Wanner, Anton "Tony" (Died 1891)

WANNER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/21/2008 at 19:17:49

LeMars Sentinel
November 27, 1891

HIS SKULL BROKEN

A Struble Saloon Keeper Brained with a Punch.
His Assailant in Jail at LeMars
Particulars of the Tragedy-Hayden McFarland Fatally Wounds Tony Wanner.
Wanner Dying Makes His Will.

"Murder at Struble," was the word received at LeMars Wednesday night. "Tony
Wanner killed by Hayden McFarland."

McFarland went into Wanner's saloon early in the afternoon of Wednesday.
Wanner immediately drove him out and threaten to pound him. Particulars
about the quarrel are contradictory and confusing, but as near as can be
ascertained it appears that Wanner wanted to drive the boy out of town and
followed him around considerable during the afternoon, running against him,
and using threatening language. They had several little quarrels on the
street, Wanner having left his saloon. About six o'clock an older brother
of McFarland told Wanner to leave the boy alone. About this time the
quarrel became hot and McFarland's friends claim that Wanner took up a heavy
nine pound mason's hammer to strike with it. Hayden McFarland at this time
STRUCK WANNER on the side of the head with a heavy blacksmith's punch about
as large as the kingbolt of a wagon. Wanner fell senseless on the sidewalk
and his brains oozed out through a hole in his skull above his ear. He laid
there for a short time pleading and senseless, but was soon taken out and
cared for. McFarland went home in a short time to his father's house.

Drs. Wilson of Maurice, and Richey of LeMars, were summoned to attend the
wounded man. Sheriff Boyle was notified and promptly went to Struble. He
found McFarland in bed, at home, and brought him over to LeMars and lodged
him in jail before 10 o'clock that night. The general opinion seems to be
that McFarland did not intend to kill Wanner but that he did intend to knock
him down and hurt him badly.

McFarland is in jail, and of course will not be granted bail. He has
employed T.M. Zink to defend him. Wanner is still alive but cannot live
long.

Struble is a tough little village, about 8 miles northwest of LeMars and has
had two saloons running in full blast for a long time. They have been an
intolerable nuisance to the community, and a few days ago, young McFarland
complained against one of them. This is supposed to be the reason why
Wanner was angry at McFarland.

The injured man, Tony Wanner, is a typical saloon keeper having been in the
business for several years. He started in at Remsen a few years ago and
became worth several thousand dollars. He then went to Dakota and operated
two saloons, drove a splendid team and was quite a man in his way while his
money held out. Later he started a saloon at Akron and was one of the
parties prosecuted there last spring. He lived there at the time of the
incendiary troubles last spring, when several fires were started after the
closing of those saloons. Wanner, however, was in Sioux City on the night
of the fire and was never proved guilty of complicity in the incendiaryism.
He this summer made arrangements to start a saloon at Kingsley and had a
building or rented, but did not find the Kingsley atmosphere good for the
health of the business. By this time he was dead broke again and some
friend loaned him a few dollars to start a saloon at James. He built a
little shanty there on credit, got on a spree and blew in his capital.
About two weeks ago he began tending bar at Struble, running the saloon on
shares. He was not usually quarrelsome when sober, but was of a low order
of intelligence. He was about 35 years old and has a wife and two children.
Wanner has no property, but expects to receive some from the old country. He
made his Will last night, and is rational, at times, but there is no hope of
his recovery.

The Prisoner.

Hayden McFarland, they young man who struck Wanner, is the son of Mr. Ruben
McFarland, a wealthy farmer of Grant township. The family came here from
Illinois a few years ago and have always stood high as peaceable citizens.
Hayden is 20 years of age and not in the habit of getting drunk or fighting.
He claims that the blow was struck in self-defense, and appears to be
certain of acquittal. The family is nearly distracted at the sad
occurrence.

Latest Report.

At noon today Wanner was resting easier. There is a hole in the side of his
head over an inch square through which his brains protrude and a small
portion has sloughed off. Dr. Ritchey is attending him and Dr. Hackett has
been employed by the McFarlands to assist.
==================================
Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, Friday, December 11, 1891, page 4, column 2

Wanner Buried. The corpse of Tony Wanner was brought to Le Mars Tuesday and a post mortem examination held. The funeral was held Wednesday. The body was interred at the Le Mars cemetery. Rev. J. E. Snowden officiating at the grave.
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Death Record Plymouth County, Iowa, Courthouse
Book #1
Name: Wanner, Anton
Male
Married
Saloon Keeper
Date of birth: Born Germany
Nativity: German
Res IA: 10 years
Date of death: 08 Dec 1891, Struble, IA
Age at death: 28 years
Buried: 09 Dec 1891, LeMars, IA
Courthouse Record: Page 80