The Portland daily press., 1870-11-30
DAILY PRESS.
MD
Wednesday, Morning, Novemer 30, 1870.


The Tichigan Murder Triai.
Many Of your readers, perhaps. are not ac-
quainted with the details Of this mysterious
murder-horrible in all its datails-which has
gainedso much local prominence in this State.
This notoriety has perhaps been greatly aug
mented by the social standing OF the respec-
tive parties, Vanderpool, the accused, having
been banker, and Field the murdered man,
was short time befoIe his partner in busi-
ness. We will, thei efore, briefly give the
leading features of the case, as detailed by the
evidence; but before doing so, we will preface
by saying that this supposed crime was COM
mi,ted in the town of Manistee, on the east
ern shore of Lake Michigan, where both par
ties resided, on Sunday, the 9TH day of Sep
tember, 1869. The defendant was arrested
and tried at Manistee, and conyisV HI -gn-
fenced to solitary confinement lie
penitentiary. On account Of fAsene iffTegsur.r-
ity in the proceedings and the discovery of
new evidence, Lew trial was granted, and
change of venue taken to this country. De-
fendant was some for some months confined
in the State penitentiary at jackson, but on
the granting of the new trial he was remand
ed back and then confined in the Jail of this
county, where he has remained since the 9th
of May last. The Case has attained so much
notoriety in the State that it was believed
that jury could not easily be found who had
not read the full details of the former case.
Still jury of fine intelligent men was found
and empanelled without much delay.
Both the deceased and the accused were
young men of good promise. Deceased was
single man and had in early lille been some
what itnerant in his habits. He was natur-
ally restless and very impulsve. He had in
vested, some time before the event in ques-
fion, about $1,000 in the bank (Vanderpoors
bank). becoming partner, and for some un.
known reason became dissatisfied and drew
his capital out, and they dissolved their co.
partnership on the day before the murder,
and settled up all their affairs Defendant
had only about So 800 invested and it is claim
ed that the withdrawal OF Field from the con-
Germ would prove defendants financial ruin.
Although Field had drawn his capital, still a
considerable portion of it remained in the
safe OF the bank, and was there at the time
the alleged murder was committed.
George Vanderpool, the defendant, is fine
appearing man, about 80 years OF age, medi-
um size, rather delicate in his appearance but
evidently impulsive. He has been resident
OF this State tor several years, and had up to
the 9th OF September, 1862 enjoyed an unsul-
lied reputation, both socially and in a brlsi-
ness point of view. He is a married man, but
without family Mrs. Vandcrpool is beauti-
full and accomplished lady formerly from Cen
tral New York. Her conduct since this ter
rible calamity has befallen her, has been such
as to commend her to the deepest and warm
est sympathy OF all who have come in contact
with her. She sincerely and firmly believes
in the innocence other husband, and his final
exculpation from the terrible charges which
have shadowed the whole future lille of this
young and truly unfortunate wife.a
1t appears that on Sunday, between 10 and
ii O'Clock, deceased and defendant came out
of the bank and entered a shoe store that ad-
joined the bank, and which was separated on
ly by thin partition frOin it-where several
men had congregated and desired to obtain
! witnesses to an instrument which they stated
| contained their settlement and dissolution of
| their partnership. They soon returned in
company to the bank, and the deceased was
never seen afterwards, unless it was by wit
ness who claims to have seen him on that
| day about l 80 o'clock. An effort has been
made to impeach this witness, Tut how effec-
tual it may be yet remains to be seen. 1t is
| the opinion OF many we'll informed persons
that her evidence will probably cause the Jury
to disas rec. The body of the deceased was
found on the morning of the 17th of the same
month. ABOUT twenty-nine miles west OF the
mouth Of the Manistee river. and was ident-
fed by several witnesses. The body when
found had piece of rope around it. just above
the hips, which appeared to be broken and
uuravelled at one end. There were two
frightful wounds, one on the back of the head
and the other on the top, either of which
would have caused instant death. These
wounds were made previous to death, and
were the cause OF it. They are believed to
have been made by a hatchet or hammer in
the hands of the defendant. The theory oil
the prosecution is that after returning to the
bank from the shoe store Field seated himself
at the desk and commenced writing letters
that defendant approached from behind and
dealt him the fatal blows with Ratchet be.
longing to the bank; that a short tussel then
ensued, which caused considerable con.
fusion in the room, and thus the blood of de.
ceased was freely spattered on the surround
ing articles OF furniture, and pools collected
on the floor or carpet; that alter the commits
sion of the revolving deed he changed hi:
clothes, putting on some of Fields which were
kept in the bank, and went home and spent
the afternoon there, complaining of being ill.,
and looked pale and hasgard; that late in the
| evening he returned to the bank and changed
his clothes again, and conveyed the body to
the river, secured weight to it by means of a
small rope, and threw ii into the river; that
ne then put the weight into boat and towed
1t to the lake, threw out the weight, and re-
turned to the bank, again changed his cloth
Ing, ana went home;
II is certain that ne arose ABOUT fve O'Clock
on MONDAY morning and went to the bank
ana commenced nv vigorously 10 clean cut and
SET IL IN o1der; rms iact was notable and re-
markeu upon py several. he cut out large
portion OF the carpet near the desk and bnrnt
| it I'D. burnt a portion of his own cO hino