Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-04-10
A SURPRISING REVELATION
A Thief's Confession in Regard TO the
Crouch Murder.


Crouch Murder.
A new clue has been struck in the
Crouch murder case which is expected
not only to clear the family from any
implication in the great crime but bring
Justice &c, the real butcherers.
The facts as obtained by a cores
pondent of the Detroit Daily Times and
published in it's issue of the 9th. are as
follows: January 22d and '31st a man
registered at the Union hotel under the
uames of Marsh" and Wilson"
When in the city on January 31st he
approached Robert Z. Frazer and said
to him: II know more about that Crouch
murder than anybody in this vicinity
does.' He also told Mr.. Frazer a few
incidents that made him suspicious. In
February Wilson" or "Marsh" whose
real name is Thomas Scotty, and who is
know as. "Scotty," one of the shrewdest
burglars in America, was arrested in
this city for stealing suit of clothes
from the Union hotel, and placed in
Jail where he has been confined ever
since.
Not long ago "Scotty'' asked leave
TO have MIR. Frazer visit him at the Jail,
and there told him that he knew where
the pokers that were taken on the
night OF tho murder were, and had seen
them. He said Capt. Crouch was wrong
when he swore that he sent draft for
$4,000 to apply on Dayton Crouch s
estate. for it was only $1,000. 'Scotty'
then detailed the wording of the con-
tract existing between Jacob and Capt.
Crouch for buying DaYton's property,
and stated word for word as to the
agreement concerning the 80 days ac-
ceptance of the draft. Capt. Crouch
admitted that the correction was right,
and that he had never disclosed the ma
ture of the contract to d living being.
Frazer was convinced that "Scotty"
the case. Murray went to Chicago and
was an accessory, after the fact, and en-
ployed Detective Eber Murray to work
laid his case before Lieut.. Joseph KEEP
ley, superintendent of che Chicago po-
lice force who instructed Dennis SIM
mons to return 10 Jackson with him.
Simmons knew "Scotty," and the lat
ter revealed enough 10 convince SIM
mons that "Scotty' knew more than
he would tell. -
Kepley came here Wednesday night
and for the last three days the pair OF
Chicago men have spent most of the
time with "Scouty." He told them that
his partner was now in company with
the men who did the killing, and that
they had the papers in their possession.
He stated that the papers were sealed
in piece of lead water pipe and buried
and that at one time he carried them on
horseback from Minneapolis to st. Paul.
When asked to reveal the names of the
parties he replied that if he did his life
would not be worth nickel, but intimat-
ed that there were considerations under
which he would speak, Kepley told
him he had no reward to offer and If he
was an accomplice he would close the
inquisition.
''Scotty's" subsequent conversation
convinced Kepley that the fellow was
telling some truth; and the case was
laid before Prosecuting Attorney Hew-
lett.
Lieut.. Kepley told The Times cores
pendent that he mad known 'ScottY
for 10 years, and that he was a danger
Gus character He started as bell boy
in Chicago, serving six years. He was
next known as a "hotel draft" or thief,
and though implicated in many burglar
les, he has often escaped conviction.
About Christmas. 1882, be
went TO Frazer and asked
him to negotiate some papers for him,
which proved to have been stolen in
Detroit. Frazer of course declined and
told the fellow to close out. He Knew
"Scotty," and had once cleared him in
a burglary case.
Detective Harris, a Pinkerton man,
who has been in the case since January
1, places little Importance to ''ScoUty's''
story. He believes it is simply dodge
TO get out of Jail, and he cited number
of incidents when the same game had
been unsuccessfully played. The de-
tense, however, are satisfied that the
right trail has been struck at last and
the mystery will soon be solved.
Capt. Crouch said to Mr.. Kepley: 81
want to find the murderers. If the
facts implicate some unfortunate person
unable to procure defense I'll pay fol
such defense from my own purse, but
the guilty parties must be known and
punished" The captain further re-
marked that no living person could
cite portions of the papers as 'Scotty'
did unless he had seen them.