Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-05-12
AN OLD MAN USES A KNIFE.


Shortly after o'clock Thursday
evening, word was telephoned in from
the poor farm that one of the inmates
had been stabbed and the services of
physician and officers was wanted
DIR. Sauerhering was the first TO arrive,
followed by the sheriff and district
attorney. They found an inmate, John
Rogulski. lying in bed with knife
wound in his stomach, the nature of
which precluded the possibility of the
mans recovery, and seated in another
room was James McMullen, whom it
was claimed had inflicted the wound.
From the story told by other inmat-s
the two men had had petty quarrel
during the afternoon over the use of
certain door, and after supper met
again and became involved in another
iangle over the same matter. The door
in question was one leading to the west
entrance of the hallway on the second
floor, and next to McMullen's room.
The lock had been broken some time
ago, and since then McMullen had pro-
tested against its being used, whether
it disturbed him or if for some other
cause, is not made quite clear Ro-
gulski was in the habit Of entering by
this door, it seems, and for this reason
the quarrel arose. Eye witnesses of
the affair claim that when the two met
after supper Rogulski made some re-
mark to which McMailen stamped him
as liar, whereupon the former called
the latter foul name, and followed it
up with shake of his fist in the face of
the other McMullen claims to have
been struck in the face. but this is
denied by witnesses. Rogulski, though
a cripple, was man of thirty-seven
years, and capable of handling his ad-
versary, who is eighty-five years old.
The old man claims it was through fear
of suffering bodily injury from the
young man that he committed the act
which followed. When Rogulski
shook his fist al the old man the latter
pulled out large, keen edged clasp
knife, with a blade about five inches
long, and of the deer foot handle pat
tern used by hunters. With this he
stabbed the younger man in the stomach
a few inches to the left side of the
navel, cutting a cash nearly three
inches long. The blade, in its passage,
severed several of the intestines and
allowed them to protrude from the
wound, and it was quite apparent that
the knife thrust would prove fatal.
When the district attorney arrived and
after getting the attending physicians
opinion of the wound, he secured an
ante-mortem statement from Rogulski.
The latter was informed that he could
not live, and that truthful story of the
affair was wanted, and he gave ver-
sion that differs from that of the old
man and claimed not to have struck
the latter. His death was momentarily
expected, but strange to say he SUR
vived until 11:l5 a. m, next day The
sheriff, shortly after his arrival, found
the old man in the back yard, and upon
searching him found the bloody knife
and also pocket knife, and disarmed
and brought him to town and locked
him up. When asked if he was not
sorry for what he had done, the old man
is alleged to have said that he was not,
that he had a clear conscience, that he
did it in self defense; and that had Ro-.
gulski made move to strike him after.
be had thrust the knife into him /
would have slashed him again.
Friday afternoon a corners jury was
empaneled composed of Fred Rienow,
W. Waterhouse, j. S Stofer, John
Heinrich, John Wolf and b. H. Baker,
and after listening to the testimony
offered, rendered verdict in substance
that deceased came to his death from a
knife wound inflicted by the hand OF
James McMullen, the latter acting
with murderous intent. When the old
man was brought into court Satur Gay
morning the charge of murder was
lodged against him, but his preliminary
examination was postponed to May 20
for the reason that a stenographer
could not be secured to take testimony
The old man says that he will not
plead guilty but will stand trial, and
says that if any jury rightly considers
the case he will not be convicted.
McMullen is one of the oldest resi-
dents in this county, coming here about
half century ago. At one time he
was worth considerable money, and it is
said is not financially embarrassed today.
He owned two large farms, one in the
town of Maine, the other in the town of
Wausau. The former he sold and for a
number of years lived alone on the
latter farm He was subject to epilepsy
aud little over three years ago he was
one day stricken with an epileptic bit
and laid out doors for several days, ex-
posed to the elements. He then de-
termined to secure a home where he
could receive care and attention, and
decided his farm TO the town with that
provision and on Feb. 5th. 1900, entered
the poor farm. While he was always
considered peaceable man in his
younger days, he has proved disagree
able since his entrance at the poor
house. 1t is alleged that on several oc-
casions he has drawn knife on other
Inmates, and has caused them to fear
him. Although be is of the age stated,
with hair as white as snow. he is ex-
ceediugly spry, and from his physical