Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-09-06
WAS MURDER MOST FOUL,
A HARMLESS OLD MAN PUT GUT
OF THE WAY FOR nONEY.
Patrick Mulchrone Found Dead IN His
Lonely Shanty-Remains BADLY De-
composed. Frfghtfuliy MangIed and
Eaten by Dogs, Rats and Chickens.

Vernon county is again the scene Of
what seems to be unq~uestionable o dia-
bolical murder. The facts surrounding
the case are peculiar and horrifying,
and the probabilities are that the per-
p~etrators of the awful crime will never
be apprehended. A brief recital of the
facts are that the remains of Patrick
Mulchrone, an old man upwards of 20
years of age, were found in his humble
cottage, three miles west of Liberty
Pole, where they had evidently lain for
about one week and two days. The
lastseen OF Mulchrone was on Friday,
August 10Th, about evening, lie having
that day worked for his brother, Toney
Mulchrone. When leaving for home he
promised to return the following morn
ing, but failed to do so. His presence
had been missed in the neighbCrhood,
but nothing strange was thought Of it.
Sunday afternoon Perry Vance and Ed.
Pettygrove concluded to go to Mulch
rone's house which is only a short
distance from the road and close to the
residence of Fred Zitzner, and learn
the cause of the old gcntleman's non
appearance. On nearing the hut a
stencil and a sight sickening met their
sensibilities. The remains of Mulch
rome, covered with vermine, eaten by
dogs, rats and chickens, lay ON the floor.
and but for the clothing the body
would have been unacceptable. The
remains were badly ~decomposed and
the flesh on every exposed portion of the
body had been eaten away.
Authorities here were notified and
Sheriff Ericsson, DR.. Surenson and JUS
tice McMichael went to the scene Mon
day morning, and District Attorney
Bennett later in the day. The circil1-
strnces were such that there Seemed
but me conclusion to form, and that
was that Mulchrone had been brutally
murdered. They found that the door
of the house had been forced open by
some heavy weight. The scanty couch
on which Mulchrone slept was covered
with blood and the clothing disarranged
as if a struggle had ensued. DIR. Sur
enson thinks the old gentleman was
strangled to death and the blood found
on the bed came from his nose. The
body lay on the floor with a small head
rest. The remains were so badly de-
composed and eaten that it was impos-
sible to ascertain whether there were
bruises, cuts or bullet holes in the same.
One of the %strangest things connected
with the affair is the absence of the
right foot. The bone appears to have
been broken off above the ankle joint
and the lower portion cannot be found
Justice McMichael summoned a cor
oners' jury, which is composed of VIM.
Clawater, Ed. Pettygrove, c. Leaby,
j.. W. OLeary, John Cannon, George
Zitzner. They viewed the remains and
took note of the surroundings, then add
journey till Thursday.
The general conclusion is that Null
chrome was murdered on Friday night,
August 25th. The only motive for the
crime could have been gain. He was
supposed to have had about a hundred
dollars in his possession, although it is
believed he had several hundred if not
thousands of dollars secreted about the
premises. He was robbed two or three
years ago and relieved of 800. Who
the murderer or murderers are is a
mere matter of conjecture. Mr.. Zitz-
ner's people think they remember hear
ing two shots fired ON the night Mulch
one was most likely to have been muir
dered. The dead mans faithful dog lay
by the side of his masters remains when
found. Two or Shree attempts are said
to have been made to poison the animal
within a few weeks past.
Patrick Mulchrone located in Frank
lin over forty years ago. He has one
brother and a sister, Mrs. Patrick Lind,
and other relatives living in the neigh
borhood. Mrs. Mulchrone died last
winter, and the old man lived with his
sister till spring, returning, much against
her will, to the old house and home. Fe
had a good farm of 140 acres. The re-
mains were inferred in the Rising Sun
Catholic cemetery, Monday afternoon.