The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-28
THE MICHIGAN MURDER.

Confession of Isaac Van Aucken-The
Murderer Born ON the MOnOngaheIa
River
Isaac Van Aucken, who murdered his wife
and step-daughter about q week ago, near
Adrian, Michigan, has made full confession OF
the murder. He was born on the Monongahela
river, Pennsylvania, in October, 1926. 1t ap-
pears that some of his wiie's family quarreled
with him considerably, and one of them had but
a short time previous to the murder whipped
him in terrible manner. He resolved on re-
Yenge. His wife, he says, was an extremist
either running HIM down or lauding him TO the
skies. Still he says they lived happily together.
He then proceeds to tell all about the Killing
as follows:-On last Saturday my vile
and went to Hudson, and purchased
large lot OF household utensils
/ also bought quart OF whisky, and
drank some OF it coming home; the next
morning asked her to drink some whisky, but
she would not do it when was IN the house; when
] was out, however, she finished the bottle at
once; she claimed that it was the effect of chills
that made her act strangely; we expected COM
pany in the afternoon; | had business away IN
the morning. but got through as soon as l could:
when / came back my wife was lying on the
lounge in the front room; brought some Goals
from the kitchen and made fire; she said, "Pa,
come and lay down with me;' ! did so; she sent
the children out to pick some strawberries;
while they were gone, and we were laying there,
my boy came into the room with some squirrels
he had shot: my wife was very mad at the inter-
pton, and told him to 90 and throw the squir-
the boys, then came back land my other boy; the
one who had the squirrels, said the children had
cut his Whiplash; my wife got up and pushed
him away, and told him to go off; l had never
dared to touch the little ones before, but was
excited because she had been so rude to my boy,
and / bumped their heads together; she then
pitched into me, and said that when her brother
Sam came back he would pound me again;
said, 81 have had one pounding on ac-
count of you and your girl, and / will not
take another" By this time we had reached
the back yard, talking as we went. We were
both very mad, and said, GIVE a good mind
to just lay you out" She said, "There is the
axe; take If, and finish me !" | picked up the
axe, but my boy pleaded for me to STOP and
put it down again. The boys then ran out.
While they were gone she repeated the remark.
She had stick of stove-wood in her hand. l
started tOr her and she did not move; / then
went up and struck her with the back OF the
axe, / think near the temple; she fell, and
followed in pursuit of the girl, who was at
tempting to escape; but we were both going so
fast that single blow was sufficient to knock
her down; j went on. carried by my own mo-
mentum; then came back and struck her a
full blow on the temple; returned 10 my wife,
and thinking he had only tainted, struck the
axe into her neck; James A. Austin and Jona-
than Hartman, who bad Just taken his horse
from my pasture, came up, and | showed them
what | had done; / was not drunk at the
time; l tnen gave myself up TO Justice Ken
dali, and was brought to Adrian yesterday
morning,