The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1882-10-14
Crimes and Criminals.

Ex-Chief Engineer Drake of Coldwater
Mich, has been acquitted after a long and
tedious trial on charge of arson. Early in
December last one Hemingway, foreman of
the steamer company of the Coldwater fire
department, was arrested for setting fire to
the Armory hall in the previous June
Three other members of the fire department
were arrested few hours afterward, when
one of them Immediately made confession
before the circuit court duplicating the three
under arrest besides himself; but the next
day Hemingway went before the same court
and make confession to the effect that he
was go-between from Drake, chief engi-
neer of the department, to the other fremen
already arrested, in setting the numerous
fires of last summer. Hemingway, Hatha-
way, Perks and Wendell will be tried for
arson.
Information comes from Gliddon, Iowa,
to the effect that Eva Stone, girl sixteen
years old, committed suicide by shooting
herself with h,r fathers pistol. She was in
the house alone with her mother at the
time. Nothing unusual was noticed in her
conduct. In the afternoon she stepped into
her mothers room and Immediately there
after resounded the report of pistol. She
fell upon the bed, where she was found
moment after by her mother There was
pistol wound in the left temple and blood
was oozing from it. The fact that she was
maiden scarcely sixteen leaves us without
the motive which prompted her to destroy
her young life. Her habits were correct
although she had desires for society which
her mother did not crafty. There is no
proof that she commit, ed any indiscretion,
and she was yet maiden at the time of
her death.
At dnight Sunday at the town of Bloom
ing Grove, near Second lake, Wis, Mrs.
Samuel Williamson, poor widow aged
seventy-six, was going to bed, when negro
named James Stinson, employed on neigh
boring farm, attempted to break in the door
of the widows log hut with view to ravish-
ing her. She finally escaped through the
rear door, and chased by the rutfin. flew
across the fields to neighbours. The negro
returned to the hut setting it afre and burn
ing it to the ground with all the poor old
woman's earthly property. Stinson was ar
rested and bound over ior trial Nov. 10.
Jack Canter, one of the most skillful and
best known forgers, who has been Jail
bird nearly half his life of sixty odd years,
has just been released from the Philadelphia
penitentiary, after 10 G term of confne-
ment. Some say he has $40, 900 with which
man. He is we'll educated, writes and
speaks several languages, has travelled great
deal and mingled in good society.
At Troy, N. Y, K c. Frost, the young
church member now il custody for seven
different burglaries, has confessed that a
scheme had been planned to abduct the
two-year old child of Mr.. Gurley, one of
Troy's wealthiest manufacturers. When the
n ,1kl
Frost's wife, who has fled, was to take it to
the west, and overtures were to be made to
Gurley for its return for S., 900.
The Chicago News says Franklin L. Chase
has proven a defaulter for sum estimated
at $4,000 TO $4,000. Drink, harlotry, and
speculation caused his downfall, He was a
lawyer, and the money had been confded to
him by his clients, who trusted him with
out security. Mrs. Norton, widow of Chase's
protector, Judge Norton, loses $4,000, and
through her the story first came to light.
Richland Center, Wis, Special: A murder
was committed at Sextonville a little town
seven miles south Of this place. recently
which is ca using great deal Of excitement
Arthur Van Deusen, young man, killed his
stepfather, Ephraim Dockerty, by shooting
him twice, the first ball penetrating his
cheek and the last lodging in his brain. The
alteration arose out ofsome family matter
A farmer named Davidson, living near
Deckerville, Souilac county, Mich, quar-
relied with his wife and son about proper.
ty matters. During the quarrel Davidson
shot and killed his wife and tried to kill his
son, aged twenty-one. The report says the
son is dead and another that he is fatally in
jured. The murderer fed.