Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-12-11
HOLCOMB'S TRIAL.
Examining Witnesses to Determine
Who Murdered the Crouch Family.



there were about 105 more witnesses
for the people, and probably as many
for the defense. After some legal
wrangling Alonzo Mccain, super
visor of Summit, and chairman OF the
committee appointed by the board to
look after this case, was examined. his
testimony related to the finding OF q
tree in Holcomb's woods where some
one had been shooting at mark as
testified Saturday. He described the
location of the woods as south OF Hol-
combs house and northwest OF Rich.
ard Crouch's.
Two sections of the tree from which
the balls were taken were brought into
court, also the empty SHELLS found in
the leaves. They are SO caliber shells
and fit Smith Il Wesson revolver.
Witness related a number of expert
ments made by himself with pistols OF
this caliber. He also caused micro
scopic examinations to be made to see
whether all these shells were fired from
the same revolver.
Raw Clements was the first witness
called in tho afternoon. Witness said
that Holcomb once asked him if White
and Mr. Crouch kept book between
them, and if they did not and one of
them should suddenly drop away,
would not things get badly mixed upP"
Witness said he presumed they kept n
book.
On cross-examination witness said he
told Henry White of the conversation
with Holcomb as soon as it occurred.
Since leaving the stand on Thursday
some one had been to witness house
and asked to have him come up and tell
what he had not stated.
Edward Kenzie was put on and stated
that he was at Holcomb's the Sunday
before the murder, and he heard shoot
| ing in the woods, and Judd and Hol-
comb came out of the woods without
any guns or firearms in sight. The de-
Tense objected to the testimony unless
the people could show that Holcomb
was shooting there. Objection sus-
tanned unless the prosecution could con-
meet defendant with it,,
Thomas Courtney, the constable who
reached the scene of the murder about
eight o'clock and saw Judd Crouch with
shells in his Land, was next sworn.
Witness saw the two open bureau
drawers. Saw blood on the floor after
he had been there about al hour. 1t
looked like pool and had been
stepped upon. Witness heard Holcomb
testify at the Jacob ID. Crouch inquest
that he never owned or bought 49,
caliber revolver in his life.
Witness saw two tracks near q win
| 1Atu annfbar 1naHinn from tho
house; the tracks were made by rub
Der boot. The heel was defined in the
earth. The heel was y by p inches.
Witness saw something in the nature
of letters in tho impression of the heel,
and thought it might have been the
manufacturer stamp, but was not
positive what it was. Saw track go
ing in southwesterly direction from
the house. This track led to the stone
wall by the railroad. Thought this
was larger than the one by the window.
and was made by rubber boot, q No.
Q or 10. The heel was plain and was
evidently new, as the creasing on the
sole was distinct
DIR. Gibson was recalled and identi-
fed the bullets taken from the Crouch
victims. The two which were split OH
ly half open were also found.
Detective Harris of Pinkertoa's force
was next called. He visited uolcomb's
house and found the pistols March 2,
1884, in searching the house. Found a
38 Smith & Wesson center fire. The
pistol was among the clothing in bu-
reau drawer; found box Of center
fire cartridges.
He afterwards saw Holcomb and told
him that " inney wanted to see him at
the Hubbard house; at the interview
Holcomb was asked if he had boon up
nortE and admitted that he had in June
and October. He had been up in all
four times. The first visit was to see
his brother, the next to buy horses, the
last TO induce his brother to move down
here.
After some hesitation Holcomb ad-
mitted that he had SO Smith g. Wes-
SOD revolver; six-shooter; said he
bought it at Lansing, bat couldn't say
where in Lansing. He lost the pistol
while hunting, but did not know wheth
er in the lake or woods.
Some discussion arose as to the ad
mission of this testimony, and the de-
tense asked that Harris original report
sent to the Chicago Office be produced,
and court adjourned.
John G. Harris, Pinkerton detec-
tive, was called at the opening of court,
Dec. 2. He produced the written state
ment of the interview between himself,
Sheriff Winney and Daniel S. Holcomb.
which Holcomb had signed. The
statement was offered in evidence.
1t contained statement of defendants
actions and whereabouts on the night
of the murder.
Sheriff Winney was recalled and stat
ed that when Detective Harris asked
Mr.. Holcomb if he hal a 3S.caliber
Smith ,& Wesson revolver when he
went up north, Mr.. Holcomb choked
| up and asked for water. l touched q
bell to summon q boy, hut Mr.. Hol-
comb continued to choke and arose and
drank out OF the water pitcher standing
in the wash bowl on the stand in the
bedroom" The witness identified the
38.caliber double-action, center fire
Smith d. Wesson revolver which he had
found lin Mr.. Holcomb's house. On
cross-examination Winney said that he
had known Holcomb for years but had
never known him to choke up before
and call for water.
James s. White, father of the mur
dered man, was the next witness put
on the stand. His testimony was mere
ly statement of the relations existing
between his family and tho family OF
Jacob ID. Crouch, and statement of
the papers found IN the bureau drawer