Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1894 — CRIMES OF A DAY. [ARTICLE]

CRIMES OF A DAY.

Satan at Large in All Parts of the Country. Lot* and Jealousy—Paramours and Sweetheart*—Knlre* and Revolvers—A Remarkable Record. Wednesday, Aug. 9, will be long remembered as a day of bloody deeds and awful crimes: OX HOOSIER SOIL. At Lebanon, Christian S. Wesner. Jr., —son of the late C. S. Wesner. the attorner killed at Danville by J. C. Brown—was murdered by his father-in-law, Jas. Livingston. The cause of the trouble dates back to the time of young Wesner’s marriage, three years* ago. Wesner was very jealous of his pretty wife, and this led to many quarrels. A short time after his marriage Livingston attempted to censure his son-in-law and was badly cut about the face. Since then they have had numerous quarrels. Tuesday night Wes ner went home intoxicated a»d drove his wife, mother and sister from the house. Warrants were issued for Wesner’s arrest, but the women were afraid to sign them. Wesner remained the sole occupant of the house all of Tuesday nlghl. Wednesday evening he began a search for his wife and went to the home of his father-in-law. Livingtone ordered him to leave. Wesner replied that he had come for his wife and was going to have her. Without further parley Livingston reached behind the door and secured a double-barrelled shotgun. He cried out: “I told you I would fix you,” and fired both barrels Into the body of his wayward son-in-law. His victim fell to the ground and cried: “Jim. you have killed me.” to which the murderer replied: “I don’t give a if I have.” Mrs.* Wesner, the victim’s wife, was hiding in the house at the time. Hearing the shots she ran to the side of her now dying husband and, at the sight of his wounds, feii prostrate across his body. Kind hands attempted to remove her into the house but she quickly recovered herself and refused to leave him. Coroner Porter was sent for and Deputy Prosecutor Dutch took his dying statement. He was removed to his home on North East street, and in the same room where his murdered father lay less than fifteen months ago, died at 10:10 o’clock. He received the entire contents of both barrels of the gun. Livingston was immediately arrested and lodged in jail. All attempts to interview him proved fruitless, and the only thing he will say is: "I am sorry, but I had to do it.” i Young Wesner was a remarkably bright young man and pleasant when not under the influence of liquor. As his father, he was a lawyer, and boro many of the characteristics of that well known attorney.

At Ottumwa, lowa, W. S. Jenkins.night baggageman for the Burlington at the depot at Chariton, la., shot his sweetheart, Julia Murphy, her sister Josie, their mother. Mrs. Eliza Murphy, and himself. Jenkins and Josie are dead, while the mother and younger sister are fatally wounded. Jenkins had been devoted to Miss Murphy for five years and failing to marry her because of the attentions of other men became insanely jealous. At East Carondolet, 111., Fred Kahn, a farmer, was murdered by his wife and her paramour. George Cantrell, who worked for the murdered man. The guilty couple were captured. A bloody fight occurred in Pottawottomie, O. T., between neighboring farmers. The conflict was carried on with stones, revolvers and Winchesters. J. C. Warren was killed and several others injured. ' ’ At Philadelphia, Pa., jealousy caused a triple trapedy. William Evans killed Louis Hecht, then shot Ills wife, and afterwards killed himself.

At Chicago, James Restin quarreled with his wife. Joseph Stooich interfered. Restin drew a revolver and shot him and then attempted suicide. Both men will die. At Scottdale, Pa., Lizzie Daniels, fourteen years old, shot and killed Miss. Weaver, aged sixteen. The girls had been swinging in a grove near by, and got into a violent quarrel. When they returned' home Lizzie procured a revolver and shot her companion through the left eye, the bnllet entering the brain. The Daniels girl had previously threatened to kill Miss Weaverand two of the latter’s brothers. The youthful murderess is now in jail. Royalty has burdens that ordinary people wot not of. The Emperor ol Germany sits for his photograph at least once a week.