Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-05-30
ABRAHAM KARATSKY WAS SANE
jury Finds Murderer Sane and Guilty
of Murder in the First Degree.


murder in the first degree. This is
the verdict brought in Monday morn
ing by the jurors who tried his. case.
Two issues developed in the case, that
OF insanity and the main question OF
murder. In both issues, the verdict
OF the jury was against the man who
was SO free with human life.
The detail of the whole case has
been given in this paper, but that the
case may be followed more accurately,
it will be briefly repeated. Karatsky
came to the vicinity of Grand Rapids
about year ago. He is said to have
had with him about $3.50, which he
had saved in the old country. Samuel
Fihklestein met him, and as KaratSky
alleges, deceived him in regard TO the
value of some land, and succeeded in
getting the money away from him,
according to Karatsky's allegation
Meanwhile, KaratSky and his family
lived with the Finklestein's. The
two men had several quarrels, as did
KaratSky and Mrs. Finklestein. One
of these quarrelS occurred on the
night of March 26. He was ordered
to leave the house, which be did, re-
turning during the night in a con-
dition of passionate anger.
Shot at Victim Four Times.
The man is of low grade of intel,
ligence, and his bead shows evidence
OF the predominence of the baser
ideals, and particularly the lack Of
justice and the longing for vengeance,
So on the morning of March q Karat
sky came down and out of the house,
and sat brooding over the trouble on
the outside of the house. AS little
George Finklestein and his STEP
mother came out of the building see-
ing no one else about, Karatsky
jumped TO his feet. shouted, Now, "
and struck the woman to the ground.
Before she could move TO recover from
her fall, he drew revolver from his
pocket, and shot her to death.
-Four shots were fired, only one
of which was effectual in causing her
death, which was pronounced In
Simultaneous by DR.. j. J. Looze, who
was called as soon as possible by the
grief-Stricken relatives of the deceased.
Held Pursuers at Bay.
AS soon as he had fired the shots,
Karatsky ran to near by tree, load
Ing his revolver as be ran. George
Finklestein started for him with a
club in his hand; Samuel and another
man started for him; but KaratSky
had reloaded the weapon, and held
them at bay and forced them to re-
turn to the house. He then started
for Grand Rapids at the top of his
speed, believing that a crowd of
enraged farmers were following him,
seeking his life. Upon reaching
Grand Rapids, he gave himself up to
the sheriff, and was lodged in the
county Jail.
Pretended Insanity.
Seeing that the consequences of his
deed would be visited upon him, he
began to act queerly, and, pretending
to be insane, deceived many as to his
actual mental condition. Under these
circumstances, d. d. and W. J. Con-
way took his case for him and put up
a fight for their client that was a
most creditable one when there is
considered the case they had. In
spite of the preponderance of evidence.
against them, they succeeded in
presenting their case in such a man.,
ner that the jury were out on it for
seven hours before verdict was
rendered.
During the court sessions, and while
he was confined in the jail, Karatsky
would weep at times, and presented