News: Clark County (Murder Conspiracy Trial 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Brennan, North, Jacobson, Zwieg, McMahon, Gross, Ziegler

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (07 October 1983)

NEILLSVILLE -- A Willard man was bound over Thursday for Trial in Clark County Circuit Court on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.

Judge Michael Brennan order that Marvin O. North, 36, be bound over for trial following a preliminary hearing. No trial was set. He is accused of conspiring to kill his estranged wife, Eldray.

Arthur J. Jacobson, 48, Stoughton, testified during the hearing that he, North, and North's sister had discussed killing North's wife. The couple is now divorced, and that steps were taken to bring about Mrs. North's death. The murder, however, never occurred.

According to Jacobson's testimony, the conspiracy began in early December 1981 when he and North's rural Willard farm. Mrs. North was seeking a divorce from her husband and Jacobson said he and Helen, his former girlfriend, often traveled to Willard to help with chores.

During one weekend visit, North discussed the divorce and a pending court proceeding. Jacobson recalled that North was angry because his wife was expected to receive a $32,000 divorce settlement.

During that discussion, Jacobson recalled saying "Things like that can be taken care of."

He said Mrs. North could be the victim of an "accident" such as a car accident, robbery or fire.

Prior to the preliminary hearing, Jacobson made an initial appearance on a murder conspiracy charge. He was transported to Neillsville from Dane County Jail, Madison, where he is awaiting sentencing for the second-degree murder of Helen North in January.

Jacobson testified that soon after talking with North and Helen, he contracted an acquaintance, Richard McMahon, and talked to him about killing Mrs. North.

"Well, he always said that anytime anything needed to be taken care of, just ask him," Jacobson said. "I just asked him to do a job."

Clark County District Attorney Darwin Zwieg asked what he expected to happen to Mrs. North as part of the arrangement with McMahon.

"I suppose that she would have been killed," Jacobson replied.

McMahon said it would cost $5,000 to kill Mrs. North. Jacobson; $3,000 up front and $2,000 to be paid after the murder was completed, Jacobson said. The initial funds came from North's mother who, according to the criminal complaint, was contracted by North who said he needed the money to cover lawyer's fee from the divorce. Jacobson took North's mother, Oline, to a Stoughton bank where she withdrew $3,000 and gave the money to him, supposedly to deliver to North.

Jacobson said he took the money to a Stoughton parking lot and gave it to McMahon. Jacobson said he didn't know why the murder wasn't completed or what McMahon did with the $3,000.

According to the complaint, McMahon did travel to Clark County and visited Jake Barr's Tavern near Greenwood where Mrs. North worked. When he returned to Stoughton he allegedly told Jacobson that Mrs. North's boyfriend was often at the tavern and that he "may have to blow away someone along with her..." McMahon said he planned to make robbery appear as the motive for the murder.

McMahon is serving a sentence in a federal prison in Minnesota for counterfeiting.

When questioned by North's attorney, Gregg Gross of Spencer, Jacobson said participants were "pretty well intoxicated" when the alleged conspiracy was first discussed in December 1981. When asked to give dates or locations of various incidents and meetings, Jacobson said he couldn't remember.

Gross attempted to show that Jacobson may have borrowed the money from Olene North for his personal use, without North's knowledge. The questioning was halted, however, by Zwieg and Brennan. A preliminary hearing,, Brennan said, is held to determine whether there is "probable cause" that the defendant committed the crime and should be bound over for trial. Questions to determine the motives or backgrounds of a witness like Jacobson were not appropriate, he ruled.

The only other witness at the hearing, Dane County sheriff's investigator Melvin Ziegler, said he learned of the conspiracy in early August while questioning Jacobson. He said he came to Clark County September 27 and went to North's farm with two Clark County investigators where the suspect was arrested following interrogation.

North is free on a $30,000 property bond. Additional court proceedings have not been Scheduled. a preliminary hearing for Jacobson also has not been set.

North and Jacobson face maximum sentences of 20 years imprisonment.

 

 


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