The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-01
A MICHIGAN MURDER.
PUTTING A WITNESS 6UT OF THE
WAY

WAY.
THE MURDER OF WILLIS POUND, OF HOLLAND
CITY, MIcH.-soME TRAIN wREoKERs DID
rT-HIDING THE OLD VICTIMS BoDY-EvI-
DENCE OF A WITNESS.
The Grand Rapids Eagle thus tells the
story of the murder of old Willis Pound
which has created great excitement in the
locality where il occurred: MIR. Willis
Pound was an old bachelor about 80 wears
old. living alone on his farm of 10 acres,
four miles north of Holland City. He was
an eccentric man, very much disposed to at
tend strictly to his own affairs, and TO have
other people do likewise. He had resided
originally come to this locality from
Branch county, in this state, where
he is said to have friends living. Pound
was an important witness for the people in
the case against John Ii. Fuller and Melvin
Fuller for throwing train from the track
on the Michigan Lake Shore railroad in the
spring of1S74. At the examination of these
parties. which took place last winter, Pound
| testified very unwillingly, but it was known
that when the case came up for trial he
would make strong case against the pris-
oners. In the meanwhile the two Fullers.
father and son, were out on bail. They had
made several attempts to hire witnesses
against them to fail to appear &C the trial,
and it was supposed that Pound had been
approached in a like manner. The Fullers
had limited at their intention of punish
| ing anyone that should appear against
them, but these threats were not considered
| Of any consequence. Pound also was re-
ported to be well supplied with money, and
among his peculiaritles is said to have car
| ried it about his person, sometimes having
several thousand dollars in his pockets.
| This money was also an incentive tor his
murder. Directly opposite Pounds cabin
lived John II. Fnller and his son Melvin.
They had resided on their farm OF 160 acres
for about three years, having come TO
| this place from Wisconsin. They brought
| some money here, and on their arrival at
once began work in the woods, and at the
present time have 80 or 10 acres OF clearing
with good buildings, an orchard, and every
| indication that they intended to make good
farmers. These parties are the muTderers OF
Pound. They appear 10 have well merited
their reputation OF being
A"HARD LOT"
But a short time after their arrival here they
began to be frequent visitors at our Justices
courts, but, as the matters in which they
were involved were mainly civil suits, with
one or two assault and battery cases, their
regulations were rot much worse than tha.
of any others in the North woods. Last
summer, however, the wife of Melvin Fuller
, was found lying in the house with bullet
, in her head. The young man, her husband
disappeared for short time, but soon re-
turnei. 1t was supposed at the time that
she had been shot by her husband but as
she recovered, the matter was explained by
statements to the effect thst she wss a re-
ligious enthusiast, and had put the pistol tC
her head while temporarily insane. Alter
this they We're closely watched by
their neighbors, who soon became aware
of facts that made them fear 10 meet
these neighbors after dark. The passen
ger train on the Michigan Lake Shore
railroad was thrown from the track one
morning in the spring of 1874, by means o.
a displaced ran, which had been hid from
sight by means of little brush thrown or
, the track. No one was Injured, but the en-
gine and cars were badly damaged, and moth
ing but miracle saved the lives of the pas
sengers. No arrests were made until last
winter, when our citizens were suddenly
| surprised by the arrest of man by the
name of Flagg, for throwing the train from
: the track, upon the complaint OF the two
} Fullers. He at once retorted by furnishing
the railroad company with evidence thai
caused the two worthy farmers to be cared
for by the sheriff. Since this difficulty the
} wife OF the younger Fuller became insane
J and was taken to Kalamazoo, and tht
wife OF John II. Fuller died very suddenly.
; As was mentioned in the Eagle, Will:
r Pound disappeared from homo on June 5
: For few days nothing was thought of this
fact by his neighbors, as he had on previou:
occasions gone off for time without givinf
things about his house, however, soon at
tracted the attention of some of his friends
] who burst open the door snd looked abou
} for some explanation of his whereabouts
. Everything was found in condition indi
eating an immediate return home Ther
certain parties began TO suspect that
POUND HAD BEEN MURDERED,
and despite the sneers of persons who wer,
! pleased to call them very foolish, they be
! gan 70 search for the missing man. Sheriff
Woltman came down here on Monday last
and, with his usual energy, at once com
menced to clear up the mystery. Very lit
tie was discovered to work upon except
4 rumor that Pound hsd gone out fishing will
+ the two EullerS. Searching the house
: Pounds fishing line was gone. This wa
S one of the dead mans treasures, and wei
, illustrates his eccsntricities, being a lin
!, 500 feet long, having 200 hooks attached {,
g it. Then the rumor about the fishing part,
0 was investigated, and notwithstanding th
t fact that it mad been stoutly denied by tn
D defendants and laughed at. by Others, lther
9 was found to be some trutl
4 n the matter. AT this momen
D the community was astonisbed. b,
q the news that the D1an Watson had con
s tossed that the Fullers had killed Pound ant
y mid bis body in the Black lake. The prose
0 cutting attorney, the sheriff and party O
s men accompanied Watson to Pine bay
~ WD6r6 q SbIodu C<lteQ IlI0 cISck 0tUpLleS IL
G self into Black lake. Here, tied TO stak
|. that had bsen driven into the mud at tn
: mouth of the creek, they found Will
: Pound. The body was badly decomposel
a and stripped entirely naked, being tied Z,
g the stake by piece OF the dead mans fishin
/ line. The spot chosen was an unfrequente
e one, but fishing parties often ran up into th
10 bay, and it is strange that the body ha
b not been discovered previously. Tying
o line to the remains, the party returned {
l. the city. being obliged to tow the body III
= fest behind the boat. It was put into q box
1t after having been viewed by the corone
sr and jury, and buried lsss njgn
Of The dead mans features were dec0m
20 posed beyond recognition, but the mark
II of blow upon the lett temple, horribl
cash in the side, made by an ak, and sr
other cut in the back. were visible. Tn
l. Fullers had left home few days ago, br
"a the old man returned yesterday and tn
"a. villain was captured last night at his hous