Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-08-31
Madison, Aug. 20.

Madison, Aug. 20.
Thomas Good, an inotfenslve little
huncnpack, was murdered in the deep
grass OF the wild marsh at the north
eastern limits Of the city between 1926
O'Clock and noon OF Sunday morning.
Charles Nolan, a desperate character,
is under arrest as the man TO whose
guilt the evidence in the hands of the
police seems TO point
The body Of Good was found in a
clump OF bushes at the edge of a wood
ed island in the midst of the marsh at
3 o'clock in the afternoon by Gustave
Voss, who, with his wife and several
young girls, was passing the spot dur
ing a stroll. Voss sent his wife and
her friends toward home and gave the
alarm, which was telephoned to the
police station. The officers found the
body Of Good lying in a cramped 90
sitiOn, face downward, with the knees
and arms doubled under the trunk.
Ten feet distant, in the tall grass, a
pool Of blood marked the spot of the
tragedy. 1t was most peculiar in that
it covered space not larger than two
hands, while the earth was saturated
to depth Of six inches. There was no
indication Of struggle. The man had
been struck down without warning and
finished before he had been given an
opportunity to move in defense. An
examination of the body disclosed four
wounds, three, struck to stun, made
with a club and the fourth, a knife
thrust, given to complete the murder.
The murderer had cut and trimmed a
four foot length Of a two inch poplar
sapling and had struck terrible blows,
the last breaking his weapon. Two of
the blows, one ON the crown aud the
other ON the back of the head, cut the
scalp to the bone, and the
third, evidently the one which
broke the club, raised a large
bruise some two inches back from the
forehead. The knife had entered at
the left side of the neck, in front of
the jugular and just under the jaw, in
flicting an ugly, deep wound that en-
tered the mouth and severed an i'm
portant artery, causing death from loss
of blood.
The scene Of the crime is one of the
most unfrequented spots within the
limits of the city, forming corner of
the recently admitted Badger addition.
1t is about a thousand feet north Of
Washington avenue and about that
distance west of North street, the
nearest habitations being those of Mrs
Phelan and a man named French. The
island-like formation, at the edge OF
which the body was found, is about
one hundred feet from the wooded high
ground and is not in view from either
Washington avenue or North street.
Good was last seen alive at about
l0;30 o'clock on Sunday morning by
John Saltzman, Thomas Kingston and
Arthur Schulkamp, while on his way
down North street, apparently
coming from the direction of the Phe-
Ian residence. When near Frenchs
house, he jumped the fence and disap-
peared in the woods. He had not been
at his boarding place, the residence Of
E. Gerfen at Elmside since Saturday
announcing that he was going to
Blooming Grove to put an attachment
on a windmill for Willet S. Main. He
did not, however, do so but rode into
the city from Schenks corners with
man Of whom he asked assistance. He
was seen ia the city during the morn
ing and, in the afternoon, was noticed
by the young son and daughter Of Mrs.
Stang of North street. children aged
twelve and fifteen Years respectively,
entering the woods, in which his body
was later found, accompanied by
charles Nolan, son Of Mrs. Phelan.
Nolan went back and forth to Schulz
Ramps saloon for beer during the af-
ternoon and evening and is remem-
bered as the purchaser Of a number Of
small pals Of beer by Schulkamp and
the bartender. Neither Good nor No
Ian were at home on Saturday night
and Nolan did not reach his mothers
house until after breakfast on Sunday
morning. He was seen in the yard in
front Of the residence at o'clock by
a farmer named Egan who was driving
to the state fish hatchery with his fam
lily but is not accounted for from that
time until after dinner, when he went
bathing with Fred Angel in Lake
Mendoza, near Mayor Hovens slaugh-
ter house.
Nolan Is Arrested.
After the police had removed the re-
mains of Good to Gill's undertaking
rooms on Main street, a study Of prob
able motives for the crime fastened
suspicious upon Nolan. He was sought
for and it was found that he had gone
to the town Of Burke with a farmer
named Dunn to work in the tobacco
field. He remained there only few
minutes, as he had flown when the
police arrived. He did not go far,
however, but doubled back and was ar
rested at his home at o'clock Monday
morning by Officers Davenport and
Boyd, who took him to the station.
where Chief Baker kept him upon the
carpet over an hour in an effort to
force a confession.
Nolan admitted having bought pals
Of beer a. Schulkamp's saloon on Sat