Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-12
D|LATORY DEFENCE ENDS.
LORD AND EMERY MUST STAY IN PRISON
Supreme Court Sustains Verdict of the Jury,
Hearing in Higher Branch Results for
the Prosecution on Every Point.

the Prosecution on Every Point.
tFrom Milwaukee Sentinel, Wednesday, Jan. III
Madison, Wis, Jan. 10.-The SUI
preme court on Tuesday affirmed the
judgment in the case of Emery and
Lord, twice convicted Of murder and
sentenced to state prison for life.
This was the second time that the
Supreme court had been called upon
to pass upon alleged errors occurring
upon the trials of this case. The
action was first tried at the October
term, 1894, of the Wood County Cir
cult court, a verdict of guilty being
rendered, and the defendants sem
fenced to Imprisonment for life. An
appeal was taken, the judgment was
reversed by the Supreme court in Jan
uary, 1896, for error in excluding evil
dence and in the charge Of the court.
The place of trial was subsequently
changed from Wood county to Mara
thOn county, and at the November
term of the Circuit court in that
county for 1896, trial being had, last
ing about three weeks, it resulted in a
disagreement, the jury standing six to
six. A third trial was had, beginning
in November, 1897, and continuing for
nearly four weeks, resulted in a YER
dict Of guilty. Judge Bardeen was
the judge presiding, and hence has not
been able to sit and consider the mat
terupon this appeal to the Supreme
court
CONVICTED OF PETER HOUSTON'S MUIR
DER.
The crime of which the defendants
were convicted was the murder of
Peter Houston, June 2, 1898. Upon
the trial it appeared, without contra
dictiOn, that Houston, while sitting
in his own house about twelve miles
southeast of Grand Rapids in Wood
county, was shot by some person on
the outside Of the house. He was
about Il years Of age. His wife, Emma,
whom he had married April 1, 1893,
was 16 years Of age. She was sitting
at table near her husband at the
time the fatal shot was fired. Peter and
his wife had just finished eating sup
per. Seven buckshot entered Peters
face and neck, causing instant death.
SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY.
Charles Fl. Emery and William Lord
lived about 120 rods east of Peters
house on the main road leading from
Grand Rapids to Plainfield. This road
united with the road running past
Peter HOuSton'S about one and one
half miles north of Emery and Lord S
house and about the same distance
from Peters home. Emery was at the
time of the tragedy above 40 years
old, and with his wife and two boys,
aged and TO- lived upon and worked
the farm of the defendant Lord.
Lord was widower about 50 years old
and lived with Emery and his family.
He had lived upon this place for up
wards of twenty-five years. Emery
had resided upon this farm and upon
one adjoining for about eighteen years.
Emma, the wife of Peter, was the
daughter of David Jacobs, who, at the
time of tie tragedy, lived about three
miles north of the Houston and Lord
residences on the main road leading tC
on the road between Jacobs place and
Peters place, nor between Jacobs
place and the residence of the defend,
ants.
HAD TROUBLE WITH HIS FATHER-IN-
LAW.
David Jacobs lived alone with his
son James, who is about II years OF
age, upon rented farm. He came tC
this community with his daughter
Emma and son James in the fall OF
3 the year previous to the homicide,
coming from Vernon county. Peter
Houston and Emma Jacobs were mar.
ried April 4, 1898, and for about -four
IL
upon the rented place which he occu
pied. In the first part of May trouble
arose between Peter and his father-in
law, David Jacobs, and Peter and hi:
wife moved down to the small house
where the murder was committed
He refused thereafter to have any
thing to do with David Jacobs.
DAVID JACOBS MAKES A CONFESSION
The inquest was held the day fol
lowing the tragedy, and at its conclu
sion Emery was arrested, charged will
the crime, and committed to await
trial. Subsequently, in the fall o
1893, David Jacobs and his son Jame
moved back to Vernon county. Lore
continued TO live on his place unit
March, 1894. In March. 1894 DaviC
Jacobs was arrested charged with tn,
crime of rape upon his daughter, th,
widow of Peter Houston, and beins
confined in the jail at Stevens Poin
subsequently made confession il
which he claimed that the murder O
Peter Houston was committed by him
self, Emery and Lord. Upon the max
ing of this confession he was takel
before the Circuit court. then in Ses
sion in Waupaca county, and PLEADED
guilty TO the crime, and was sentence
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