The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-11-29
SLAIN IN THEIR BEDS.
An Awful Tragedy in a Michigan
Farm House.
Four OF the Inmates Cruelty Murdered
by Midnight Robbers.
TELEGRAM from Jackson. Mich


Jacob d. Crouch, - years Of age, one of
the wealthiest farmers in Michigan, his
laughter, Mrs. Eunico White, 33 years of age,
ais son-in-law, Henry ID. White, 80 years Of
age, and Moses Policy, stranger from Penn
sylvania, were shot and killed in their beds in
Crouchs home, in the township of Spring
Arbor, Jackson county, some time NedneS-
day night. BESIDES the four persons muir
dered, there were in the house at the time
Of the tragedy Il cOlored boy, named
George Boles who worked ON the farm and
Mrs. Julia Reese, n domestic. The lad slept
in room upstairs and Mrs. Reese in Il back
bedroom downstairs Mr.. and Mrs. White
occupied II front bedroom OFF the parlOr,
Policy bedroom in the rear of this one, and
Crouch an alcovc between the parlor and
sitting room. Mrs. Reese heard 10 noise
during the night, but BOles says when the
wind was blowing very strong, which is
thought 10 have been about = o'clock i'm the
morning, he heard pistol SHOES below,
and being frightened he sccrctcd him
self in box i'm his room, where he
remained until morning. He thSn discovered
the crime which had been committed and
alarmed the neighbors. The rooms smelled
strongly of chloroforn Plainly-detlncd
tracks were found outside the house, indi-
eating that some one had stood guard there
while the murders were committed. When
found, Crouch lay on the bed, his face 10 the
wall, with gunshot wound in the back of his
neck. White was shot under the right ear and
In the head, and there were marks on the scalp
showing that another bullet had grazcd il.
There were two bullet holes i'm Mrs. Whites
right arm, one in the neck and another in the
head. She had evidently, from her dis
ordered appearance, made n struggle for life.
Moses Policy was shot in the back of the neck.
The shooting was apparently done with one
revolver, as number of empty cartridges of
the same caibcr were found on the floor.
The motive for the crime was undoubtedly
plumber. Crouch was believed TO have
large sum of money in his possession, and
Policy, who formerly worked for Crouch,
had come to Michigan for the purpose of
buying stock, and had S1,100 with him. One
rumor is to the effect that Crouch had re-
Gently received $4,000 in payment for the
interest of a deceased son in Te'as cattle
ranch.
A search of the house by the officers showed
that n bureau Ia been ransackcd. In the
pockets of Policy, who was known 30 have a
large sum of money the day before, there
were only few cents.
one theory is that Policy was followed TO the
house by professional burglars and
/ thieves who knew that he had
n large sum of money. Another Is
| that desperadoes, who knew that Crouch
had received money from Texas, and who
also knew that he was veal ny, were the
perpetrators a third connects the boy Roles
with the crime. His story was very inco-
| herent, and an examination OF the box, IN
| which he claimed TO have hid himself, shows
/ that the contents were not disturbed in the
| slightest and it would be physical impossi-
biity for him to get into il. a brother of the
boy was discharged by Crouch few days
since. The boy has been lodged in JAIL and
/ the domestic, Mrs. Reese is detained in Gus
! tody of the Sheriff pending the investigation.
Crouch was worth about s., 1000, 900 OF prop
erty, located In Jackson county, and sheep
ranches in Texas, near Fort Worth. He
leaves two sons and one daughter. A pocket
book containing Sl05 and n certificate of de-
posit for $500 were found on the window-sill
/ i'm Whites room.