Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-12-27

Later Mr.. McIntye with others re.
turned to the scene OF the capture and
after a little search found a large
butcher knife under small pine tree
near where the men we're sitting.
CARTER TELLS OF SHOOTING
Commencing Immediately prior to
the time the first shot was fired Mr.
Carter told his version of the affair
which caused the death of Sheriff
Radcliffe. He and Radcliffe were
searchingRoberti when 1mperio struck
down Radcliffe's hand and said, lyon
can't do that with us.n Imperio inn
nediately stepped back and drew a
revolver from his pocket and made an
attempt as if to fire. The weapon did
; not explode and Imperio did some
thing TO it with the thumb OF his left
nand and it was discharged, the bull
let going into the ground. Carter and
Radcliffe started for Imperio when
Roberti attempted to block Carriers
way. Carter showed Roeerti out Of
the. way and was advancing on Imper-
10 when another shot was tired and
Radcliffe fell. Carter said the second
shot scorched his shirt and lmperio
kept backing up and firing. He did
not see which shot struck Hanson but
saw him fall All the time Imperio
was backing away. After Radcliffe
and Hanson were down Carter said he
was struck in the back ana thrown
forward several feet and then when he
turned Impcrio snapped the revolver
in his face but il did not explode I'm
perio then shouted to Roberti 10 run
and ''get to the team
Returning to the time he and the
other officers arrived at Conover, Mr..
Carter was asked to tell what happen
ed, leading up to the tragedy. He
said that when Radcliffe came up to
the two men on the porch of the Stein
metz hotel he asked if they were the
parties who had come there in the
Hirzel rig On receiving an atfirma-
tive reply Radcliffe informed them
that he was the sheriff and said, Cen
temen, you are under arrest I'm
perio, stated Carter, said to Radcliffe,
s.You don't mean it. do you, old
man?" While Radcliffe was at the de-
pot to telegraph the Oneida county
officers Imperio asked Olnlstead who
Radcliffe was. the reply being that
HE is Mr. Radcliffe OF Eagle River
Mr.. Carter said that Hanson then said
You d-n fool, don't you know that
he is the sheriff: that he was candi-
date at the last election, and that
Olmstead replied, "Yes.
When Radcliffe returned, Imperio,
according to Carter's statement, said,
Come here, old man, l want to talk
to you." The two left the porch and
W hat happened thereafter is told in
the first part OF Carriers testimony.
WANTED TO "GET" HANSON.
Mr.. Carter further testified that
after the men had been captured and
taken from the woods to the railroad
track to wait for the train Imperio
had asked him who had been killed.
When informed that only Radcliffe
was dead Itniberio IS alleged to have.
said: I'm sorry; didn't want to get
you or the old man, but did want to
get that other ----".
When asked why, he is alleged to
have replied: you'll know when the
trial comes off,
WITNESS FOR THE DEFENSE.
DR.. Robert A. Povnton of Chicago
was put upon the stand for the de-
Tense following Mr.. Carter. He had
known Imperio in Chicago for ten
years; had been the family physician;
had advised Imperio to seek change
of climate for his health and that his
character among his neighbors as
q peaceful and law abiding citizen
was good. His acquaintance was
only professional, he said. When
asked that if it was shown that I'm
1mperio had conducted house of i'll
fame he would not change his opinion
as to good reputation he said he
would. CBoth Imperio and Roberto
were later shown to have been con-
sidered undesirable citizens by Hurley
officials where they formerly resided. ]
MARY sTEINMETz.
Mary Steinmetz was making her
home with her parents at Conover at
the time of the shooting. She saw the
defendants come TO the hotel, was on
the porch with them when Sheriff
Radcliffe placed them under arrest.
The details Of what happened prior to
the shooting were the same as were
given by the other witnesses. She
had witnessed the shooting from the
porch, saw Radcliffe and Hanson fall,
and stated that Imperio did the shoot
ing She heard five shots in all.
GOT TUE WRONG MAN.
Ed Handley of Hackley, told CT a
conversation with Imperio when the
defendants were in the Eagle River
Jail Imperio said to him that he~was
sorry he had shot Mr.. Rancliffe as he
was fine man, stating further that
be had got the wrong man.
VICTOR ERICSSON.
Saw Radcliffe at the station at Con-
over and followed him to the Stein
metz hotel. Was a witness to the
first two shots. then ran TO his team
which was hitched in the road Also
saw ImIerio and Roberti as they ran
across the potato patch and testified