Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-12-13
CRIME IN MICHIGAN
A Father Deliberately Barns to Death an IDIOT
son-ssving Barrel Of Cider Before Looking
Altar Hls Child,


The later. 0e.dn OF the eod ult., has
the following from Gslen, Mlch.'
At Q o'clock Of the morning Of October
%, Alexander Crays came to the house Of
neighbor half a mile from his own
house, stating that It was on fire, and he
wanted them TO come and help get out
the furniture. UDon returning 10 the
house II was found that the Are was so
well under way as to preclude the Idea Of
extlnguishlng II. They, his neighbors.
then asked him what things he wanted
saved. He mentioned certain articles Of
furniture, . table, mix saie, ETC., and =
barrel OF cider, which was In the cellar.
All Of hese we're got ont, and, the flames
stopping further work, they stood around
waiting to see II burn.
AT this time one OF the neighb0rs, who
are newcomers and not well acquainted,
suddenly belh0ught himself Of Mr..
Crays' IDIOT eon, boy Of about 30 years,
and asked where be wac, not having seen
him. Crays aalds "Oh, had forgotten
about him /" and, in answer to questions.
told them be was IN the upper room
One OF the men then rushed into the
house and to tho stairway door, and called
"Ira" two or three times He thinks he
heard an answer, sort Of groan and cry,
but it was impossible for bin to gel In Oh
account Of the fire.
In answer to questions the old man
Crays told them that whom be Hrst found
the house burning, he called to him, but,
receiving no answer, he supposed him
To be dead, and went 10 work 10 secure
some Of the things that he got out some,
and then concluded b. 20 fur the neigh
bors. These facts aroused the susplclnua
e he Witnesses, and they soon no iced
other circumstances which seemed to re-
| move ali doubts as TO the mans motives.
The fact Of his lately having insured the
huuBe for $1,000 "a sum amounting to
| twice what II was worth-is one fact
and all the later DEVELOPMENTS point still
| palmer to him Us a murderer OF the bsaett
kind.
lie claimed that lie was awakened by
the A.e, and that he carried ont few
things and then went for help. The
artlcles carried out We're the most valuable
Of the primitive furnishings Of the house,
and the way they were slowed In the dry
house sixty feet away shows 4 20 have
required long two hours Job TO accom-
plish It. A feather bed was carefully
tucked ln; comfortsbles, sheets, ETC.; and
a large basket of crockery all laid In
good order, with many others, aud IN ad'
lilion the building was carefully pad
locked, showing no indications Of hasle
IN he removal Of the goods.
The idea that a father could rest on a
mere supp0sitIon that his son was dead
when a moment would have solved the
douht-and that he should have worked
half an hour, then gone for help, and
then forgotten all about HIN, and directed
The removal OF all articles that could bt
removed, and not think again about biz
boy--is altogether improbable. Crayi
vas made widoWer the second tint
about year ago, and lived all alon'
with this boy.
II transplrrs that he has often said tn,
boy WAS a curse to him, and that hl
would be better or etc, and that he hal
since said he " was better Oft now" an'
similar remarks. Crays is held ii
$1,000 bail.