The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-02-02

treme northwestern cornor OF Block 10, be-
longing to a married woman named Snyder,
was discovered to be on fire, and was entirely
consumed in an incredible short time after the
arrival of the volunteer FIRE department, who
we're promptly on hand on the sounding OF the
alarm.
Mrs. Snyder's husband, who was joiner,
had been for some time past at work IN Chicago,
and Mrs. Snyder spent most of the time away
from the promises, leaving the house uuoccu-
pied for the greater portion OF the time.
There was mortgage on the promises Of
some ak hundred dollars, aud the Snyders held
a policy OF insurance on the house for one
| thousand dollars.
! The circumstances and surroundings induced
the belief that the house had been set on fire,
and AZ examination soon revealed the existence
OF foot marks leading directly from the house
INTO thicket Of oak grubs in the immediate
vicinity. Here WAS supposed to be clue
which, il vigorously followed up, might lead to
the apprehension Of the incendiary. Two young
mon, Mr.. j. O. Holmes, photographer, and
Mr.. Nicholson, of the firm Of Keables and
Nicholson, volunteered to pursue the offender.
They followed the foot marks during most OF
the remainder Of the night in the direction Of
Dowagiac and at the railroad depot at that
place. they found the man Snyder who had
reached there some fifteen or twenty minutes in
advance OF themselves. Snyder was imme
diately arrested and pair OF hand-cnffs were
procured from an officer IN Dowagiac and put
on him. The trio, accompanied by j. B. Clark
Esq. as counsel for the prisoner. took the east
ward bound mail train for Decatur ON Monday
morning arriving at Decatur they met j. b.
Upton, Esq, the Prosecuting Attorney who
was on his way to Paw Paw to attend the court
then in session, and Mr.. Cllrk having business
at the Cass Co. circuit court also in session, an
arrangement was at once made by the prose-
cutor and Mr.. Clark to hold the preliminary
examination on Saturday OF the present week.
Mr.. Upton then directed Mr.. II. l.. simpson,
one OF tho Sheriff 3 deputies, to take possess
ion OF the prisoner and convey him to the Jail
at Paw Paw, there to be kept in custody until
the time agreed upon for the examination thus
relieving AIessrs, Holmes and Nicholson who
had accomplished very commendable and
praseworthy act.
Mr.. Simpson with the prisoner took the cars
for Paw Paw, Mr.. Upton accom- PAVING them.
Very soon after the train moved ont from the
station Mr. Holmes was discovered to be on
board, and his whole manner changed, and re-
sulting in some alteration with both MIR. Upton
and Simpson Before toe train had passed out
OF the depot grounds and before getting under
ar NJ nj al "a;
between Mr.. Simpson and the prisoner Snyder,
and commenced pushing the latter toward the
car door, apparently with the view OF getting
HIM off. \ breakmiu seeing this secured the
fastening OF the door and placed himself be
tween 1t and the prisoner and Holmes. Holmes
on discovering that his maneuvre had bsen
foiled seized the breakman and hui lel him one
side, tearing his coat badly After this occur
renee so;ne high words passed between Holmes
and Upton. On arriving at Lawton the party
were met by sheriff Shrine who was on his
way to the Jackson penitentiary with some
convicts; Mr. Simpson here made an arrange
ment with MIR. Holmes to Coz vey the prisoner
Snyder TO Paw Paw. while he accompanied the
Sheriff TO Jackson.
Mr.. Holmes took the prsoi,er DO Sn tho foo
walk in the direction OF the business part OF
Lawton, but soon after reappeared upon The
Railroad track travelling in the direction Of De-
catur, and ut considerable dstah ce from the
depot. Just at this juncture the Suspicion
arose that Holmes intended to take the prison.
or back to Decatur. Tha Prosecutor al once
teleSraphed to an officer at Decatur to be on
the alert for SNYDER, and then at once repaired
to Paw Paw and sent an officer in pursuit.
Early in the evening one Robinson, Of Law
ton VITO happened to be IN tue Dyckman
House, was heard to say that he had brought
MIR. Holmes over from Lawton this coming
to the ears Of Mr.. Upton, WHO still was conf
dent that all would turn out right led him to
make some inquiries, which developed the fact
that MIR. Holmes was In town rs stated by
|, Robinson-that he had un-ma nacled the priso-
ner, Snyder. who had by that means escaped,
and that Holmes was at the house OF Mr..
Hooker, whose wife was an old acquaintance
OF Holmes.
Mr. Uptou then sent an officer to arrest
Holmes, and on his person was found the
watch Of snyder. When questioned as to his
r possession OF the watch, no said that Snyder
had given 1t 10 him to carry to his, Snyder's
wife, but Of whose whereabouts he had ne
: knowledge. Holmes WAS then lodged in jail
where he remained until Tuesday night wher
, bis friends came over from Decatur in strobs
= force and entered bail for bis appearance at
: future day, for examination on a charge Of
Q helping the prisoner to escspe. What induced
3 Holmes to do az he did surprises all his friend!
r aud acquaintances. lie had performed praise
? worthy and heroic act in the part he per- ormet
, IN the pursuit and apprehension OF Snyder
I But TO turn square corner aud assist him Il
escape is VIII at puzzles us all, knowing him a.
Q we did
1t is claimed by many Of bis friends that TIT
exertion of the previous eighteen or twenty hour
81 prostrated his nervous system as to produc
mental alteration. We trust that the exsrnina
1 ton will clear away the mystery that hang
around th;a saa and that Mr. Uo,n,oa NAV In