Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-03-05

the negroes Of the southern States
If negro is murdered in the south
the affair is Investigated by Congress
at great expense, but if a white man
is murdered in the north, Congress,
does not care picayune.
Not long ago terrible series O
murders took place at Jackson, in this
State, and the perpetrators of the
deeds have not yet been discovered
Why doesn't Congress investigate
these foul and mysterious murders
Why not try and render rs much ser
vice to the people of Michigan as
they do for the people of the south
ern States. The Michigan people are
just rs good as the southern people
and as much entitled to Congression-
al aid as are their brethren in other
portions of the Union. All murder
ers deserve to be punished, and if il
is beneficial for Congress to investi-
gate murders in the south, then it is
but right that they should send out a
committee to investigate the murders
at Jackson.
The following, sent to the New
York Sun by its Jackson correspon-
dent, will give Congress some idea of
the terrible and lawless crimes that
were committed not long ago at Jack
son:
All Michigan is Mortified by the
dark mystery surrounding the Crouch
tragedy, and by the strange surprises
that have followed each other so rap
idly since the opening of the bloody
record. James ID. Crouch came to
this State from New York many
years ago and engaged in farming.
He prospered in all his enterprises,
and amassed a'large fortune. Besides
his farm, which was one of the larg-
est and best in the State, he owned
extensive tracts of land in Texas, and
was largely interested in stock raising,
both in the West and here.
About twenty-five years ago his
wife died, leaving an infant girl nam
ed Eunice. Besides this child there
were three sons and daughter. The
latter had already been married to
Daniel Holcomb, and lived on the
latter's farm, adjoining that of her
father. Judd Crouch, then mere
boy, lived with Mrs. Holcomb. He
was a cripple, and for many years was
not expected to live, but while with
his sister his father paid for his care.
The two other sons, Byron and Will
liam, were in Texas, experimenting
the estate there, in which both were
interested.
The Holcombs did not prosper.
Mortgages and debts accumulated,
and when compromises could not be
made they would appeal to Mr. Crouch
for assistance. Many times he gave
them large sums of money. Once
they presented him with a bill for
$4,000 for supporting Judd from in
fancy, and when, after some high
words, he paid it, he threatened them
with disinheritance. The old man,
as years crept upon him, grew morose
and gloomy. He lived in his great
house alone with his young daughter
and the servants. For several years
when she was away at college he was
quite alone, and was seen but rarely.
On her return q few years ago, a
beautiful and accomplished girl, she
introduced some life into the old
home, and, as her father was in failing
health, she took upon herself the duty
Of attending to his correspondence
and keeping his books. In the course
of time Eunice was wooed and won
by Henry White, young business
man Of jackson, and Mr.. Council
consented to their union on the prom
Use that they would live with him.
This was assented to, and White took
up his residence at the Crouch home
stead.
During the last year Crouch fire.
quently talked of his business affairs
in the presence Of the Holcombs and
his daughter Eunice. 1t was under
stood that before long he would call
his heirs together and divide the proper
ty between them. He did not wish to
make a will, and he thought it would
be more satisfactory all around to dis
pose of the property by deed. For
some reason, however, this was post
poned from time to time. Presently
there came a prolonged quarrel be-
tween the old gentleman and the Hol-
combs over the settlement of some of
their indebtness. He held several of
their notes and mortgage or two on
their property, which the understand
ing was, should be deducted from
their share in the estate when the
time for settlement should arrive.
The Crouch homestead was never
locked at night, the old man refusing
to have locks or bolts put on the win
dows or doors. All the books and pa
pers save those of a family nature were
kept by Eunice in a desk, but the
Holccmb notes and mortgages, as well
as some other papers of similar
character, were in blue and gold
pasteboard box which rested on a
whatnot in the sitting room. Last
November it was learned that Eunice
expected soon TO become a mother,
and that her father looked forward
with pleasure to the event which he
and she fondly hoped would crown
their happiness.
On the morning of Nov. %, Bolles,
little negro boy who was employed
about the house, ran to neighboring
farmers, and, almost SPECIFICS with
f,;esLt eo;J tbot M Crouob bo1 haou