Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-01-10
SHERIFF'S WORK ON
GEHRING MURDER
MAN WHO HAS S14 COMING IS
SOUGHT BY THE AUTHOR
tiles.
MANY THEORIES SUGGESTED.
Analysis of Wounds on Skull Shows
That Axe or Crowbar Was
Used by SlayerS.
FORMER EMPLoYE IS SUSPECTED.

MILWAUKEE. Wis. Jan. Is. -9OT-
+ The sherim's department is working
on the murder Of Fred Gehring in the
town of Lake Friday night. upon a the
Dry which they believe will lead 10 the
discovery of the murderers. A large
number of witnesses are under surveiI-
lance and will be brought before the cor
onCr at the inquest which will be held
within a few days. Their stories told
under oath, may disclose the reason for
seeking the death of the section fore
man. Additional deputies have been
placed ON the case but all are working
without disclosing their discoveries.
Not Killed by Work Train.
The theory that Gehring was killed
by work train has been disposed of
by the nature of the wounds found 10y
DrS. y. +. Young and Wilhelm Becker.
who made the post norton examination.
The fact that the tool box, 30 feet
from where Gehring was struck. was
broken open, and that his keys, one of
which htted the lock on the box. were
4 ylng III pool of blood near where he
A drSt fell, complexities the various the
/ Dries held by officials.
n study of the many wounds upon the
head OF the murdered man led to tsc be-
4 tltL ll''it iNt ulutltnl weapons were
used one of which is believed to have
caused tie three sharp wounds ON the
/ left side of the skull which were deep
enough to penetrate the scalp. These
caused no fracture, however. \ fracture
| over the left eyes which caused i'll addi-
/ ton a swelling and diScoloration of the
eye and Il fracture of the nose, was evil
IDENTIFY caused by some blunt instrument.
The fracture behind the left ear was APP
parently made by Il heavy instrument
brought down with tremendous force,
for the bones fractured are deeply de
pressed and overlapping.
/ Could Not Have Walked.
/ The skull is thicker nj this point than
I in any other and 1t would require great
force to dent it, The fracture caused
severe hemorrhage and destruction of
the brain tissue. Surgeons believe that
it would be impossible for Il man to walk
! thirty feet from the place where Gehring
was evidently first struck to the point
! where his body was found after recciv-
! ing this wound.
| The fact that it would be almost inn
! possible to deal a blow TO person of
| Gehring's height standing, sufficiently
strong to make such a fracture, is an
other feature that tends to destroy the
theory that Gchring walked thirty feet
and then fell face upward where his
body was found.
/ In addition to the theory that GehrinS
was murdered by tramps looking for his
money. evidenced by the fact that one
trousers pocket was turned inside out,
there is the theory that Gehring sud
denly came upon men r0bbing the tool
BOX and endeavored to prevent them.
Seek Former Employe.
The most plausible theory is the one
believed to be held now by the sheriff
and the police, that Gchring was killed
by men seeking revenge for fancicd in
suits or wrongs. For this reason the
man who was discharged by Gehring
some time ago and who failed to call for
! S14 of his salary, is being sought. Men
who asked for work and upon being re
fused, cursed him, are also being
searched for. No weapons have been
! found near the spot which show any
signs of blood upon them or which might
have caused the wounds upon the head.
Gchrings body will be inferred at Pill
grim's Rest cemetery Wednesday after
noon. the funeral to be held from his
/ home.