The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-07-28
Awful Crime-.i ieDdish Cruelty.
MACKlNAc Iuue 1913

send you the result Of preliminary examinalio
had at GRAND Traverse, "a newly organized county
iorinery attached Michilimack kinac, for JUDICIAL
purposes, IN the matter Of the people against .. Z.
tiushson, charged with murder, rape and assaults
without number. The annals Of crime have rarely
pcs"ntea more coi-boodeo and vindictve series ul
atrorites; and were the direct evidences amply
corroboratcd by such an array Of damninI circu.I-
stances, might doubt IT the revolving narrative
coad ind even foundation in fact. IL appears that
Huyhson had formerly been Il teacher of the coumon
SCHOOLS at Mackinac, but by various tyIannes and
an occasional Oubse seak oi less brutality, had
so far estTanged his patrons and excited the indsna-
non OF the community, that he had found il
cut to change the OF hts educational labors.
For ths purpose, ne selected Grand Traverse, on
Lake Michigan, " re his conduct might be less open
10 scrutiny condein..a ion. Amongst oihe,s, his
own sister had eit three Young children to be buustd
aud ilstu'ted by this unuatu al ielailve. For months
lis apl cai' by the testimony oi witnesses, he had
tu.stod s,scm Oi ,ulh,css cruelty towards these
nnolendIng M ie ones, l., staIy yation tu,nlngs. ana
other cha>tssenents oi tne az avaeu desc ip-
ton. For days he would iu nsh th".n with AN ear
of corn to be eaeu from tbs cob The swI,; and
after da, 5 labor he would og and biuis. their bo-
dies to and digestion, and then send them shverns
and supperess TO their beds. Thus these unio Ia
mates became objects If public attention and
commiseratIOn. Their features pale and WIN, their
frames dwarted and attenuated their looks aud ges-
mystery that few weeks was doomed to unrave.
Suddenly oi the children, lad of about G .ht
year, died and Was buried. The viilagcis suspect
ing iou play, pointed committee If .nve>ti2ation,
and removed the other children ON his Gaze.
The history o! their uleAanlied suie.ings Was
bought to h,ht. UaaWed by ,ne inI,edia
presence oi their tJinientur, aud his threats Of
crie!es au.' DEATH they told Of long nights ot bitt,
cold aud da, kness, al hiwS, kicks, inches and b
e., OF roasting on the back, hs, and under tue
pits; and OF the g.rtwIss OF hunger, aim st
ing their wretched iIves. The, exhibited their eu;s-
ciated bodies, scorchei and excoria,ed, in proof oi
their statements, and spoke If their little bother
the gave who had only escaped further cluclties in
death. lIu, had remained III the time,
Grand Traverse, stunned and fnrsakcn bat ey Ideny
suspicious and alai med. lie ven,ucd upon the
desperate experiment IF inviting meeting Of The
citizens inquire INTO his conduct and listen TO his
explanations. But his atfronery could abide the
test. In tc evening of that day he suddenly tisap-
pearca, carrying with him pos ot s!aughte,
hog, which he had killed with an axe; and in thls
plight he started M mid-winler 10 accomplish oul-
noy Of hundred miles through and liyets
and unIamed ioresIs
His next appearance in company with office,
Tyler, OF Dcroii, who brought him IN irons to Mack.
about the cnd of May >t and cventual, lUG!c !cd
him with the Sheriff Of Grand Traverse county.
After tlu.hso escape from the latter place, III,
body OF the murdered box was eXhumcd a it, of in
quest SUMMONED, and careful post mOrtem eNamIna
tiUn held. Ii ieSulted IN exhibition Of the still u
tainted body, fshtully bruised and biackcned with
kicks and blows, and III verdict, from the opinion
Of skilltu ply s,cian, that death had undoubcdI,
been occasioned 10y cruel treatment, long continued
divers severe b,uises Inflicted lew hours before
death.
s. ended the tragedy, at least Gcr the present
Hug hsou sister, the mother of the children had
rived at Mackinac, on her way to Traverse but reso
lute persisted IN her refusal be by him. Iii.
wife, also. dehcate and intelligent woman, was
principal witness against him. She told, in simple
tale, of her constant fear that her husband would
murder her; and that since her unlucky marriage
he had continued 10 abuse her by threats starvation
and biows.
Hush>on is about Eve feet nine inches in height
of spare make, light aud active, but BY no means
pul>ive aspect Ills demeanor quiet but suficie
y se-posse.sed; and on the whole, he seems moi
over fearful Of the future.