Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-08-21
BLUE RIVER TRAGEDY
Murder Theory Advanced But Inquest
Fails to Establish Guilt,

of Redwood, Richland county, but
followed the business of pearl hunt
ing for the past few years, and was
a familiar character in towns along
the Wisconsin river that he fire.
quented and was commonly known
as the pearl king"
| Mcmillan and Streeter drove to
Blue River with McMillan's team last
Thursday, leaving Boscobel about
1870 a. m. In the evening they
INDUCED in game of cards at
Elliotts' saloon, during the process
of which it is reported that Eckel-
berger, who was present, interfered,
criticising the players quite freely
and they in turn demonstrated with
him, ordering him to keep still.
The saloon closed at 1890, and
Eckelberger started down street,
headed toward tbs Wisconsin river
bridge, presumably starting for
home Mcmillan and Streeter Sc
cured their team and started the
same way, bound for Port Andrew,
a small hamlet just across the river
in Richland county. About two
blocks from the saloon. near the
residence of John Prater, they over
took Tobias, engaged in dispute
with him and here is where the
tragedy occurred. Both men siren
uously deny striking him the ugly
blow found on the side of his head,
and maintain that he experienced
an epileptic fit and fell against the
hub Of their buggy wheel. The out
come of the case depends greatly on
the weight of the testimony offered
by Mr.. Prater, who stated that he
heard the dispute, raised a window
and witnessed a portion Of the row.
He saw Streeter get out and shake
the victim, and then: Mcmillan
alighted and he distinguished a
sound like a blow on the head with
a club. but did not see a blow de
livered. Prater recognized the
parties and roundly censured the
pair who he believed had assailed
the old man; and later went out to
the scene of the disturbance, the
men having driven on, leaving
their victim by the fence where
Streeter had dragged him previous
20 departure. Eckelberger was con-
scious at this time and upon being
questioned by Prater as to the ex-
tent Of his injuries, told 1.-THE latter
to leave him alone, which he did,
not realizing that the man was bad
ly hurt.
Friday morning he was found
| in the same spot where he was left
on the evening previous. When
discovered he was unconscious and
willing hands removed the lifeless
form to shelter and DIR. Dougherty
of Muscoda was summoned to at
tend him. All efforts to revive him
were futile and he remained uncon-
scious throughout the day, dying at
$50 p. m.
After his death Constable Thos.
Taylor of Blue River was given
warrant, issued by ConstableI Fred
Adkins Of the same town, and ar
rested Mcmillan and Streeter at Port
Andrew
An inquest was held Saturday,
the jury impanelled being Thos.
Van Vleet, N. J. Larimer, O. S.
Steele, Geo. Bloyer, G. B. Foner and
John Simpa. A number of wit
nesses were examined, including
Mr.. Prater.
Drs. Chas. Armstrong and L. FL.
Hayman of Boscobel and Chas. P.
Dougherty of Muscoda examined the
body, performing an autopsy. The
result of the examination was given
at the preliminary hearing at Blue
River yesterday, conducted by Dist.
Atty. Brown. w. Z. Howe of Bos-
cobel appeared for the defendants.
The doctors found that death re-
suited from the effects Of a blow.
/ A blood ClOG was IOunQ ON Un0 Drain.
Charles Mcmillan is a native of
Boscobel and follows the trade of
painting. He is a married man and
has family of ten children, several
of whom are grown. He was never
a bad man, and always made re-
spectacle living for the family.
Never had trouble before.
Sherman Streeter is a son of HI.
Streeter, respected citizen of Mt.
Ida and veteran Of the civil war.
He is a brother of Dan Streeter, re-
Gently arrested for killing his father
in-law, doc" Barnum, of Mt Ida
a short time ago, and now out on
bail. Sherm is a married man
has worthy wife and two young
children. He has been regarded as
1;cc;,,o 4n1 ap6 worth loss for coma