Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-01-01
THE STATE AT LARGE.
A MYSTERIOUS FIRE.
Frank Knoch, and His Entire Family MUIR
dered and the House Burned

A little north Of Woodmcre cemetery, about
five miles from Detroit near the DIX road
stood little One-stOTy cottage, owned by
frank Knock, and occupied by himself. wife
and two little children. The house was burned
10 the ground ON the night oi December Ia.
and the entire family burned 10 death.
The house was "A frame house in the center
Of a nIne-acrc lot, in which the young man
raised vegetables for the Detroit market, at
which occupation he made money and was
rising In the world. The house was a modest
one, of single story in height, divided into
two rooms, one a bedroom the other family
or Giving room. The father and the eldest
boy slept in the bedroom, the mother and her
child in arms slept in the northwest corner oil
the other room.
The fire was discovered about o'clock a.
IN. by James Whipplc, Joseph Kama aud
George Laurain, as they were returning from
a lodge meeting They drove rapidly over TO
the scene OF the fire, but were too late. The
roof had fallen in and the walls formed a
square Of lame. The house was but "A films
concern and could not have been atre very
long before these men arrived, but II had done
its work and there was nothing left 10 save.
The three men could do nothing but throw
snow on the flames and their efforts were fu-
tile They did not at that time know what
the wall OF fire hid. Then the neghbors
gathered and all turned their attention 10 saw
ing the stable. 4 line OF buckets was formed
To the frozen creek but the worthless stable
people were watching the sInouldering ruins
The floor fel into the cellar and In the brie;
glimpse of the inside Of the house then OBJ
tanned the spectators saw the tragedy which
the lire had committed in secret
This was about four o'clock and twenty or
thirty men who had gathered were reused 10
new energies 10y the awful sight OF the black
ened victims Constable ROpellc engineered
The rescung OF the bodies. Snow was thrown
upon the embers till the work OF handling the
4 Il h.a Ipl
les of husband and wife were tenderly lifted
out They had fallen together and seemed as
II casplng each other in death, one OF the
children was found near them the other was
80 burned that 1t was impossible to distinguish
that IL was once child
Everything points to one of the most inhu-
man butcheries ever committed in the state
A revolver ready cooked, with all
the cartridges empty was found IN the
ruins. IL is known that knoch bad been say
ing up money for some time for the purpose
OF paving his taxes and making payment on
his property, and must have had several hun
dred dollars about the house \ short time
before the frc Mr.. knoch had discharged a
hired man, who became in consequence oil the
discharge very abusive, claiming that Mr.
Knocn should have kept him through the
winter. Suspicious are strongly aroused that
the discharged man is the real criminal
Gle post norton on the rcrna NJ was con
Quoted by DR.. owen al the house OF The elder
Mrs knOCn. IN the presence OF Prosecuting
Attorney Rob nson, Detective Harris and JUS
tioe Rodlo. The body of Frank Knoch was
first examined. Tie fore part OF the skull had
be. n burnt away but the brain renamed IN
tact and lodged firmly within II vas 22cali-
Der bullet ba lily missha ened. The blood
about the brain was coagulated, showing that
death had taken place some time before his
bod, was burned The bullet had evidently
entered the left temple an inch 10 the lett and
above the eye. The course OF the ball was
slightly upward.
Tue head of Mrs. Knoch was next examined
and a bullet found In the brain. There was
no hemorragc, and death must have occurred
but moment before the body was consumed
in flames.
! The bodies Of the children showed 20 bullet
marks Dr. Owen is positive from the rcla-
tive course tie bullet took in knOch's BRAN,
that the pistol was held in the hand OF some
person other than himself The head OF the
woman was in such a condition that II wos
impossible TO Judge from what direction the
bullet Cuter"d.
a reward OF 5000 has been offered for The
apprehension OF the murderer, and The officer
are doing al in their power 10 clear up the ter
Tible mystery.