Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-08-22
A STRANGE TRAGEDY.
TWO MICHIGAN OFFICERS SHOT
DOWN DOING THEIR DUTY.

An Attempt by Charles t. Wright to Pre-
vent the Seizure of His Logs for Nom
Payment of Taxes Results Fatally to Two
Men-The Murderer I'm Custody.
A Frankfort (Mich.) dispatch says:
The steamer Dewar returned from Of
ter creek, having on board Sheriff
Case and posse, also G. T. Wright who
killed Officers Marshall and Thurber Satur-
day night. The body of Deputy Sheriff Mar
shall, which is now lying at Watson's un-
dertaking rooms, Is being prepared for
burial.
The trouble which eliminated so tragi-
cally Saturday originated years ago in the
refusal of Wright as president OF the
Otter Greek Lumber company, to pay
taxes ON his mill property, which is To-
Gated in Aral township. The town has
Htgqas qsaSy ts rSss TgAs e 60 tbs Bay sEs s
and his influence over the rather rough
men in his employ made collection a very
difficult task. Three weeks ago the sheriff
seized a number of logs belonging TO the
Otter Greek company, and Charles Il.
Wright made several determined efforts to
regain possession of the stock, but failed,
owing to his inability to furnish what the
authorities deemed a good and sufficient in
demnity bond. In consequence OF this
seizure, the mill has been idle for some
time. Wright put in an appearance at the
mill with force of men Saturday and swore
that he would have possession of tie logs.
Under Sheriff Marshall and Supervisor
Thurber, accompanied by posse, were
guarding the property in the interests
of the township, and Marshall tried to dis
suade Wright from doing anything hasty.
Wright would not listen TO reason, aud
ordered his men to release the logs and to
shoot the first man who interfered. Mar
shall and ,hurber drew their revolvers
and in the name of the State called on
the mob to disperse and not to molest in any
way the property at issue. Wright's
men fell back Whereupon Wright
nimseII, wniGe VIII rage, 1Iadv a 1 I've SS 90
waru UiIo i0gs and the under sheriH uls-
charged his weapon into the air. Tho
harmless action was answered by Wright,
who shot to kill, and at the first report
Thurber fell, shot through the brain.
Marshall called upon his men to arr st
the murderer ard uphold the law. A
moment later he too, fell, mortally wound
ed But the mill hands, who had lent
Wright some encouragement by their
presence, saw the magnitude of the crime
even before its enraged perpetrator, AMI
fell back, leaving him alone. Wright
walked away, caressing his Martini rihe
and disappeared in the timber back OF the
mill, his friends joining him and planning
at once for his escape.
The news OF the murder and the promin-
ence of all parties concerned, spread like
wildfire over the country The sheriff on
arriving at the scene of the tragedy as
sembled over 200 brawny settlers with
fixed determination to hang the muir
derer. The crowd learned that an Indian
knew Wright's hiding place, he was asked
to reveal it, but on getting no answer
ttas ibnrN-eir -slioo lnf kLs >lls.- ~ ----
hung up to a pine tree until nearly stran-
gled, and let down to get his story. He
at last confessed that Wright was hiding
on the north bluffs and had made arrange
ments with him TO await the de-
parture of the lumber barge Seymour;
then to meet him at the sand bluffs with a
skiff and place him On board. The book
keeper, Fred Crosset was questioned. lie
confessed all he knew Of the crime, during
the midst Of which Wright suddenly APP
peared at the edge of the woods and vo'u1-
tarily surrendered to the sheriff, and at
the same time, claiming protection. He
was taken on board the steamer, and Is
now lodged at Frankfort JAIL with armed
guards on watch to prevent any attempted
violence.
The story of the capture is thus told
by KYouse:
After the hanging and confession OF tho Indian
started out to tho north OF town. near the
, timber with Constable Ernest, searching fol
Wright. We heard slight cracking OF twigs
: and being old hunters listened. Ernest said
Z 'There is n man lodging from tree to tree
; Soon / covered the man with my rifle, calling
Sna% ans%sr Ct RsSEn Rfsra fGs %1
{ that you, Charley?" nervous answer, Yes
: Ed for God 8 sake don't let them shoot me-"
Wright then came toward me with his hanu
up cautioned him to keep quiet and cool
aud then called for Sheriff Case. At this SOM
4 Of the crowd rushed up bowling and yelling II
rage One of the first to arrive was William
Marshall a brother of the murdered Deputy
with rifle calling ~Are you the man who sho
and killed my brother2" Wright nervously an
a swered mo. sir" Marshall raised his rifle
sprang forward aud wrestcd the gnl
away Other deputies then came TO m
assistance forming n circle about Virgin
and kept the crowd away. We hand
cuffed him, and in searching him found
forty-four caliber bulldog revolver in his rlgn
, hin pocket We hurriedly marched him 10 III
;, residence AID placed him under arrest beior
n the rest of the settlers were aware OF his cal
! turc. Mrs. Wright had just returned from
!, absence OF several months in Iowa ana WI
r consin and the meeting between husband IN
Y wife was pitiful in the extreme, In an hou
p the officers quietly slipped Wright out the paS
= way and through q strip of woods TO the las
u shore then on board the steamer Dewar, an
tof,v oil