Oscar Wissinger - Various Articles (Articles transcribed verbatim by Bob Wissinger)
Oscar Wissinger - Various Articles
(Articles transcribed verbatim by Bob Wissinger)
A Horrible Tragedy
(Probably The Daily Republican and Leader - La Crosse, Wisconsin, Dec 30,
1876)
Murder and Suicide In Our Midst.
The Morning's Work of Dastardly Assassin.
Very soon after nine o'clock this morning the denizens of Main street, above Fifth, were
startled by the report of firearms in the street, and in a few moments like wildfire, ran the intelligence that Oscar Wissinger had shot Dr. E. Chamberlain and then put a bullet through his own brain. Immediate investigation only too truly verified the rumor, and revealed the fact that both were lying desperately wounded and beyond all
earthly aid. Dr. Chamberlain died about an hour after the shooting, while Wissinger may linger for a day or two, but is in an unconscious condition.
As nearly as can be ascertained the facts of the case are as follows: Dr. Chamberlain was driving down Main street, and when opposite Tooler's saloon was approached by Wissinger, who presented a shot gun and, without a word, discharged the load of buckshot into the body of
Chamberlain the charge taking effect in the breast just above the heart. The Doctor drove up in front of
Runge's and getting out of the cutter said to Mr. Robinson, "He shot me" and immediately fell. His body was removed to the store O. H. Smith where he expired as above stated. In the meantime Wissenger crossed the street, threw the gun into the alley and drawing a pistol, shot himself -- the ball entering under the left eye and coming out above the right ear -- and fell in his tracks, from where he was taken into the store and placed by the side of his victim. Medical aid was instantly summoned, but proved of no avail as an examination showed that both men were wounded to death.
There is no definitely known cause for the shooting, but is it said that six months ago Wissenger threatened to do the deed which he this
morning accomplished in a cowardly and dastardly manner. While a thousand rumors afloat, it is now probable that none but the two immediately concerned in the terrible tragedy were parties to any knowledge which might account for the committing of the brutal act.
Wissinger
(Probably The Daily Republican and Leader - La Crosse, Wisconsin,
Jan, 1877)
From information deemed reliable, it is safe to say that Oscar Wissinger is in no danger of dying from the effects of his self-inflicted wound. We learn that he is able to sit up and converse with those who are admitted to his presence; that he reads the papers, and partakes with a hearty relish of the food set before him. Several times a representative of this paper presented himself at the County Jail and asked permission to see Wissinger for the purpose of taking from his lips his story of the causes which led him to shoot Dr. Chamberlain, but each time was refused. While we have no desire to prejudice the public mind in this matter, or cause any outbursts of popular indignation in regard thereto, it is only fair that all should know that the statements made with a view to carry the idea that Wissinger is momentarily expected to die, are not well founded in truth, and that the man today is rapidly recovering.
Wissinger
(The Daily Republican and Leader - La Crosse, Wisconsin,
Jan, 1877)
A Republican-Leader Reporter Paid Him A Visit But he Declined to Talk.
At four o'clock yesterday afternoon a representative of this paper, in company with Dr. Reed and Judge James I. Lyndes, called upon Oscar Wissinger, in his cell in the County Jail. Upon entering we found Mr. Wissinger sitting in a chair with his feet resting on the bed. His head was encircled with a bandage, and with the exception of considerable paleness and emaciation his appearance was not much changed. After being seated our reporter stated to Mr. Wissinger that it was understood that he was desirous of making a statement in regard to the matters of difference between him and Dr. Chamberlain, and told him that any statement he wished to make would be published word for word as he made it. Judge Lyndes then advised Wissinger, as his lawyer, not to make any statement, for the reason that it would be of no advantage to him and might work to his disadvantage. Mr. Wissinger then said that he was taking the medicine prescribed by his physician and he should take the advice of his lawyer; but he desired to say that he had been grossly misrepresented, and that when the time came for him to make known to the public the causes which actuated him to shoot Dr. Chamberlain be would present the matter in a light which would satisfy all fair-minded men that he had not acted without cause. Mr. Wissinger said he had no further remarks to make, and thanked the reporter for his offer to publish his defense. Mr. Wissenger suffers considerable pain in his entire left side, and his left leg twitches as if troubled with St. Vitus' Dance. The right lobe of the brain is the one penetrated by the ball. Wissenger said that two of his children had been to see him, but his wife had not. He further said that the strangest thing to him was the fact that he had not heard from his father. This seemed to trouble him greatly.
The Wissinger Trial
(The Daily Republican and Leader - La Crosse, Wisconsin, March 27,
1878)
The testimony in the Wissinger trial closed yesterday forenoon, and Mr. Vilas began his argument for the people, the most of which we print on our second page. Opinion is divided among the La Crosse citizens who attended the trial at Baraboo as to the probable verdict of the soft hearted jury by which he has been tried. The people of Baraboo have discovered redeeming traits in the character of the defendant never seen in La Crosse where
he is well and intimately known, and have carried their blubbering sympathy in the Court room where it has been lavished upon the jury from day to day. This continual exhibition of active sympathy by the Baraboo public, it is feared, will turn the heads of the jurors, and that a light verdict may follow. A few who have watched the jury clearly have gone so far as to predict that Wissinger will be allowed to go scott free, on account of the impression which appears to have taken root in Baraboo that he has suffered for seven years the agony that a sensitive man would experience who knew that his wife was being periodically debauched. How well the State; through her attorneys, will succeed in removing that
ridiculous delusion from the minds of the jurors, we do not know. We know that she is represented by able, earnest and eloquent men, and that they will use every honorable means at their command to convict Wissinger, as there is no question about his guilt. The gentlemen representing the prisoner, conscious of the guilt of their client, cannot work for him with the same heart and zeal that they could for one whom they were positive was falsely accused; but they are able and high-minded gentlemen, and will earn their money by clearing Wissinger, if they can.
The evidence is positive against Wissinger, and shows that his trouble was the result of a morbid imagination which he has failed to establish was the product of an insane mind; and if he be acquitted sympathy will do it. He murdered Doctor Chamberlain in cold blood in lieu of one thousand dollars which the victim of his terrible hate refused to pay as the price of his life. If Wissinger should not be compelled to spend the remaining years of his life in the penitentiary, the twelve men who tried him will be morally answerable for permitting so dangerous, brutal and blood thirsty a man to escape the penalty he so richly deserves.
In La Crosse, Wissinger is universally excernted; in Baraboo he is universally worshipped. The people of La Crosse cannot, by their presence and their tears, hardened their
undiminished love for their murdered friend, within view of the jury, which the people of Baraboo can, and do daily show their sympathy for the blood stained culprit who is awaiting the verdict of the twelve good men who are either to outrage law and justice or make an example of the prisoner. We cannot say what they will do, but we advise our readers to be prepared for the worst.
Wissinger Acquittal
(Probably The Daily Republican and Leader - La Crosse, Wisconsin,
March-April 1878)
Although our people were partially prepared for the shocking
intelligence which reached this city that night announcing the acquittal of the assassin
Wissinger, the information that he had been released upon the flimsy plea of insanity, has aroused a sentiment as strong against the murderer as that which prevailed on the day the terrible deed was committed. Our people had been warned to be prepared for a verdict of acquittal; they had been advised of the acts of slobbering women who thronged the Court room every day to comfort the prisoner with their tears; they had been advised that the defense would present a case
skillfully prepared; but notwithstanding they were thus warned, they could not think so meanly of a Sauk county jury as to believe that Wissinger, his hands still red with the innocent blood of his unoffending victim, would be permitted to go unpunished. Today they are realizing that a jury sitting under the influence of a crowd of women whose water-soaked heads find easy relief through their
covetous eyes, is more liable to outrage society, justice and, humanity that to act like honest men. Our people feel not only indignant, but hurt; and unjust though it may be the twelve men who hastened to return a verdict of not guilty last night, would fare poorly at the hands of the masses if they were in La Crosse to-day. The plea of insanity was the merest subterfuge; --an invention of a legal mind for the use of a jury of the kind and character which tried Oscar Wissinger, and it was eagerly adopted by the twelve mockers of justice who reside in Suak. It is a verdict which will re-establish the ancient doctrine of total depravity -- among jurors
-- and go toward reviving the barbarous practice of lynching those who murder for fame or revenge.
It was not until we had confirmed The Liberal Democrat's incredible report, by issuing and distributing an extra, that the community would believe that the man who, on the 30th of December, 1876, in cold blood, in open daylight, on a public
thoroughfare, shot and killed Doctor Chamberlain, was pronounced innocent of the crime of murder by a jury of respectable and sane men. They realize it now, however, and if they were permitted to act as they feel, we fear the acquitted
assassin would not long remain in the enjoyment of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But they will not have an opportunity of
satisfying what they believe to be the demands of justice at present, for the escaped here of the ladies of Baraboo left that village today for Springfield, Ohio, where it is to be hoped he will remain in charge of friends acquainted with his rational and irrational symptoms. Wissinger is free, justice is not done, and the water-logged women of Baraboo are happy.
Oscar Wissinger -
Uxorcide and Suicide
(Springfield Weekly Republic - Springfield, Ohio, Tuesday, July 14, 1892, Vol. 78, No. 20)
JEALOUSY...........A DOUBLE HORROR!
Oscar Wissinger, Crazed by a Groundless Jealously, Kills His Divorced Wife and Commits
Suicide.
------------
CRIMES CARNIVAL
A double tragedy - an uxorcide and a suicide - the most appalling crimes, with perhaps the exception of the terrible Drumm affair, that has startled Springfield for many years - occurred at ten minutes before 10 o'clock Saturday night at 26 West Mulberry street. Oscar Wissinger fired two balls into the body of his divorced wife, and as she fell, sent a bullet crashing into his own jealousy-crazed brain. In both cases death was almost instantaneous.
THE TRAGEDY
The Full Details of the Awful Shocking, Double Crime.
Police and reporters have been unable to ascertain when Oscar Wissinger came to Springfield Saturday, but the most probable theory is that he arrived here at 8:20 on the Big Four train from Indianapolis, where he had been since early last winter. Since that time his wife had secured a divorce from him, and the family consisting of herself and four boys at home, moved from East Pleasant
street, near Gallagher, to the double brick house at 26 West Mulberry street.
THE FIRST TRACE that has been found of Wissinger's movements, Saturday night, is that he appeared at the residence of James A. Rhine, 113 Gallagher street, about 9 o'clock, and inquired: "Where have the Wissingers moved to?" Mrs. Rhine and her daughter, Jessie, were alone in the house. The mother in the dim light did not recognize the man, but, fearing it might be Wissinger beat on mischief hesitated to answer his question. The daughter, however, thinking her mother had forgotten, gave the information desired, and Wissinger departed. Miss Jessie recognized him at once.
From there Wissinger went to Mulberry street, but evidently mistook the direction, for he stopped at Engineer Collins' residence, 23 West Mulberry street and made further
inquires. Crossing the street, he ENTERED HIS WIFE'S RESIDENCE by the back door. Charlie, aged 11, next to the youngest son, was seated alone in the kitchen. Mrs. Wissinger was upstairs preparing the beds for the night.
After speaking to the little boy, and inquiring where Mrs. Wissinger was, the husband went up stairs and entered the west room, where his wife was. Charlie
THOROUGHLY FRIGHTENED (for he knew full well, from sad experience, that there would be trouble), sat crying on the stairs. Almost immediately Frank, aged 16,
entered the kitchen. On learning that his father was at home, he started at once for a police officer. Down town he met his older brother Will, aged 19, and together they returned to the house. In the meantime, the little fellow seated on the steps heard his father say, "Now this must settle this." Again, he said"
"YOU MUST DIE -- both of us." He could hear his mother's pleading tones in reply, but could not understand what she said. When the two brothers entered the house, the older, Will, picked up a small toy cannon, to use as a club, and started up stairs. The father and mother in the meantime had gone into the front room, which was without light. Hearing Will on the stairs, followed by his little brothers, the father came out of the room, and, standing on the upper landing, pointed a revolver at his son, threatening to
BLOW OUT HIS BRAINS if did he not go down stairs. The boy stepped back, Wissinger turned into the room, knocked his Wife down and then fired two shots in rapid succession, and an instant later a third. The boys rushed from the house with terrified cried of,
"FATHER HAS SHOT MOTHER!" and at lightning speed ran down town, startling the whole neighborhood with their screams.
Dr. Hulick, Judge John C. Miller, Dr. H. H. Seys, and Dr. Driscol, a guest at the Smith residence, were in the house in less than three minutes after the shots were fired. They bravely rushed up stairs regardless of the fact that an insanely
DESPERATE MAN might be awaiting them with a still smoking revolver. But they found instead two bodies, from which the last traces of life were fast going. The woman gasped once or twice, and a feeble pulse was still discernible in the man, but in a few minutes they
were still and lifeless. The room was filed with smoke.
Mrs. Wissinger was lying just inside and to the right of the door, with her head to the west. Blood was gushing from her nose and mouth, and her
GOWN AT THE BREAST WAS BLAZING, having ignited from the flash of the weapon, which had evidently been held very close to her heart when the shot was fired.
Wissinger lay directly in front of the door, between it and a bureau, his head resting on the base-board, where it struck when he fell. Blood and brain matter was gushing from a ghastly Wound in his skull, and collected in a pool under him. The wall was freely spattered with blood.
The weapon lay at Wissinger's side. It was a 6-chamber, 38-calibre, self-acting revolver. Three chambers were empty. Wissinger had removed his hat and coat and laid them on one of the beds in the room.
The Wounds
The boys had summoned Night Chief McKenna and several officers and Coroner Austin was sent for at once. Dr. Seys, Dr. Bryant and Dr. Hunt assisted the coroner in locating the wounds.
A bullet wound was found in the woman's breast, two inches above the left nipple, the bullet evidently had passed through the heart. A second wound was found in the left side, between the floating ribs and the crest of the hip. The bullet had passed through the body and was lodged under the skin on the opposite side, and was cut out by the coroner. Either wound was necessarily almost instantly fatal. There was no wound in her head, the blood that bathed her face in such profusion having gushed from the mouth.
Wissinger's wound was half way between the top of the head and the right ear.
LETTERS AND OTHER EFFECTS|
Found in the Dead Man's Clothing After the Shooting
In the dead man's pockets were found four silver dollars, a half dozen cartridges, a few little trinkets, his working card and several letters.
One letter was from Mrs. Mattie Jones, of South Spring street, this city, expressing no fear of Wissinger's threats to kill her and saying that she had tried to get Mrs. Wissinger not to apply for a divorce.
There were several letters from the dead man's son, Oscar, of Milwaukee, Oregon. One of them, under the date of March 8, 1892, said: "Mother was a little hasty in applying for divorce. I have written to her concerning it and expect her to withdraw it."
The most interesting letter follows, being to the dead man from his daughter Letitia: "Springfield, O., January 16, 1892. No, we will not accept any money. All we ask of you is to pay your book debts." Beneath this was written with a lead pencil in Wissinger's hand-writing: "All right, I shall remember this. Goodbye. O. Wissinger." And below this evidently also written by Wissinger was: "Oh, my God, what is to become of Henry, Charley and Frank. God only knows. You will all hear from me for this unkind treatment. Homeless and friendless, I wish I were dead. This is past all endurance."
The Family
The murderer is well known in this city, having been born and raised here, the son of the late Daniel Wissinger and a half-brother of George and Charlie Wissinger and a full brother of John Wissinger, all of this city. Wissinger himself was a tinner by trade. Mrs. Wissinger's maiden name was Sarah Jane Bucklais [sic Brockliss]; she was born in London, England. Wissinger married her in La Crosse, Wis., in 1859. He was in his 56th year, and the wife was 50. They had nine children: the four youngest boys, Harry 9, Charlie 11, Frank 16, Will 19, being at home. Will works at the Thomas Manufacturing Company's; two daughters, Letitia and Julia, were away selling medicine, being in Pittsburg last week; George and Oscar are in Portland, Oregon, and a married daughter, Mrs. Ellen McRoberts, is in McKenzie, Tenn.
Former Troubles
No man who knew Oscar Wissinger can reasonably doubt that, on one subject at least he was insane. For sixteen years he has regarded his wife with foulest suspicion, and has made against her the blackest charges, and all without a shadow of foundation. Until April the family had resided on East Pleasant street, near Gallagher, where time and again the police were called to quiet the man. Neighbors were frequently compelled to rush in and protect the woman, although with all his threats he never had done violence, until his foul deed of Saturday night. Mrs. Wissinger told neighbors that he always slept with a revolver and a RAZOR AT HIS SIDE and on many occasions she was awakened with the revolver at her head or the razor at her throat. He was in the habit of sneaking about the alley and streets in the vicinity of his residence, constantly watching for someone. The men with whom he would connect the name of his wife, were often entirely unknown to her. The last few months they were together he seemed, for some unaccountable reason, to regard men from Liberty street with especial distrust, and nearly every citizen of that thoroughfare was accused of intimacy, with the broken-hearted woman. His condition had seemed MUCH WORSE since an attack of the grip eighteen months ago, Last fall he turned on the gas while the family was asleep, in an attempt to suffocate them all.
A Divorce
The general impression has been that Mrs. Wissinger was divorced from her husband. A decree of divorce was granted her on grounds of extreme cruelty on March 28, 1892, but a decree of divorce does not take effect until the costs are paid, which was never done in this case.
Wissinger had been in Indianapolis several months when the divorce was granted, and wrote his wife concerning it, expressing regret. He had not been home since, until Saturday.
HIS FORMER CRIME
Wissinger Coolly Murdered a Doctor Sixteen Years ago.
Wissinger's act Saturday night, was not his first, terrible crime. Sixteen years ago he killed Dr. Chamberlain in La Crosse, Wis., where he was then residing. A La Crosse special to the Chicago Times last February says: "Dr. Chamberlain was one of the most prominent physicians of La Crosse. On December 24, 1876, as he was driving down Main street in a cutter, Wissinger, standing on the corner, pulled up a double-barrel shotgun and let the doctor have the contents of both barrels, killing him instantly. Wissinger then drew a revolver and put a bullet in his own brain, but the would did not prove fatal, and he stood trial. He claimed in court that the physician had been improperly intimate with Mrs. Wissinger, but there was not the
slightest evidence to sustain the charge. While on trial Wissinger was MADE A HERO of by women of the place, who petted him and admired him, and sent him flowers. Sympathy was aroused for the prisoner, and the result was he was acquitted. A La Crosse
newspaper man, R. F. Howard, who roundly scored the women and the jury, narrowly escaped lynching at the hands of a mob."
To people in Springfield Mrs. Wissinger had said that she didn't even know Dr. Chamberlain. The
acquittal was on the grounds of insanity, but the trial, it is said, cost the family about $5,000. After the affair was over the family returned to this city, where they have since resided, excepting a short time at Urbana.
The Excitement
The report of the tragedy quickly spread in the immediate neighborhood, and soon the house was quickly surrounded by hundreds in intense excitement, and the officers had considerable difficulty in keeping the crowd back.
The poor children were besides themselves. Officer Marshall says, when he entered the room with Will, the oldest boy at home, after the killing, the young fellow, in his intense excitement, kicked his father's corpse, entirely unconscious of what he was doing.
Officers Lawless and Gregory were detailed to remain at the house all night. An officer was kept on duty all day yesterday, keeping out of the yard the hundreds of morbid
CURIOSITY-SEEKERS that visited the place. The two younger boys were taken care of Saturday night by Mrs.
L. F. Dieter. Yesterday, they were taken to their Uncle Charlies' residence.
Murderer of Dr. Eli Chamberlain In 1876 Freed On Insanity Plea
(Daily Republican and Leader - La Crosse, Wisconsin, March 15,
1936)
Editor's Note: This is the second of a series of stories of murders committed in and about La Crosse, and concerns that period in La Crosse history from 1852 to 1877.
Murder -- a word that has a frightful sound whenever one might happen to hear it was more than frightening to the citizens of the little city of La Crosse on that morning hour of Dec. 20, 1876, when word was passed quickly from person to person that Dr. Eli Chamberlain lay dead with his body full of shotgun slugs from as assassin's gun.
Dr. Chamberlain was well liked in the small community. He was a popular figure in the social as well as the business and professional life of the town. He had been engaged in the lumber business here for a number of years in addition to his medical
practice.
While the business life of the community was halted for the time that morning by the gruesome killing people began to gather in small knots to discuss the
tragedy and speculate as to its outcome.
Wissinger Is Killer
The killer, Oscar Wissinger, a former city policeman, was even then being attended by another physician. For, after shooting the doctor, Wissinger had dropped the murder weapon and snatched a revolver from his pocket and fired a ball into his own brain.
History of the murders committed in La Crosse in the years since the foundation of the city might be said to begin with this killing. Police records were not kept until 1870, and in the first six years after Chief Tenney instituted a permanent
record system the first murder to be noted was that of the doctor.
History records only one other wanton killing of any importance in the years between 1852, when the first murder was committed, and 1870. The story of that incident is related in the History of Northern
Wisconsin, a book published in 1881 by The Western Historical company of Chicago.
In July, 1857, an unknown boy landed at La Crosse. He secured a house and visited the country near the city. When paying for the hire of the horse he was observed by a man named William John to possess a considerable sum of money.
Boy Is Murdered
The boy disappeared, and some two weeks afterward his naked body was recovered from the Mississippi river with marks plainly showing that he came to his death by violence.
About the same time the jewelry store of A. Patz was robbed of merchandise worth $8,000 and money amounting to $800. A short time later an Albert Marlow was arrested for setting fire to a local butcher's barn. He jumped his bail and absconded. In time his wife became reduced to want and pawned some of the jewelry taken from the Patz store.
She and an August Kerchner with whom she was living were arrested when $1,000 worth of the jewelry and the clothing of the young man were found in her house. Marlow was apprehended at Council Bluffs, Ia. Charles Reisner, another accomplice was arrested at Peoria with $2,000 worth of stolen goods on him. John, however, escaped from his guards on a steamer on the Missouri river, and plunged overboard. He was believed to have been drowned, but in a confession made in court Marlow asserted John was still alive. The history relates that three of the group were brought to justice, but tells only of a three-year sentence given Marlow.
A Murder Hoax
Perhaps one of the greatest murder scares the community ever had was one involving a man named A. Leland. On a day in May, 1858, La Crosse was thrown into an uproar when one of the settlers of Lewis valley arrived in the city and told of Leland being found at the foot of the ridge leading into the valley. He had apparently been mistreated and his pockets and bag had been rifled and opened.
More than 100 La Crosse men searched the community and countryside for a man wearing a red or blue flannel shirt. Leland was attended by a doctor, but evident return to consciousness was
accompanied by so much low comedy than an investigation was instituted and it was proved that Leland had never been attacked or beaten. His wounds were self-inflicted and he was declared a fraud.
So, glossing over these early years of which little or nothing is known, the scene again shifts ahead to that Saturday morning, Dec. 30, 1876, when La Crosse faced the
ghastly spectacle of a murder on its principal business street.
Dr. Chamberlain was killed by Wissinger after being accused of having improper relations with Wissinger's wife. It was later proved that Wissinger had brooded over this imagined trouble for more than six months. He had first accused his wife in June of 1858, and had beaten her into submission so that when he took her before County Judge James I. Lyndes she admitted Wissinger's claim. She afterward told that she feared for her life.
Wanted Legal Action
Wissinger desired to start action against Chamberlain and had visited not only Judge Lyndes, but J. W. Losey, another prominent attorney, seeking advice. He was supposed to have met Chamberlain six months earlier at Howard's drug store and demanded $1,000 by the following morning, threatening the doctor with death if the money was not paid.
On the morning in question Wissinger waited in the Boston market, probably well remembered by some of the older citizens as being located where Mel Hoff's White
Way grocery is now situated, at the alley between Fifth avenue and Sixth street on Main street.
At about 9 o'clock, Dr. Chamberlain came down Main street in his cutter, and as he neared the Boston market Wissinger came out and ordered him to halt. At the same time he whipped out a shotgun he had borrowed a few weeks earlier from Orrin L. Smith, in David Laws' office. He leveled it at the doctor and shot him.
The doctor gasped, :My God, he has shot me,: and fell to the street. His body was half on the walk and half in the street. Wissinger whirled about, took a few steps as if looking for someone else, and dropped the shotgun. He pulled a revolver from his pocket, put it to his forehead, and shot
himself
Threatened Police Chief
It was also learned in the investigation that followed that Dr. Chamberlain had reported Wissinger's threats to Chief of Police Frank Hatch, and that Wissinger on hearing of it said that he would kill Hatch with the same gun he used for Chamberlain.
It was believed that Wissinger looked about for Hatch after shooting Chamberlain, for the chief had been seen to go into Runge's store a short distance away but a few minutes before the slaying. The killer evidently did not see Hatch come out of the store and return
toward the police station, a block west on Main street. Hatch had _______ the station when he heard
the shots and hurried back.
Both Chamberlain and Wissinger were conveyed into O. H. Smith's store nearby, and there a few moments later the doctor breathed has last. A messenger was sent to the ex-policeman's home to inform his wife of the tragedy, and she requested that he not be brought home. He was taken to Alex Whalen's and on Sunday evening he was removed to the county jail.
At the jail Wissinger's life hung in the balance for several days. Dr. C. L. Reed attended him. In time, however, he improved, and when time came for his court appearance he asked for a change of venue and got it.
Bullet In His Brain
All efforts to probe and secure the ball that penetrated Wissinger's brain proved futile, and when he went to trial a blue scare marked the spot on his forehead where the bullet entered.
Judge Alva Stewart presided over the Baraboo court, and Attorney J. W. Losey of La Crosse and Attorney Vilas of Madison assisted District Attorney Benjamin F. Bryant in the prosecution. Defense attorneys were G. B. Smith of Madison, Morrow of Sparta, and Lusk of Reedsburg.
Eyewitnesses to the shooting told of their recollections of the affair, and others made statements regarding Wissinger's threats. The defense attempted to prove by its witnesses that Wissinger had been irrational for some time preceding the killing and in conclusion had Dr. Boughton, superintendent of the state insane asylum at Mendota, testify that Wissinger was evidently not mentally sound at the time of the shooting.
Four solid days were devoted to the trials and 10 state witnesses and 20 defense witnesses were called. And, after a two-year struggle to find him guilty, he was acquitted because of temporary insanity and returned to his original home in Springfield, Ohio.
Wissinger lived on Fifth street, north of State street, while
Dr. Chamberlain lived at Eleventh and Main streets. His home fronted on Main
street.
Other Oscar Wissinger Newspaper Articles
