The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-01-17
THE LILLY MURDER TRIAL AT BERRIEN
SPRINGS

SPRINGS.
Correspondence Of the Chicago Times.
A somewhat noted murder case in Western
Michigan has been on trial at Berrien Springs
for the past two or three days.
Thomas Lilly, the defendant, was arrested at
Dowayiac, November IL, 1876, for tho murder
OF Charles Kreiger, Of Brainbridse, Berrien
county. At the time Of the murder. Kreiger,
who was a single man, was about 25 years OF
age, ana strong and healthy, weighing about
IT'S pounds. The murder took place on the
day OF the arrest. Kreiger, who is relative
OF Chas. Kreiger, late OF ST. Joseph, but now
Of Chicago, had been working for Lilly about
year prior to November IL, 1876. On that day
Mr. Lilly settled with him, and charged him
IS % for a powder-fask and shot pouch OF
bis, which Kreiger had taken off and had not
brought back, but at the time Le told him that
any time he would return them or replace them
by new ones he would pay him 50 25 Kreiger
said nothing against the deduction from his
wages but went to town, and refused to wait
to ride with MIR. Lilly, who said he was going
with team in a short time. When Lilly got
to own--Dowagiac-h found Kreiger there
considerably under the influence of liquor, and
he "went for" Lilly in very abusive manner,
threatening to knock hi ont OF him, etc, il
he did not then and there pay him the $S rs.
Lilly tried to avoid him, and 30 anxious was he
IL ~ l,a too IL, tLa oh.l, nj
taking his team lett for home, while the mar
shal, Mr.. Harmon, kept Kreiger back, bnt he
did not lock HIM mp. Shortly after, kreiger
hired team, saying he wanted to go out and
get his clothes at Lilly's. Mr. Gardner cent
his sen Charles along to take care OF the horses.
Jacob Cooke, chum OF Kreiger and man in
the employ OF Lilly, also went along. After
getting the clothes Kreiger went into the back
yard to find Lilly, and asked HIM to pay the
80 %, and continued his abusive language, and
telling him he was going to lick him then and
there 1t was nearly dark at the time. Lilly
had just recovered from a three-months' sick
ness, and only weighed lis pounds He Was
consequently very weas, and, as he says was
afraid OF Kreiger. A struggle ensued, in which
Lilly used snife on Kreger, the latter re-
csiving several severe cuts, the fatal one beng
near the heart. Kreiger fell, and after time
was picked up placed In the vehicle he had
hired and started of to Dowagiac to have bis
wounds dressed Lilly helped put hun into
the wagon. Jacob Cooke, who witnessed the
scufie, got in and held his head on his breast,
and Gardner drove. When mile and q half
from the starting point, and mile from town,
they discovered that kreiger was dead Mr..
Lilly WAS arrested that night. The trial came
up on the 9th Of March, 1877 at Cassopohs
ten days. The judge charged the jury, and
they brought in verdict OF man slaughter.
Sentence was never passed, exceptions having
been taken to the judges charge to the jury,
and the case carried to the State Supreme
Court. Lilly does not deny doing the stabblng,
and his only claim is self defense. In charging
the jury Judge Coolidge sad that one person
cannot kill another in self defense without
hret trying to get away from his assallant, and
second, without calling assistance from those
who may be near by. These are the points
exceptions were taken TO, and the Supreme
Court sustained the exceptions, and ordered
new trial. Lilly moved that the Circuit Judge
transfer the case to another circuit fer trial. as
he thought he would get falrer trial by jury
in place where the case was not so vel
known. This was done, and Judge Ha wes, OF
Kalamazoo procured to preside. Lilly snys he
did not intend to kill Kreger, and he did not
think bis wounds were fatal at the time he
helped put him into the wagon. He did not
know Of Kreiger's death until he was arrested
Lilly is man OF large meaus and Is sparing
no expense IN the trial.
Later-Liily WAS acquitted on Saturday last.