Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-03-25
JURY DECIDES
FARMER is SANE
His Actions Were Strange, But
Were Result of Peevish-
ness
OF DIVORCES
CONTINUE IN NEW HOME
Because He Could Not Have
His Own Way, Defendant
Makes Threats

Oren Greeley, town clerk Of Big
Falls who disappeared last week,
Wednesday. from his farm home after
a quarrel which led to threats of vio-
lence. appeared at the sheriffS office
Monday and gave himself up.
Sunday night the sheriff cot word
that Greeley had returned to his home.
Undersheriff Alden drove out there that
night TO arrest him. but Greeley had
again disappeared and the officer re-
turned without his man. The next day.
as he was about TO make another trip
after the farmer. Sheriff Maloney got
word to his aid that the man wanted
was at the jail. He had spent Sun
day night with neighbOr and when
he learned that a warrant was out for
his arrest, he came in voluntarily.
Mrs. Greeley had subscribed to
complaint alleging insanity on the part
Of her husband and his trial on this
charge took place Wednesday after
noon in the circuit court room, before
Judge Maloney. G. II. Williams rep
resented Greeley and Dist. Atty. Falge
appeared for the, state. Spectators
were excluded.
Alleged Threat to Kill
Mrs. Greeley was the first witness
sworn. She said that Greeley. on the
day he left home, had grabbed her by
the shoulder, following quarrel and
threatened to kill her and the whole
family and then make away with him
self She said she screamed and their
daughter, Hattie, who was asleep up
stairs, came hurrying down. Soon af-
terWafd, Greeley went to the barn, got
4 halter. returned to the house and
went upstairs and fastened the halter
to Il truss board between two rafterS
and made Il loop Of the free end But
he went no farther than that to carry
out the threat 10 hang himself. In
stead. he came down stairs and de-
mandod that his wife darn some of his
socks and patch his mittens, which
she and the daughter, Hattie did
Greeley then left the place and did not
return until the next Sunday.
Pair Were Not Married
Williams, Mrs. Greeley admitted that
there had been many quarrels and it
developed that she had divorced her
husband before they came to Rusk
county about two years ago and when
they resided in Barron county. and
that they were not now married, but
had been living together as husband
and wife From her testimony and the
testimony of the two girls, it was
shown that most Of the trouble in the
family arose over some sheep and
flock of chickens owned by Mrs Gree
ley. Her eX-huSband did not want
the sheep or chickens on the place.
Mrs. Greeley insisted on keeping them.
Because he could not have his way
in the management of the new farm
while granting her full sway in the
house. he was often peeved and quar-
rels resulted Mrs Greeley testified
that Greeley threatend to throw table
knife through her during tiff at
the table one day, and that on another
occasion he had threatened to stab
her with pitchfOrk.
When they lived in Barron county
his actions had been queer on sew
eral occasions. according to his eX-
wife. He was moody" when he did
not have his way, and on one occasion,
when she persisted in sleeping with
the younger daughter instead of with
him, he went out of doors on cola
nigth and sat on the steps in only ms
mderclOthes and asked the Lord TO
freeze him. BY other unusual acts
on the part of Greeley the complain
ant attempted to show that the de-
fendant's mind was unbalanced. But
Mrs Greeley admitted that, after the
divorce. she was willing and desired
to live with Greeley again and wished
TO be remarked. He held off on the
marriage proposition. however, until
he could be more certain OF having MS
way in the management OF things.
Girls Love Their Father
The two daughters, Hattie, aged Is,
and Cora. aged Is. corroborated thelr
mothers testimony concerning the
trouble between their parents and the
unusual acts of their father. but adj
mitted they loved their father ana
that he had never harmed them. The
younger girl could not control her emo
tions while on the witness stand ana
sObbed while giving her testimony.
Drs Bugher and Caldwell questioned
the defendant concerning the history
of his family and sicknesses he had
had Harry Baxter, treasurer OF the
town of Big Falls, testified that he had
known Greeley for two years and that
he made IN his tax roll in good shape
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