The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-09-30
TRAGEDYIN MICHIGAN?

A TRAGEDY IN MICHIGAN
A Banker Murdered by h Partner and
Thrown into the Lake-The Body
Found After the Man had been Missing
Two Weeks.
A terrible deed of blood has just come to
light at Manistce, on the western shore of
Michigan, which has aroused feeling
there, and among those in this State who
knew the parties, equal to tha; caused BY
the fearful affair at Portage City. We con-
dense the accounts az follows:
Messrs. Vanderpool and FIELD, twoyoung
men, the former the oldest, had been en-
gagged in banking at Manistec. Michigan,
out on account OF some misunderstanding
and dltiic lty had dissolved partnership,
| Mr.. Herbert Field, one Of the firm, with
| drawing his capital, and Mr. Nanderpool
was to continue the business, assuming the
liabilities and taking the assets of the bank
| On Saturday, the 4ih ard Sunday, the 5th,
they were engaged in settling up the their
| affairs, and were closeted losather at the
bank. At about II clock \. VI. on Sun
! day they both entered an adjoining shoe
shop to get their settlement Witnessed, and
immediately returned tn to hank and closed
the door-This was the last seen of Mr..
| Field, and for TWO weeks no trace could be
| obtained OF him. MIR Fanderpooi, his late
partner, expressed as much surprise at his
Disappearance as any one and aided in the
efforts to a certain his whereabouts, wheth
er dead or alive, In which his fellow cltlz
ems were cngaged. a reward of $500 having
| been offered for the recovery OF the body,
though he sought to convey the impression
that he had probably abScondCd.
The fact of a known misunderstanding
between the two men and the dlstrust oi
| andcrpool expressed Dy Field, who had
carried "a revolver, as he alleged, because
he was afraid OF violence from andei pool,
led to some suspicion against the latter in
spite OF the good character he had hereto
fore borne. 1t was noted that very early
on Monday morning Mr.. Vanderpopl had
gone to the bank between 5 and clock
and took up The carpet and commenced
scrubing the floor This was SO contrary
TO his usual practice that it attracted
marked attention. 1t was also noticed that
| he appeared very abstracted and abs mt
minded, aud that he looked pale and hag>
gard. 1be latter he himself explained by
| saying that he had been sick ali night 1t
was also noticed that the bank was closed
| and the curtains close dI 4wn good por-
ton of the Monday and Thursday. Bat
what v-r suspicious any may have felt they
did not Whisper thom above their breath.
On Wednesday morning it became known
that Mr. Nanderpool was heating water iii
The bank at an early hour, and was about
to commence his scrubing operations, and
it was thought best that an investigation
should be made. The three Magistrates OF
the city, with the Sheriff proceeded to the
bank to prosecute the investigation. Mr..
V. offered no opposition. 1t was first no
ticed that the carpet had been changed
about. On examlng the carpet 1t was
found that portion eight feet long by FIVE
feet wide directly in front Of Mr.. Field
desk, was cut out with knife. On inquiry
it was found that this had been burned.
Through the opening in the carpet thus
made, appeared several dark yeilOwish red
stains. which showed marks of excessive
scr ubbliDg, and partly obliterated by being
spread over with ink. One of the ink stands
commonly in use was empty. Stains of
fresh blood were found upon the carpet,
Partially burned paper, stained vi h blood,
was found IN the stove also, set OF pants
!. vest and shirt buttons.
This led to an investigation, which devel-
Op|O ldNl tiIdI tnC pants hEsl anu olitl L
which Vanderpool had worn on Saturday
had disappeared, aud the iur her fact that
he came home on Saturday afternoon with
Field S pants and vest on, and had imme-
diately taken a tub of water, locked himself
in his room and washed and dressed him
self. This circumstances he explained to
his wife on the ground that he bad the
misfortune to soil his own clothes, and
Field had loaned him some of his. Field 5
wardrobe was kept in the back part of the
bank. On Wednesday morning Mr.. Van
derpool was taken into custody, on suspic~
ion, and LOGGED III Jail.
The next step was 10 cut out the stained
portion of the floor of the bank, and, on
separating the boards it was found that the
dirt in the cracks was filled with fresh
blood. The public mind now began to set
tie down TO he conviction that most foul
and bloody crime had been prepetrated,
aid the excitement became intense, thoUgh h
the most perfect order aud suoorGInatiou TO
law had been maintained, The rear OF the
bank building projects over Manlstee River
being built on pies On the west side IF
the bank long fight Of stairs runs down
along The water edge, where is a landing
Of small boats. An examination of these
stairs showed fresh trail of blood from
top TO bottom, there being fr ON one TO
three drops OH nearly every step, aud fresh
blood On The Loaf landing