Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-03-13
MICHIGAN.
THE EXAMINATION
Of Jud Crouch and Dan Holoomb for the
Four Murders Committed November
81, 1888,

night of November Fl, 1888, began In
jackson on the 9TH inst The excite
| ment was intense, and the crowd that
began to gather in the early morning so
great and boisterous as to lead one to
think they had assembled for holiday
| rather than to listen TO an examination
| intended to ascertain who were the
| guilty parties to one of the most fearful
crimes on record At $50 the doors
of the court room were thrown
open, and the excited crowd began to
surge in, though only enough were ad-
mill ed to comfortably fill the hall. At
| 10 o'clock the prisoners were brought
in, accompanied by Miss Edith Hol-
comb and other lady friends OF the
| family.
Justice Hunt took the chair at 1915,
and began proceedings by warning the
spectators against any demonstration,
emphasizing bis warning by reading
the law providing punishment for such
violation of court etiquette.
The names of 80 witnesses were
called. the first one of whom was Dan
| iel Reardon, who testified that he worked
for Henry White last winter, and was
among the first to arrive at the scene OF
the tragedy. Nothing important was
drawn from Reardon on direct examine
/ ton. On cross-examination he was
caused toShov the whereabouts of him.
self, Ray ard VIM. Clemens, and one
Anderson, the night of the murders.
George Hutchins was sworn and testi-
fed TO the situation at the Crouch
house as he found it that morning. He
sent the Negro boy Bolles to notify Dan
Holcom }, aid said there was not much
difference in the distance from ,Hol.
combs to the Crouch house by the road
or across lots. Witness drove to Dams
and took Dan to Jackson to notify DIR.
White. Could not remember his con-
yersation with Dan on the way. Hol-
comb did not ask many questions. nor
did he say anything abont the barn
doors or about being up in the night.
Witness proposed to return home, and
Dan accompanied him as far as the
cemetery. where they overlook Mrs.
White. Dan got out and she got in.
| Witness next saw Dan after dinner, at
Crouch's. Did not see him inside the
house Did not see any feeling mani
tested by Dan or Jud. On cross-exami-
/
Dams before witness got there. On re-
direct examination witness said he knew
Jud had short leg and had to favor it
in walking.
Chas. Parks was sworn and said that
he went to Kinckerbocker' to notify
him He had no conversation with him
except to tell him of the murders. Wit
ness, returning to Hutchlns's met Jud
and Foy going to Crouch's. Nothing
was said but 'good morning" They
were driving at an ordinary gait. Cross
examined w orked for Crouch six days
Left the Saturday before the murder.
Was discharged for being too familiar
with Julia Reese. Had no particular
trouble with Crouch. Saw Julia Reese
one Sunday night. 1t might have been
the Sunday night before the murder.
She stopped at Hutchins's Witness
, was called from bed to see her.
When court re-assembled in the after
noon, Harrison Snow of Spring Arbor
was the first witness sworn. Last saw
Jacob ID. Crouch three weeks before
his death. Never knew otherwise than
that Dan and Jud were on friendly
terms with Jacob. Mr.. Knickerbosker
notified witness of the murder about
o'clock, and said all the victims had
their throats out. Witness went to the
house and found the middle bureau
drawers in Pelley's andCrouch's rooms
disturbed, and saw blood spot eight
inches in diameter on Whites wrapper.
Saw blood on Mrs. Whites night dress.
Had known Jud 10 or IL years. Jud
had talked tn witness about White and
the marriage of his sister. In speaking
of his brothers Byron and Dayton. he
had said that at Dayton's death letters
were found on him showing that Day
ton and Eunice were conniving to get
possession of the property, and that
there was talk of 200 acres being added
to Whites farm. He (Jud) spoke OF
Eunice being about to have child, and
OF Byron's being opposed to her mar
riage and said Byron found fault with him
(Jud) for not trying to prevent it.
Witness saw Jud when he first arrived
at the house, the morning otter the MUIR
ders. He appeared as usual and ex-
hibited no marked signs of grief; but
witness thought he was excited. Jud
assisted in keeping the crowd out and
put horse blankets on the floor to pro-
tect the carpets. Witness heard Jud
tell the people to let everything alone
until the officers came. Witness passed
the night passed the night after the
murders at the Crouch house, with Jud,
Foy and others. Jud and Foy said that
the night previous was stormy and they
were awake at o'clock. Witness had
taxed with Jacob about the prop
erty. Jud told witness that a
friend of his had talked with
White about the property. Henry White
told friend that Mr.. Crouch was
wealthy, but not SO rich as Henry would
be at Jacob age. Jud said he thought
Eunice would get the bulk of the prop
erty. He spoke of letters from Eunice
found on Dayton. Jud said that when
boy his father told him he could have
the old homestead, but said his father
had treated him cody of late. and he
did not expect the farm. He could
make living himself and did not want
the farm. This conversation about his
fathers intention was after the murders;
that he was going to have the home
stead and thought the other property
would pay the other heirs.
Mrs. Elmer Hatch of Spring Arbor
was sworn, and testified to the appear
ance of the house when she arrived
there early on the morning following
the murder. She also testified to a
conversation with Julia Reese, in
which the latter very positively stated
that she did not hear any noise the
night before, and believed that she had