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

We're wanted at Rhinelander and that
he was arIrsting the N on a wire mes
sage; that there We're warrants out for
them. lmperio made motion to
draw gun from his packet and Ham
son started for him. Then, Hanson
said, Roberti gave him 4 push that
almost showed him over. lmperio be-
gan to shoot and at the second shot
Radcliffe fell. Hanson said that rs he
was bending over Radcliffe as he lay
on the ground Imperio continued
shooting. three of the bullets striking
him. Hanson turned the sheriff over
and asked for his gun and Radcliffe
said that he did not have one. The
accuses! stood for moment watching
him and the wounded man. Roberti
had bright gun in his hand 4 d I'M
perio one that was blue or black.
When the men started to run he
watched them for 4 little distance
then called for someone TO get gun
and stop them.
HENRY STEINMETZ.
Henry Steinmetz runs the hotel at
Conover. He remembered the men
coming there and of they anu the off,
GERS being on the porch together.
When the shooting occurred he was in
the milk house getting q drink Of
water and heard the shots. lmperio
and the other man, he said, came run
ming across potato patch TO near
where he stood just outside :he door
of the milk house, and he roticed
bright revolver in Roberts hand. I'M
perio, he said, had something iii his
hand of dark llor but he could not
tell what it was. He heard Imperio
call once and Roberti call twice to
come on with the team but did not
know to whom the call was addressed.
Mr. Steinmetz also told of caring
for the wounded men after the shoot
ing was over.
IMPERIO'S DEFENSE.
Attorney Van Doren stated that
there would be no attempt on the part
of Imperio to refute or dispute that he
was on his way ont OF the state; that
he was going to Iron Mountain, Mich.
at the request of his brother Joseph
and Fred Pappineau II was said the
evidence would show that ut the time.
Imperio left Rhinelander or when he
was at Conover he did not know that
a charge or complaint had been made
against him; that he did not know
that warrant had been ISSUED or
that the officers were looking for him. !
At Conover. he said, it would I've
shown that the accused were waiting |
for train to return from Hackley |
that Sheriff Radcliffe, Hanson and |
Carter who came in on the train from |
Eagle River, were unknown to both |
Imperio and Robert; that they did |
not know the official character Of Rad
cliffe; that up to the time the attempt |
was made to search lmperio not one |
statement had been made as to the !
official character Of any of the three |
men; that they wore common clothes |
and had no insignia of office of any |
kind. 1t was claimed that the eNi |
dence would show that when Radcliffe
returned from the depot he requested |
Il conference with Imperio around the /
corner Of the building and that he had |
mntioned Roberti to follow; that Rob |
erti walked aronnd the corner with his
bill! book in one hand, pop bottle in
the other and his coat over his right !
arm: that Roberti was searched and !
that Hanson and Radcliffe turned and |
started towards Impero. Imperio |
asked "Who are you and what do
you want?'' Radcliffe replying: mo |
matter what" That Imperio then
said: "You don't do that with me-"
1t was stated that the evidence would |
show that Imperio had revolver, the
one which the state has on exhibit and |
which it is alleged Roberti had in his
hand as he ran away, and about $500
in the left pocket of his trousers. AS
he reached for his gun Radcliffe and
Hanson rushed for him and both
grabbed him by an arm; that there
was a struggle for the possession OF
the gun, and that during he struggle
the weapon was discharged three
times. It was alleged that neither
Imperio OF Roberti knew where the
shots took effect, but it would not be
denied they prodHced the results al
legged. Imperio, Attorney Van Doren
said, had no intent the shots should
have the effect they did and that the
weapon was not Intentionally dis
charged by him. He stated further
that it would be further shown that
when the first shot was fired all tn,
others ran, leaving Imperio, Radcliffe
and Hanson alone, and that when
captured Imperio and Rohcrti were on
their way back to Eagle River TIC give
themselves up.
ROBERT TELLS STORY.
Roberti was placed on the stand and
told his story through an interpreter.
He tod of his coming to this country
from Southern Italy four years ago
and of his movements up to the time
he was taken away from Rhnelander
By Joe Imperio and Fred Pappineau,
and of the movements up to he time
he and Imperio reached Conover. He
told of the coming OF the three men
and of Imperio taking to them, hut
sail he could net understand VIII I
was said. After going around the
In, III tho man a SEFI. 1sW hat