Obit: Cramer, George (1895 - 1913)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Schmidt, Cramer

----Source: Stevens Point Journal (Stevens Point, Wis.) 30 Aug. 1913, p 1, c 7

Cramer, George (1895? - Aug. 1913)

The Deadly Set Gun

Now the set gun is getting in its deadly work George Cramer, aged eighteen, and a younger brother were riding on their bicycles in the town of Weston, Marathon County. Setting a large tree loaded with apples they entered the orchard and George picked an apple from the ground. In doing so he noticed a wire several inches from the ground. He took hold of it, gave it a slight pull and a gun was discharged. A heavy charge of shot struck him in one elbow and hp. The arm was paralyzed and the hip shattered to such an extent grave doubts of his recovery are entertained.

Of course the boys had no right to enter the orchard but the placing of a set gun is a much more serious offense than the stealing of apples. There are no circumstances that will justify the placing of a gun that way this one was placed.

William Schmidt, a farmer who is charged with having set the gun has been arrested.

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----Source: Grand Rapids Tribune (Grand Rapids, Wis.) 3 Sept. 1913, p 2, c 7

Wausau – George Cramer, aged eighteen, picked up a wire and discharged a set gun while in the orchard of William Schmitt, shattering his hip and paralyzing his left arm. Schmitt admits setting the gun for apple thieves. The district attorney will issued a warrant when the extent of Cramer’s injuries is learned.

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----Source: Stevens Point Journal (Stevens Point, Wis.) 22 Nov. 1913, p 7, c 3, 4

Thursday

William Schmidt, the Marathon County farmer who put a set gun in his orchard, and which was discharged, resulting in the death of George Cramer, a seventeen year old boy, had his preliminary examination at Wausau, and was bound over for trial in the circuit court. The charge against him is manslaughter.

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Source: Stevens Point Daily Journal (Stevens Point, Wis.) Tuesday, 24, Feb. 1914, p 1, c 5 

The Set Gun Case 

The trail of William Schmidt, who is charged with murdering George Cramer, is now in progress at Wausau. On August 14, 1913, George Cramer, aged eighteen years, entered the orchard of Schmidt in the town of Weston, Marathon County, and was shot and badly wounded by a gun alleged to have been set by Schmidt, who owned the orchard. The young man was treated at the Wausau Hospital and after he returned home complication developed and his death followed.