slip hi,
hand from the shackles which he had
unloosened in some manner ana
stealthily reach for am iron bar that
lay near him, his evident intention
being to brain his visitor and then
perhaps escape Mr.. Barber stopped
writing and looking the murderer
squarely in the eve. commanded him /
N stern voice to replace his hand ia |
the shackle. For moment thew sat
eyeing each other. but the piercing. |
uniiinching gaze was to much for the |
murderous ruifian, and he .ullenlv /
obeycd the command, and when lie |
was securely fastened. his visitor took !
his leave informing him that some |