Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-11-29
A FIENDISH DEED.
Four People Chloroformed anc
Murdered in their Beds


morning four persons, Jacob Crouch.
aged "a, a widower, Henry White,
aged So, son-in-law of Crouch, Eunice
White, aged 33, daughter of Crouch,
all of Summit township, Jackson
county, and Moses Policy, of Trans
fer, Mercer county, Pa, were found
murdered in their beds, all having
been shot through the head behind
the ear. 1t is supposed they were
chlorotormed first, as no signs of a
struggle appeared, each victim
lying as if asleep and an odor of chic
roform was noticeable when the bodies
were discovered. Mrs. White was also
shot througA the left arm. No clue
has as yet been discovered. although
tracks around the house indicate that
guard was placed while the murder
was being perpetrated. Crouch is a
wealthy farmer living seven miles
southwest of Jackson, and the
owner OF an extensive sheep
ranch IN Texas. 1t is rumored that
he had just received about $50. 1000
from Texas IN payment of sales madef
on his rancho. Bankers here state
that no money was deposited by
Crouch, and it is presumed the money
was in Crouch's hands. Policy was
stopping at Crouch's, having lust re
turned from Texas with a large
amount of money for the purpose of
buying blooded stock. The theory
is that he policy was followed
from Texas by the murderers.
for the purpose of robbery. The house
was thoroughly ransacked and every
thing of value carried away. A young
girl, adopted daughter of White, and
a negro aged Is, who were sleeping
up stairs, say they heard no firing. al
though the negro says he heard a
humping noise about the middle Of
the night and thought it was caused
by fierce wind which was blowing.
Mrs White was expected to become
a mother soon.
Crouch slept In cove opening into
the sitting room, near the front part
of the house. His daughter and heN
husband occupied the front bed room
opening into the parlor; in another
bed room, opening also into the par
lor, lay the remains of Policy. Crouch,
who was lying with his face to the
wall, and had bullet hole in The left
side Of the head, two inches back of
the ear. The ball passed through the
brain. Death was instantaneous.
White was shot twice, the ball enter
ing the right side of the neck, three
inches below the ear, severing the
artery; the second ball entering the
temple near the right eye. He was
discovered lying on his back
as if peacefully sleeping. His
wife was shot five times and made a
hard struggle for life as is judged by
the position of the arms and disorder
the clothing. Two balls went through
the right arm, one through the left
arm and one in the right breast 1to
the lungs, one through the chin and
neck, and another through the wrist
Polly was shot twice, one ball enter
ing the opening of the right ear and
directly into, the brain, the second pass
ing through the chest from the right
side. There are no indications of
struggle The sheriff claims that
the shots were fired by one
person and one revolver as number
of cartridges were found on the floor;
all show the same calibre There are
conflicting rumOrs regarding the use
of chloroform. Physicians claim
chloroform, but the theory of one per-
son doing the butchery and the testi-
mony of the first neighbors at the
scene who claim that choloform was
suffocating. The young negro Boles
has been arrested and jailed to
await the result of the .coro-
ner's inquest which will be
held tomorrow. Crouch was worth
about So, 000,00 of property in Jack
son county and sheep ranches in
Texas near Fort Worth. He leaves
two sons and one daughter A pocket
book containing $105 and certificate
deposit of $500 was found on a win
dow in Whites room, and an empty
cartridge box of 80 calibre was found
in Negro Bole's room.
JACKSON, Mich, Nov 23.-The ne
gro Boles, from an interview with the
sheriff, claims that when he heard a
noise, as stated in yesterdays seport,
he sprung from the bed and concealed
himself in a chest near by, which was
found to be too small to admit his
body. He further claims hearing the
cry of ''oh = but heard no firing.
The former story is highly imprOba-
BILE. Sometime since his brother was
discharged by White, and a quarrel
ensued. Boles' brother threatened to
kill White with an iron bar he held in
his hand. The sheriff has been hunting
for Inn. On the night of the 22nd
two clerks frona Jackson, coming
from a wedding at Concord at 2
o'clock a. NJ, saw three men standing
on the roadside near Crouch's. The
report now is that the family drank
cider before retiring which is believed
to have been drugged. A quantity
which remained in the pitcher has
been sent to Ann Arbor for analysis
Should it prove to be drugged, the
stomachs of the victims will be remov-
ed and examined. The ball taken
from Crouch's head this morning and
found somewhat battered, but it is
proved to be 80 calibre. The scene
of the murder was visited by large