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Oconto Falls Herald Tribune
"FALLS WOMAN MURDERED JULY 4TH; JOSEPH LACOURT CONFESSED TO STABBING OF META WAGNER "
Joseph LaCourt, 28, confessed killer of Meta Wagner, Octonto Falls, Justice of the Peace, pleaded not guilty to a charge of first degree murder on Monday afternoon in circuit court in Oconto before Judge Arnold F. Murphy. He was represented by Bernard Bertrand of Green Bay.
The reason given for changing the plea from guilty to not guilty was that of insanity." [page 1 of July 11, 1957 paper]
Oconto Falls Herald Tribune
"META WAGNER LED A FULL AND USEFUL LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY
Meta Dolores Wagner was born Nov. 3, 1881 at Kewasum and came to Oconto Falls with her parents when a girl of nine. Her first work was at the Lipschultz store here after which she became the legal stenographer for the law firm of Lehner and Lehner, a position she held for 18 years. She was city clerk for two terms, vacating this post in 1932.
She was employed by the WPA in Green Bay for a time. For the past 14 years she had been Justice of the Peace, conducting the cases in her office-living room at the Wagner home on Main Street. She also conducted a tourist home, and did considerable tax and real estate work.
Survivors are a sister Della, Mrs. Ed Wolfram of Chute Lake, and two brothers, William R. of Royal Oaks, Michigan and Louis C. of Red Lake Ontario, Canada. Four brothers, Paul, Rudolph, Philip, and Fred and a sister Alma preceded her in death. Miss Wagner will be greatly missed and particularly in two settings: 1. at her typewriter in her office-living room; or 2. walking toward the Flats on the River. She did not remotely resemble a woman of her years. Her hair was dark as ever, her black eyes sparkled, she always was deeply tanned and her walk was sturdy. She worked hard all her life, and only in recent years was she persuaded to take a few trips which she enjoyed immensely." [page 1 of July 11, 1957 paper].
Submitted by Sue Lattin
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