Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-20
WOMAN FIRES ON
TOWN OFFICERS
ROW OVER PROPER LOCATION
OF HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF
FARM.
FARMER COPIES AFTER DIfTz

Chippewa Falls, Wis, Oct. IA
Mrs. Rudolph Pitsch yesterday fired
upon William McKinnon, chairman of
the town Of Arson, and John Hanley,
road supervisor, the shotgun charge
passing between the two men. who.
with a crew Of men, were tearing
down a fence built by Rudolph Pitsch
which INSTRUCTED the public highway.
Thursday McKinnon and force OF
workmcn were Cverawed by Mrs.
Pitsch. Armed with her shotgun she
warned the men to go away or sufter
the consequences, and they departed
Confront Mother and Son.
When McKinnon and his men ap-
reared at the Pitsch farm yesterday
morning Mrs. Pitsch, armed with re-
peating rifle, rushed toward them.
McKinnon paid no attention to the
woman's demand that he leave the
premises. but ordered his men to tear
down the fence.
Then Mrs. Pitsch took deliberate
aim at McKinnon and Hanley, who
were standing close together, and
fired. The charge passed within a
few inches of McKinnon's head. Mrs.
Pitsch then told her son that they
would fire together. McKinnon there
upon ordered a retreat.
Promised More Lead.
After this incident Pitsch appeared
upon the scene. Learning what his
wife had done, he praised her for her
bravery and hurried to this city to get
warrants for the arrest of the town
officers for tearing down the fence
and destroying a United States mail
box Pitsch found some difficulty in
getting warrants. but finally Judge
Couch issued them. The town officers
had also fastened to the city to get
warrants for the arrest of Mrs. Pitsch
on a charge of shooting with intent to
kill, but before they had time to Sc
cure the warrants they were arrested
on the Pitsch warrants. A speedy
trial was arranged, and the officers
were dismissed on the ground that the
tearing down of the fence was only
trespass and not criminal offense.
Pitsch Immediately swore out new
warrants, which will be served to-day.
No Warrant for Woman.
McKinnon has failed to get a war
rant for the arrest Of Mrs. Pitsch, but
says he will try to get one from Attor-
ney General Sturdevant.
Trouble has been brewing for the
last three years over the proper loca-
tion of the highway in front Of the
Pitsch farm. Many surveys have
been made, all of which were favora-
BILE to the town. Several years ago
Pitsch threatened to shoot crew OF
road graders, but finally was pacified
for the moment. Three weeks ago
he decided that he had right to half
of the highway and erected fence in
the middle of the road. He declares
he will maintain the fence at the
point Of the rifle.
McKinnon says he has tried to set
tie peacefully with Pitsch. but failed.
U GASES oil Z 1OW pSiIu1IlE Ill LuC CII-
cult court against Pitsch on charges
of obstructing public highway, but
McKinnon intends in the meantime to
keep the highway clear, even thoughl
he has to face the guns of the Pitsch
family. Pitsch is an intimate friend
of John Dietz, the outlaw of Cam
eron dam" whom he admires very
brother In build and facial express
sion and mode of speech and gestures
Pitsch strikingly resembles Dietz.
81 have been trying to bear unf1inch-
ingly the towns injustice for many
years" said Pitsch yesterday, "bur
now is the time to call halt, and my
son. wife and l will get our rights,
even though We have to do so with
our own guns"