Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-11-20

The Crouch Case Again Before the
Public.
Proceedfn . ofthe Trial.

The Crouch case was taken up on
the 10th inst. and the remainder OF the
day was devoted to examining Jurors
as TO their competency TO serve. Sew.
eral have been selected, but none vet
chosen. Hereafter court will open at
3 a. M, and will continue in session.
excepting two hours for noon, until
O'Clock p. M. each day until the case is
brought to close. In the absence of
Prosecuting Attorney Hewlett, who is
very i'll, w K.Gibson has been ap.
pointed prosecuting attorney pro tenn.
Tuesday, the 18th. was spent in So
curing a panel of jurors for the Crouch
case. There was something of q drowsy
air about the court room. People seem
in great measure to have lost interest
in the trial, and even the prisoners,
Judd Crouch and Daniel Holcomb, do
not appear much moved by the pro-
ceedings.
The examination of the jurors for the
Crouch case was resumed on the 18th,
but at the hour of adjournment no jury
had been secured. A week has now
elapsed since the work of securing a
jury was begun, and it is uncertain
when the trial proper will begin. So
many OF the jurors have 'formed q
positive opinion that it will take strong
evidence to remove" that without fur
Their examination they are excused.
THE JURY SWORN.
The examination of jurors was con-
tlnuei when court re-assembled Cd the
10Th and continued until 1890, when.
after brief consultation both sides an
noulceG themselves satisfied with the
jury as it stood, and the oath was at
once administered. The list of jurors
is as follows:
Frank Z. Hall, Rivcs, farmer, 43 years old.
Joseph Rogers, former, Napoleon, "a years
old.
Lewis G. Brown, Parma, farmer, 90 years old.
,Othniel Preston, Napoleon, farmer, SO years
Elias F. Pierce, Sandstone, farmer, Al years old.
George Faye, Napoleon, station agent, 30 years
William Merrills, Blackman, farmer, 81 years
old.
Lewis D. Van Horn, Blackmau, farmer, IS
years Old.
John Foster, Tompkins, farmer, "a years old
,Sewcomb Brown. jackson, grocer, &c years
Horace Perry, Parms, farmer, 80 years old
Charles Is. Kress, Blockman farmer, "a years
old.
After Judge Gridley addressed the
jury, they were then taken charge of by
Deputy Sheriff Videto. and court adj
| journed until afternoon, and when it
re-assembled w. X. Gibson presented
the case for the people. He read the
complaint aud recited the history OF the
murder and the events that followed
He explained the theory of the prosecu.
ton. Tho Crouches were not killed by
accident nor was robbery alone the
motive. The house was robbed not
alone for money but TO secure q box of
valuable papers. he said the prosecu.
ton would show that there were per-
sons interested in the death of Jacob
Crouch. They would also show that
Dan Holcomb had Jacob Crouch's life
insured on forged application; that
Crouch never knew about il and that
the policy was finally lost through ac-
cident. Holcomb was in need of money.
Mr.. Gibson spoke OF Holcomb's actions
at the inquest and examination and
that the prosecution would show con.
spiracy among Dan, Jud and Foy. The
defense objected to any argument show
| inS conspiracy uniess Gioson coulo
show that Dan was connected with it.
The afternoon was spent on this point.
The statement of the prosecution that
Holcomb secured the life insurance
policy on a forged application is new
feature of the case.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Glib
son concluded his opening address to
the jury in the Crouch case at Jackson
Saturday. The theory of the prosecu.
ton is that there was conspiracy
among Jud Crouch, Dan Holcomb and
James Foy. The case against the prison.
ers rests entirely upon circumstantial
evidence. Testimony is now being
taken.