Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-08-21
SHOT DEAD.
A Leading Merchant of Rblnelander
Killed.

killed..
Last Saturday evening, William w.
Fenelon, one of Rhinelander's leading
merchants, was shot and instantly
killed by j Bascom Robbins, salesman
for the Chicago Crockery Company.
The story, as it has been published in
the Milwaukee Sentinel, and told by
people from Rhinelander, is that Rob
bins had passed up the Valley selling
his goods where he could to the differ
ent merchants and at last reached
Rhinelander. He visited dealers in
that city and among them Mr.. Fenelon.
The merchant did not want anything
in his line bat while the conversation
was being carried on, one of the young
lady clerks slyly fiifted with the
knight of the grip and this was re-
newed at times when Robbins happened
to pass the store. At s o'clock in the
evening Robbins went into the store
and made small purchase of the young
lady in question, and requested that she
meet him after the store was closed.
Fenelon overheard the request and
without word or a moments delay,
threw the young man out of the store
and chased him TO within block of the
Rapids House, at tunes catching up
and cutting" him severely. 1t is
thought that Fenelon went back from
there and closed the store. Robbins
went to the hotel and told the clerk
what had happened, was very much
excited and said he would leave on the
next train and requested that his bill
be made out. He then went to his
room, secured a Smith & Wesson re-
volver, 50 calibre, and placed it in his
pocket, returned to the Office and had
just paid his bill when the irate mer
chant appeared, and at once started for
Robbins, in menacing manner. The
latter was beside himself, fearing that
Fenelon was going to shoot him, in the
moment of excitement he drew his re-
volver and fired, the ball piercing the
merchants heart and death was instan
taneous. Robbins gave himself up and
was taken to the Jail by the sheriff.
The affair created intense excitement
and it was circulated that crowd was
assembling to lynch Robbins, and to
head off anything of this kind, Sheriff
Wismer and one of his deputies took
the prisoner from the Jail and going
about mile through aswamp, brought
him out near the N W. depot, and hid
ing among the box cars until the pas
senger train arrived, they boarded the
same and came to Wausau and Robbins
was placed in the marathon county
Jail for safe keeping.
Robbins is of slight build, weighing
only 125 pounds, is twenty-five years
of age and of very pleasing address.
His home is in Tennessee where his
father is still living. His uncle is at
the head of the crockery firm, in Chi
cage, for which the young man has
been travelling. He has wired his
brother to come here and he is expected
on every train. The young man is
Frustrated over the affair and ayers that
he only meant to wound Fenelon.
Mr.. Fenelon as has been stated, was
among the leading and most highly re-
spected citizens of Rhinelander. He
was large man, weighing fully 175
pounds; always quiet and gentlemanly
but man who did notukno what fear
was, and when once stirred up was ag-
gressive.
We learn that the sentiment has been
changing at Rhinelander in favor of
Robbins and he now has many sympa-
thizers, and it is thought that he will be
entirely safe there and therefore sheriff
Wismer came down yesterday and took
Robbins back to Rhinelander this morn
ing where he will have hearing. We
understand that he will set up a claim
of self-defense. He has engaged the
firm of Bump, Kreutzer u Rosenberg
of this city, to defend him.