The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-08-29


One OF the most horrible tragedi Is Il mas
eyer been our lot to record as occurring il
this vicinity. took place in the township Of
Delhi. in this county, on last Thursday
night. Amulatt0 man, named John Tay-
Tor. entered the residence Of Mr.. John
Buck. residing about nine miles south OF
this city, AMI committed the cold blooded
act Of attempting 70 murle- his mother-in-
law, wife and daughter. Below We give
the particulars 10 the case. as ~ were
able to gather them,
TIE KCRDERER.
The murderer. John Taylor. ; light
cOlOred mu.a-tO. between Il aud 70 years OF
age. He il short and thick set has dark
brown curly hair, has strong, muscular
frame, and IS Of youthful appearance. We
CLEAN the following biographical sketch OF
him from the men for whom be has worked &:
He was born a slave in the State Of Ken
lucky His mother vas d slave. OF halt
white and half black blood. His father
was = white man. the owner OF his n other.
He lived with his mother on his fathers
plantation until after the breaking out OF
the rebellion. His father died the first year
or the war. Shortly after his death, he was
captured by northern cavalry troops. Acted
for time as servant 10 a chaplain from
Hillsdale Was sent by him TO his home
in Hillsdsle He remained nearly year.
and went from there 70 Pulaski, 10 Jackson
county, and from there be enlisted into the
Michigan negro regiment as private. re-
ceiving q bounty OF I'VE hundred dollars,
which was placed in the hands OF a
guardian appointed through the agency OF
the military authorities, until he should ar
rive az the age Of tWerty-One years. When
he was discharged from the regiment he
returned again 10 Pulaski. and went to
work for his guardian. After short time
be left stating as a reason that he could
not agree with his GUARDIANS sons. Came
from Pulaski TO this county and hired out
TO Mr.. Buck. early the present summer.
Had on a suit Of soldiers clothes when he
came 10 Mr.. Bucks, had a soldiers KNAPP
sack, and wore a white felt hat.
IFS RESIDENCE N THE MISUNDERSTOOD.
The negro Taylor hired out to Mr.. Buck
Tor one-half OF month, at So per month
and served his time, working faithfully and
well, and receiving his pay tor his services.
At the end Of that time he hired out again
to Mr.. Buck, agreeing TO work for him three
months, at SO per month. After working
ten or twelve days under his last agreeme emf,
be quit Mr.. Buck without any notice, leav-
ing his premises about the middle of the
forenoon, aud without asking for any pay
or even settlement He went from Mr..
Bucks 10 Mr.. Gibbs, a farmer residing
about l. miles southwest, and hired out TO
him. and worked for him and Mr. Town
send. Aiter about four weeks, the negro
came over TO Ar. Bucks and asked him for
his pay. Mr.. Buck told him his ieay ing
him had been a damage 10 him, and if he
would come back and work his time out he
would pay him, otherwise he thought he
ought not 70 pay him anything. The negro
told him he did not know as il made much
difference, anu went away, without any
harsh words, or apparent i'll feeling. After
this conversation, the negro had come to
Mr.. Buck house, and hunted with his gun.
in company with his little boy, and had
always appeared friendly to the family Al
one time while at work for Mr. Gibbs in
July, he came 10 Lansing in company with
this same son Of Mr. Buck. and bought a
revolver, a six-shOOter, and On passing Mr..
II.
asked him Il be had got cheated. Some
DAYS after this occurrence the negro Quit
Mr. Gibbs, and hired out 10 Mr. Christian
Creyts, residing about three miles south Of
this city. where he resided up 10 the time
Of the murder. While on his way to Mr.
Creyts', he passed the residence of Mr. Buck,
and seeing HIM al work in the field, went
over 10 him and asked him 10 try bis
.fr- rr.,f-. I. ]
the negro each shot the revolver at lark.
and the negro then went on his way to the
residence OF his new employer. During all
this time and up to the time OF the murder,
he had never said anything further to Mr.
Buck about his pay nor neither had Mr..
Buck ever heard Of his making ally threats,
or having any hard feeling toward him.
TIE SCENE or THE MURDER
The residence of Mr.. Buck is an ordinary
log house, about Is by q feet in size,
Acins toward the south Il is divided
below into three rooms. large room. one
hail the size or the whole house on the
west side, and two bed rooms on the east
side. In each or tho bed rooms Is I win
/ dow, looking out TO the east, with a door
in each leading into the main room. There
is north and south door in the large room.
the north door leading into shed attached
TO the back side of the house. Mr.. and
Mrs. Buck occupied the south bed room,
the little boy the north bedroom. the
mOther-in-law of Dir. Buck, Mrs. Mary Fish
/ or, a bed in the southwest corner OF the
main room. while the little girl Martha
Buck occupied a lounge at the foot OF the
bed In the same room. Directly cas-, Of the
house is the orchard, and east of the orch
ART, about 81 rods from the house. stands o
partly finished stack OF oats.
! TIKI hURDER.
4 little alter II o'clock al night. hearing
Il raining, Nr. Bgck got up on; of bed and
went ont 70 lis oat stack 10 cover ID DID
with some har. on his wav 10 the sack.
. he noticed horse Luchel 10 h.. ron.
. .encn 1noat mIlW.L hltNnnn N. L.-.A