Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-05-15
Town Of Washington
Farmer Shot Monday
WILLIAM RoWENSKI KILLED HIS
BROTHER OVER LAND LEASE
DISPUTE

The VIM. Hunter neighborhood in
the town of Washington about three
miles north of town was thrown into
high state of excitement at noon
Monday when the news was spread
hat Thos. Rowenski, a farmer there
lad been shot and killed by his broth
er, William Rowenski.
AS near as can be learned, VIM.
RoWenski who occupied under lease
from his brother, a small tract of land
Upon which he had built house and
lived alone, a short distance from the
Thos. Rowenski buildings, had been
having trouble over the matter of the
lease with his brother and bad feel
ing existed between them. Monday
morning, VIM. Rowenski came to
town and told of some recent disputes
in which he had been threatened and
claimed that he had been shot at the
day before. After doing. his business
here he returned home with neigh.
Dor whom he asked to stay and wit
ness his tender of the lease money
to his brother. 1t was refused and the
neighbor left leaving the two men in
a dispute. At noon Thos. Rowenski
was driving to his house and passed
his brothers house where the latter
again stopped him. After short con-
versation he suddenly went in the
house and returned with a gun which
he fired at Thos. Rowenski who was
sitting in his wagon about seventy
five feet distant. He fell backward
and the team started to run throwing
him off. His wife and fourteen year
old son who had been standing by
their house attempted to stop the
team and in doing so Mrs. Rowenski
was thrown down receiving several
bad bruises and cuts about the head.
Securing the team, they went to Mr..
Rowenski and carried him to the
house and notified neighbors. The
murderer locked his house and start
ed for town to surrender himself. On
the way, he was met by VIM. Hunter
to whom he related the affair and Mr.
Hunter turned around and brought
him to town to give him into the Gus
tody Of the sheriff Dr. Thorpe was
called. to attend the victim and Sher-
if Blohm, District Attorney O'Connor
with the prisoner Immediately went
cut - ts.s lol, is arriTal he found
that Mr.. Rowenski was dead from the
effects Of several buckshot that
struck him in the face and head and
in other parts of the body. In falling
from the wagon one arm had been
broken also. In the presence of the
officers. VIM. Rowenski related how
the deed was committed which was
apparently just as he said. The wife
and son of the slain man were unable
to say just what occurred as they
were tco far away to hear any of the
conversation and only saw the broth
er suddenly turn into his house and
then saw a puff Of smoke from the
discharge of gun from the doorway.
The deceased was native of Po-
land and with his family had lived on
the farm where he was killed for a
number of years and was known as
an Industrious and inoffensive man
by those who knew him. Besides his
wife he leaves four children, the two
younger being at home
Funeral services were held Wednes-
day from his late home, conduct
ed by Rev. Day of the Congregational
church.
At the preliminary hearing of the
murdered held before Municipal Judge
Higgins Tuesday morning, he was
held without bail to appear at the
term of circuit court commencing the
second Monday in June.