The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-23
A. WenIthy Farmer, His Daughter, and Son
in-Law, and Visitor Shot to Death
by Unknown Persons,
Other Inmates of the House Deny All
knowledge of the Crime.
The Career of "YellOw Sam" as Child
Stealer in Indiana-A Tennessee Des-
perado Tries to Kill a Sheriff.
A OUADRUPLE MURDER.
Four Persons Shot Dead While Asleep in a
Michigan Farm-HOuse.

Michigan Farm-House.
JACKSON, Mich, Nov. 22.-This morning
four persons-Jacob d. Crouch, aged seven
ty-four, widower; Henry White aged
thirty-eight son-in-law of Crouch; Eunice
White, aged thirty three, daughter of Crouch
all of Summit township, Jackson county
and Moses Policy, aged twenty-six, of Trans
fer, Mercer county, Pa, were found mur-
dered in their beds, all having been shot
through the head behind the ear. 1t is sup
posed they were chloroformed first, as no
signs OF ii struggle appeared, each victim ly-
ing as if asleep, and the odor of chloroform
being noticeable when the bodies were dis
covered. Mrs. White was also shot through
the left arm. No clew has as yet been dis
covered, although tracks around the house
indicate that guard was placed
while the murder was being perpe-
trated. Crouch was wealthy
farmer, living seven miles southwest
of Jackson, and owner OF an extensive sheep
ranch in Texas. 1t is rumored he had just
received about $500 from Texas, in pay
ment of sales made on his ranch. Bankers
here state that no money was deposited by
Crouch, and it is presumed the money was
in his hands. Policy was stopping at
Crouch's, having just come from Texas with
a large amount of money, for the purpose of
buying blooded stock. The theory is that he
(Polley) was followed from Texas by the
murderer or murderers for the purpose Of
robbery. The house was thoroughly ran
sacked and everything ofvalue carried away.
young girl an adopted daughter of
Whites. and a negro, aged eighteen, were
sleeping up stairs, and say they heard no fir
ing, although the negro says he heard a
humping noise about the middle of the
night and thought it was caused by a fierce
wind which was blowing. Mrs. White was
expected to become mother in a week or
ten days.
The murder has caused intense excitement,
and hundreds of people have focked to the
horrible scene.
The officers are very quiet upon the sub
ject but hard at work trying to get clew to
work upon,
ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
Crouch slept in an alcove opening into the
sitting-room, near the front part of the
house. His daughter and her husband occu-
pied front bedroom; while in another bed
room, opening also into the parlor, lay the
remains of Policy. Crouch was lying with
his face to the wall, and had bullet hole in
the left side of his head, two inches back of
the ear, the ball passing through the BRAIN
Death was instantaneous. White was shot
twice; the ball entered the right side of the
neck, three inches below the ear severing the
artery; a second ball entered the temple
near the right ear. He was discovered lying
on his back, as if peacefully sleeping Policy
was shot five times, and made a hard strug-
gle for life, as was evidenced by the position
of the arms and the disorder of the clothing.
There were two balls through the right arm,
one through the left, one through the right
breast into the lungs, one through the chin
and neck, and another through the left
wrist. Mrs. White was shot twice, one
ball entering under the right
ear, and passing directly into
the brain, the second passing through the
chest from the right side. There were no
indications of a struggle. The sheriff be-
lieves the shots were fired by one person and
from one revolver as a number of empty
cartridges were found on the floor, all of
which are of the same caliber.
There are conflicting rumors regarding the
use of choloform. The physicians claim
that none was used, but the testimony of the
first neighbors at the scene is that the odor
of choloform was suffocating. The young
negro, Coles, has been arrested and placed in
Jail to await the result of the coroner's in
quest, which will be held tomorrow.
Crouch was worth about 50 900, ,000 possess
ing property in Jackson county and sheep
ranches in Texas, near Fort Worth. He
leaves two sons and one daughter. A pocket
book containing S105 and a certificate of de-
posit for $500, was found or window in
Whites room. An empty cartridge box,
which had contained thirty.tw caliber balls,
was found in the negro Coles's room.