Bio: McCann, Joseph
Contact: Stan
----Source: Transcribed by Ken Wood., Marshfield Times Friday August 1, 1890 Page 1,
Marshfield News Thursday August 7, 1890 Page
1, Marshfield Times August 15, 1890
Surnames:
Joseph McCann Clark County,
Wisconsin Pioneer
A Murder at Lynn? Lynn, the
present terminus of the C. M. & St. Paul, D. and N. branch was on Saturday
evening last, at about 7:30 the scene of a terrible tragedy, one, by which a
Clark county citizens and one who has always commanded the respect of the
citizens of the county lost his life and at the hands of an Eau Claire
citizen, who likewise, so far as can be learned, commands the respect of his
acquaintances. The
particulars of the fatal affair, so far as the Times can learn, were
substantially as follows: A. L. Owen, proprietor of a sawmill in the town
of Lynn, on July 4th, had some words with one Joseph McCann, who was in
charge of a construction crew on the C. M. & St. P. extension from Lynn, his
brother C. W. McCann being the contractor. No blows were struck at that
time but the feud still existed and on Saturday last the parties met again
and at Shay & Daly's saloon. The quarrel began and Mr. Shay, after several
attempts to quell the row, finally ordered them off the premises. On the
steps of the saloon the row again opened and McCann, who it is stated had
not been drinking, struck Owen, who it is stated was intoxicated, a terrific
blow which knocked him off the steps and into the street and afterwards
jumped on him and kicked him. Mr. Shay, who was inside at the time, came
out and finding Owen lying on the ground, attempted to get him up when to
his horror he discovered he was dead. The body was taken into the building
and a messenger dispatched to Neillsville for a physician and officer, the
Lynn officers having neglected to act. In the meantime McCann secured a
conveyance and drove to this city where he took passage on the St. Paul
limited for some point not yet discovered. Deputy Sheriff Robert Campbell
followed but was about two hours too late to secure his man and up to this
time he is still at large, although Sheriff Page has a large force out and
is making a every effort to capture him. Mr. Owen was about 35 years of
age. He has a wife and one child. On Monday a
Coroners jury was empanelled consisting of Ernst Sternitzky, Henry
Sternitzky, Alonzo Brooks, John B. Mason, E. A. Buckler, and Valentine
Johnson with S. M. Marsh, Esq. officiating as Coroner. Dist. Attorney Jas.
O'Neill conducted the examination and Hon. T. F. Frawley of Eau Claire, was
present in behalf of C. W. McCann, brother of the accused. The following
is the verdict rendered by the jury: That the said
A. L. Owen came to his death at the town of Lynn, Clark county, and state of
Wisconsin, on the twenty-sixth day of July, 1890, by being knocked down and
kicked in the head dislocating his neck, by one Joseph McCann. Marshfield
Times Friday August 1, 1890 Page 1
McCann Gives Himself Up Joseph
McCann, who is charged with the killing of A. L. Owen, at Lynn on July
26th gave himself up at Neillsville on Wednesday of last week. Since
the date of the fight McCann has been in hiding in Eau Claire. One of
the conditions of his surrender is that he admitted to bail. Judge
Newman met the defendant and the attorneys in the case at Merrillan
Junction, Thursday last, and fixed the defendant's bail at $3,000, which
was readily procured, and McCann now has his freedom until December.
Although McCann is charged with murder in the first degree the testimony
taken at the coroner's inquest indicates that he is only guilty of some
degree of manslaughter, probably the first. An Eau
Claire Leader man interviewed Lal McCann with references to the
whereabouts of his brother Joe, and enquires into the alleged killing of
A. L. Owens at Neillsville last Saturday night and obtained this; "My
brother is not hid away, nor has he been hiding" remarked Contractor Lal
McCann to the Leader man yesterday. "Where is
he then?" "He is at
the farm visiting his wife and family." "Why has
Joe a wife? He is only 19 years of age." "He has a
wife for a fact, and a nice young lady she is, and what's more, Joe has
as fine a baby as there is in the country." "So then,
Joe does not seek to evade the officers of the law?" "No, sir,
if they want him they can soon find him." "Where?" "At work
at Lynn, superintending the construction of the Milwaukee, St. Paul
roads." "Joe then
feels satisfied that the killing of Al Owens cannot be laid at his
door?" "He had
no more to do with the killing than I did." "Did he
kick him?" "No sir,
he never kicked him." "How did
his neck come to be broken?" "That is
easily explained. Al Owens made a pass at Joe, Joe dodged and away went
Al head first, falling from the sidewalk a height of two feet, and
striking heavily on his head. He never stirred
after he struck just gasped twice and all was over, the man had broken
his neck."
Marshfield News Thursday August 7, 1890 Page
1 Joseph McCann,
charged with murdering A. L. Owens at Lynn, on the 26th, and who has
been in hiding at Eau Claire since the crime, gave himself up to
Sheriff Page at the Eau Claire depot last Wednesday night and was
brought to Neillsville. Tuesday he was taken before Judge Newman,
who met the prisoner and District Attorney O'Neill at Merrillan, and
boys for McCann's appearance at the December term of court, were
fixed at $3,000, and the bond being satisfactory the prisoner was
released. Marshfield Times August 15, 1890 © Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
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