Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-05-08

was inc nrSt Witness 10 TESTIFY mat,
few days ago, in Hamilton saloon,
Allen told him he had been at work on
the Crouch case for three months, that
he knew where the missing papers were
and could produce the murderers in 10
minutes. Did not state when or how
he came in possession of the papers.
Said he had worked up the matter all
alone and had done better work than
the Pinkertons.
John Schimmel, an officer of Ypsi-
lanti. was the next witness. He testi-
fled that he had been following Allen
about in this state and Canada, being
in the employ and pay of Detective
Gum employed by the Crouch family
and the attorney of Jud Crouch and
Dan Holcomb. He had heard Hol-
comb say he saw Allen dig up the pa
pers near the railroad track in Mason,
but don't know why he did not have
him arrested then and there; heard
Holcomb tell Allen that If he knew any,
thing more about the papers he had
better tell all about it; Allen replied
that he knew nothing more about 1t
than he had told him.
Henry Holcomb was then put upon
the stand and testified that he was
brother of Dan Holcomb, and q farmer
living near Eaton Rapids. Commenced
hunting up this case at the time Har-
rington was examined. The witness
then related the story of his being
stopped by three masked men with a
dark lantern about IL clock at night
while going out to his brothers. and be-
ing shown and having read to him por-
tions of papers by the men, which he
identified as belonging to tho murdered
man; they said they would let Captain
Crouch have them for $4,000, and
would meet ne at Wilson'S crossing
on the next Tuesday night; went there
at that time. but found no one there.
The men said the papers had been bur-
led but said nothing about the murder.
The witness believed Harrington was
one of the men who stopped him but
could only Judge by his size.
ALLEN told him where the
papers were buried about week after
| he and had visited the Jail at Mason.
He told ne Harrington had more of
the papers. Allen told me to go to a
large oak stump opposite the section.
half a mile from the crossing, at Will
sons and indicated exactly where to
/ find the jar; Mr.. Gilbert Wilson and Mr..
| Gum were with me; we found the can
under the root of the oak tree, as indi
Gated, under only few inches of dirt
| and leaves; never was at the spot be-
| fore; i found the can myself; Jud
Crouch and Dan Holcomo knew moth
ing about our going out there. 1t was
about o'clock in the morning when
we found the papers. Don't know why
! the transaction was kept from the
proper officers; don't know why the
complaint was made without the
knowledge or csnsentof the officers; was
under the direction of Detective Gum,
who was working for Capt, Crouch,
and received money to use in the case
| from both of them.
The can of papers was produced
and found TO be nearly all let
tiers, written by DAYTON and Bryan
Crouch, and other unimportant papers
of no value to anyone except members
of the family.
Detective A. j. Bishop of Detreit
police force was sworn and testified that
he was present at the central station
when Allen was brought over from Can
ada. Eeard Simmons tell Allen that
he (Simmons) was an officer ana he
wanted TO know something of those
papers: he told Allen they had been
found and il was no use talking, and
Allen said when the time came he would
lay a statement of the entire facts
before the prosecuting attorney OF Jack
son county; Simmons then said that all
the Howletts in the world couldn't save
him. Allen at first said that Henry
Holcomb gave him the papers; Sim
mons said he was guilty, or words to
that effect, and Allen told him he
he'd he would not say how he
got the papers, but that he didn't
get them from Holcomb; at this time
| should Judge Allen did net know that
Jones was Mr.. Holcomb until Simmons
told him who he was. Allen said he had
written to Mr.. Hewlett telling him he
would tell him all the facts in the
case, and he wanted to see Mr.. Hew-
lett as soon as he got to jackson; AL
len was very much excited when told
that Jones" was Henry Holcomb; he
was mad and excited; when he was ac-
cused of the murder by Simmons, and
when Simmons told him tho papers
had been found he told him he was q
liar; turned and left the party and re-
fused 10 make any further statement;
knew Allen was arrested for the muir
der, but did not know what Murray and
Simmons wanted TO get out of Allen;
| was Disguised and did not pay much
a attention m tho onpuarsatiOn did nOt
know and did not suppose that they
were holding him in Detroit simply to
pump him.
c. G. Huntington, deputy sheriff Of
Ingham county, testified to seeing AL
len and Henry Holcomb at the Mason
Jail together April a and IL. Had no
conversation with Allen. Eolcomb eY-
planned to me where Allen told him the
papers were and his, description was
very minute, but the witness didn't
think he could find the papers from it.
Dennis Simmons of Chicago was
sworn. Witness was very careful in
making his replies to questions. He
still thought ''Scotty" could place his
hands on the valuable papers; didn't
think Allen called him liar at the in
terview in Detroit. He made remark
which Allen misunderstood. Holcomb
h adj told him that Allen had been talk
ing about the papers. II was known
| a week before that the arrest was GO
| ing 10 be made. Allen told witness
that Holcomb did not know anything
about the papers. The expenses of
the witness were paid by Mr.. X. +.
Erazer (Crouch and Holcomh's a.tOr-