Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-02-01
THE STATE.
A BRUTAL MURDER.
Triple Murder Attempted-A Woman
killed-Her Husband and Grand
daughter Wounded.
Robbery the Motive.

koDDery the Motive.
About eight miles from Lansing In the
township of Delhi, on forty acre tract
situated some eighty rods back through the
woods from the road, Christian II. Stochal,
aged 81, for five years has lived with his
wife and son fred. He was apparently at
peace with all the world. With the family
also lived their motherless grandchild,
Minnie Faltz, l3 years old. She attended
the German Lutheran school in Lansing
during the week, returning TO her grand
parents on Friday evenings. They were
poor, honest, Woodworking Poles and lived
after the manner OF their race Their
house was rude log cabin consisting of
but one room with an unfurnished loft
overhead. The furniture consisted of
dilapidated cook stove, two rude cots,
table and few wooden chairs, the whole
worth less than twenty-five dollars. The
loft was reached by n ladder. In clean
to- at the rear of the house was "a quantity
of farm produce and implements, while
further back stood rude matched shed
which sheltered their only horse, and
which was surrounded by barnyard con-
tanning two small couple of cows.
Five years ago when the Stochals bought
the place il had just been cleared and since
then every energy and every dollar had
gone TO improve and pay for IL. The son
Fred had helped his parents in their strug-
giles and was apparently dutiful and faithful.
Having paid for the place their next object
was 10 Dullu IL Darn. Iuty ndu recently
sold several head of cattle and from this
and other sales had saved Sl35.
Saturday night, Jan. 20, at o'clock Min
ME had retired To "a cot in one corner of the
room, her grandfather being asleep in an
other cot The grandmother was disrobing
when gun was discharged through the
window. The charge struck Mrs. Stochal
in the breast. At the report Minnie raised
up in bed, when there was another shot,
and this time Minnie received CHANGING
charge across her breast, arms and face
The wounded and terror stricken grand
mother, looking for place of safety. called
TO the child TO climb up into the loft. She
did so and Mrs. Stochal followed. AS the
latter's hands were on the top round of the
ladder another charge struck her in the
back, just below the first wound, and she
fell 10 the floor below
At this iuncture the old man, aroused by
the reports, sprang from his bed, and
scarcely awake endeavored TO take in the
situation. Another shot doubtless intend
ed for him, was fired. II missed its mark
however, bat few stray shots struck him
below and above the right eye, but not de-
stroying the sight.
The old man started TO give the alarm
and as he passed through the barnyard, he
saw the assassin, but was not observed by
the latter, and recognized him. The child
ventured down from the loft and, lighting a
lantern, walked to the house of Charles
Grant,. half mile south.
Deputy Sheriff Cook and Coroner Ben
nett OF Lansing were telegraphed TO from
Holt, and went to Stochal's place. 1t re-
uuired very little time TO convince them
who the murdurer was almost beyond the
possibility OF doubt.
August Tanto, 10 years old who is we'll
acquainted with the Stochals the day be
fore the murder borrowed Winchester re-
peating rife of Amasa Turner, who lives
four miles from Lansing and near Tanto's
parents. Young Tanto filled the chamber
of the gun with cartridges, loaded with bird
shot. and went TO Stocha's where he re
manned from 3 to 6 o'clock in the afternoon.
He then left, saying he was going TO Chas
Grant, house, but instead the officers
found that he had hid behind haystack ten
rods from the cabin, 10 which he afterwards
returned by circuitous route, as shown
by the tracks. Outside the window were
found two empty shells, and one loaded
which corresponded exactly with shells
TantO had secured at Turner's. The muir
derer stood so near the window in firing the
fatal shots that the sashes were burned by
the powder
After the shooting Tanto went to Holt
Station. three miles away, and bought a
ticket for Mason, going south on the 9 80
Michigan Central passenger train. a tele-
graph operator of whom he purchased the
ticket has fully identified him by a descrp.
ton since furnished Tanto is of medium
helPht, ROUND, German looking lace, ana
slight sandy mustache, with bushey hair
brushed up under his cap
Fred Stochal, the 20-year-old son OF the
murdered woman, came TO Lansing the day
before the murder was committed and
stayed with friends there. He has been
arrested aud detained on suspicion Of being
implicated with Tanto in evolving the
crime. He evinced no emotion whatever
when informed of his mothers death, and
absolutely denied, at first, knowing anyone
by the name Of Tanto, but afterwards adj
mitted that he knew the whole family aud
had been acquainted with August since they
were children.