The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-12-26
The Morri. murdor and the Mors-MAt.o-

The Morris murder and the Morss-Matte
son forgery and fraud mortgage cases continue
TO occupy the pubic mind The people foi
months have been IN state OF feyerish ex
element. On "Wednesday evening Of last weei
a warrant was issued against Floyd Smith on
charge of completely in the Morris tragedy, and
placed IN the hands OF Constable Bottsford
who went out to Smith in the township OF
Hamilton and took hiin into custody. On the
way to Decatur they were met by party OF
masked men who took Smith out Of the cutter
and sent Botsford and his assistant home. just
what was done with Smith is not known, al
though all manner OF rumors are afloat.
Smith was re-arrested on Friday or. Saturday
iast, and his examination set down for Tues
day Of this week.
1t seems to be well settled:in the minds Of
the people III that vicinity that after the Nor
ris tragedy, Smith was the medium through
which Matteson sent and received considerable
correspondence. This OF course, il true, has
strange look, and people wonder why purely
business or friendly correspondence should
require an intermediate medium. Astto the
merits or dement's OF this case, We do not pre-
tend to pronounce an opinion, but state the
that on the 24tn day OF January last Marshall
Prtchard was murdered near Rockford, III.
1t is claimed that he was friend Of c. II. Nor
ris, and that he was IN possession OF facts which
would make him valuable witnessin the mort
gage case. 1t is also claimed that he had been
followed and Swallowed for some time previous
to his death. All these matters are shrouded
in good deal of mystery and serve to keep up
a feverish state OF public sentiment.
Smiths examination was commenced on
Tuesday, as mentioned above. Constable Bots
ford was called to the stand and testified sub
stantially as follows, as reported to US by ono
who was present: When he arrested Floyd
Smith the first time, he was met by party OF
unknown men who halted them on the road
and forcibly elected himself and his assistant
llOhi tuo ahu oitci bSSukihb EiogN
Smith, put him back and told him to git"
which he did. He had no knowledge of what
occurred after that and to the time he made
his second arrest on Friday last, except what
Floyd Smith told him. He also testified that
Smith further said that Matteson came to him
(Smith) the day after the murder OF Morris,
and said that they would detain and examine
his mail at the Post Office and to avoid that he
{ Matteson) had caused his mail matter to be
addressed to him (Smth) that Matteson's
mail came thus addressed with private mark
on one corner OF the envelope to distinguish it
from any that might be designed for Smith;
that he thereafter received Matteson's mail
some through the Decatur Office, some through
the Lawrence, Breedsville and other surround
ing Offices; that Matteson's outgoing letters
we're delivered to him to be mailed through off
ferent Offices, and were so mailed. Tnis went
on until Smiths wife became alarmed when
Matteson's correspondence was turned over to
some one else. AT this point the case was ad
journed until Tuesday. the 3Oth inst. at nine
o clock in the forenoon. We learn that an i'm
mense crowd was present and that the excite
mont was intense.