The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-05-23
SHOOTING TRAGEDY IN FRANKLIN.


On his farm in the town of Franklin
John Radej shot and killed John Roll
land, his "hired man" last Friday
night. Radej is widower and his
household was composed of himself, a
partially blind and aged female rela-
tive and Roland. The latter when a
young man, owned farm in the neigh
borhood but is said to have lost it
through dissipation years ago and has
for years past been eking out an ex-
istence working for farmers in the
neighborhood. He has been or the
Radej place the past winter. Unveri-
fed reports have it that the tragedy
was brought about by Rolands using
violence upon the blind old lady which
Radej resented, causing row between
the two men and that Radej retired to
the house secured revolver, came out
to the barn yard and Immediately shot
and killed Roland, the bullet striking
back of the ear, penetrating The brain.
The only eye witness of tine affair is
said to be Michael Gallagher, a neigh
boring farmer. Radej without inquir-
ing as to the result of his oeed Went 10
Menchalville, the nearest village, and
phoned to Manitowoc to chairman of
the town, John Hynek, about the shoot
ing and awaited the arrival of officers
to take him into custody. Sheriff Pei
lett found Radej playing cards await
ing his arrival and brought him to the
county Jail. Immediately after the
shooting Gallagher telephoned for DR..
Burke at Wayside but ROLAND was
dead when the physician reached the
scene. The district attorney ordered
an inquest and ajury composed of Matt
Wattawa, Dan Falvey, Thos. Sullivan,
Frank Delsman, Charles Etzler, Sr.,
and John Zahorik were sworn in by
Justice H. Falge, and the inquest ad-
journed to Manitowoc on Wednesday
morning. Radej has retained A. P.
Schenian as attorney.
ROLAND was bachelor about so years
of age and a native of the neighbOr-
hood. He is survived by four sisters,
three of whom live in this county and
one in Baltimore. Radej is also about
so years old.
LATER-The inquest was held in
the assembly room of the courthouse
Wednesday morning before Justice
Falge. Onlo two witnesses were heard
Michael Gallagher, and DR.. John
Kelley who made an examination of
the body of ROLAND the day after the
tragedy.
The following is the verdict of the
jury:
"We the jury find that John ROLAND
came to his death on the 18th day of
May from gun-shot wound inflicted
by one John Radej."
On the witness stand Mr.. Gallagher
told how the shooting occurred. He
said that he had been at Radej's that
day to have some feed cut. He said
that ROLAND and Radej had been
quarreling during the afternoon and
that when the feed cutting was finished
it was about milking time. The work
was begun by Mary Vesela the aged
woman whose alleged maltreatment.
Radej, is said to have resented. The
woman had pail and had started her
work and Radej was milking another
COW. ROLAND it was stated was stand
ing near the old lady and Radej and
Gallagher were little distance away
engaged in conversation.
ROLAND maintained his position near
the old woman and when Radej started
to milk one of the cows, Gallagher
volun teered to assist him in complet-
ing the work. Radej said "All right"
and said: "I'll 60 to the house and get
another milk-pail." Gallagher said
he could not hear what ROLAND and
the old woman were talking about dur
ing Radej's absence but it appeared to
be lively conversation. Returning
from the house, Gallagher said
Radej passed the two, paused
momentarily, and went on about
three rods further, then turning, came
back to within three feet of ROLAND
and took revolver from his pocket
and fired point blank at ROLAND. The
latter, said Gallagher, whirled about
without uttering word and fell like a
log and never moved thereafter.
Radej was arraigned in municipal
court Wednesday afternoon on charge
of murder. Mr.. Gallagher was the
only witness and the testimony was
the same as that given at the inquest.
Radej was bound over without bail TO
circuit court and the case will be tried
at the June term. District Attorney
Healy is the prosecuting attorney and
A. 2. Schenian represents the defend
ant.