The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-29
A CHASTITY TRAGEDY.
The Crouch Family and a Male Guest
Deliberately Murdered Near
Jackson, Mich.
First Ohloroformed, They Are Shot in
Turn, and the House Then Robbed.
Telegram from Jackson. Mich. !

Telegram from jackson, Mich.l
Jacob ID. Crouch, - years Of age, ono Of
the wcalthicst farmers In Michigan, his
daughter, Mrs. Eunicc White, 81 years Of age,
his son-in-law, Henry ID. White, rs years OF
age, and Moses Policy, a stranger from Penn
sylvania, were shot and killed In their beds IN
Crouch's home, in the township OF Spring
Arbor, Jackson county, some time Wcdncs-
day night. BESIDES the four persons MUIR
dered, there were In the hOusc at the time
of the tragedy colorcd boy, named
George Boles, who worked on the farm, and
Mrs. Julia Reese, domestic. The lad slept
in room upstairs and Mrs. Reese in 4 hack
bedroom downstairs. Mr.. and Mrs. White
occupied \ front bed room on the parlor,
Polleya bedroom in the rear OF this one, and
Crouch an alcOye between the parlOr and
sitting-ro0m. Mrs. Reese heard no noise
during tho night, but Bolcs says when tho
wind was blowing very strong. which II
thought to have been about o'clock In the
morning, he hcnrd pistol shots below,
and being frightened he secrcted him.
self In box In his room, where he
remained until morning. He then discovered
the crime which had been committed and
alarmed the neighbors. The rooms smelled
strongly Of chloroforR. Plainly -dcfined
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 to the
Will, With u HuHAHOt WOuuu TIT uNVA III 0I0
neck. White was shot under the right car and
In the head. and there we're marks on the scalp
showing that another bullet had grazcd II.
There were two bullet holes in Mrs. Whites
right arm, one in the neck and another in the
head. She had evidently, from her dis
order cd appearance. made u struggle for lite.
Moses Policy was shot in the buck OF the neck.
The shooting was apparently done with one
revolver, rs Il number Of empty cartridges of
the same caliher were found on the floor.
The motive for the crime was undoubtedly
plumber. Crouch was believed to have 4
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 el,s00 with him. One
rumor Is 10 the effec. that Crouch had re-
Gently received Sai,O00 In payment for the
interest of deceased son In Texas cattle
ranch.
A search of the house by the officers showed
that u bureau tai been ransackcd. In the
pockets of Policy, Who W as known to have a
large sum OF money the day before there
were only a few cents.
One theory Is that Foley was followed TO the
house by professional burglars and
thieves who knew that he had
large sum or money. Another Is
that dcspcradoes, who knew that Cu h
had received money from Texas, and who
perpetrators. A third connects the hoy B0les
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 I'm the
slightest, aud il would be physical impossi-
bility for him To get into II. A brother of the
boy was discharged by Crouch few days
since. The boy has been lodged in jail and
the domestic, Mrs. Reese, IL detained In GUS
tody of the Sheriff pending the investigation.
Crouch WAS worth about g., OOa, 900 OF rop-
erty. located in jackson county. and sheep
In. srxAeA Eart IL
leaves two sons and one daughter. A pocket
book q ntaining sos and 4 certificate Of de-
post for $500 we're found on the window-sill
in Whites room.