Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-19
BROKE In HIS HEAD
Deadly Farm Quarrel Near
Marine City
RICHARD COOK FoULLY KILLED
BY Q Blow From . Neck-Yeks in the
HANDS of InfuriAsed William
colby-sPeedy J.stics.

Maine Cry, Mich. April is.-Rich-
ard Cook and William Colby. farm
hands employed on William Steven
sons place four miles from mere quar-
relied Saturday nlght over Mr.. Steven
SOFAS adopted daughter. Colby struck
Cook with . neckyoks while the two
were engaged together in the stable
Cooks skall vas smashed and he died
instantly.
Colby. who 10 about "A years OF age,
hat besa employed on The farm for
fiye months- Saturday afternoon ne
drank good deal of hard cider and,
while not intoxicated, his conduct at
the supper table showed the effects of
the liquor. Mr.. Stevenson MAS ahsent
from the house working on the high
way. After supper Colby disappeared.
Cook, who Was 81 years old. and who,
from . residence OF eighteen years. had
come TO be considered one OF the fam
ily, found the young man IN the cham
Der OF the adopted daughter. hiding
under the bed with his shoes of. HIS
presence being detected, Colby emerged
from his place of conceaiment, and Mr..
Stevenson returning Cook and Colby
proceeded to the stable to take care or
the team, the former reproaching the
young man for his conduct IN invading
the girls bedroom. A Few minutes
later he came from the stable and IN
formed Mr.. Stevenson that one OF the
horses had kicked Cook. The iatter's
dead body MAS found AZ the feet or one
of the horses. Colby disappeared. but
. few hours later gave himself up TO
Marine City authorities.
story Of the Murder.
In an interview Colby said that there
rad been hard feeling between HIM and
Cook over the adopted daughter for
thee weeks past.
..Both of u.s." he said. wanted the
girl. wanted 10 marry her. l stood
IN with her better than he. Cook Was
always finding fault with me, aud
heading me of whenever be could. l
went under the girls bed with the IN
tenton OF getting INTO her bed unknown
to her, after she retired. l had just
settled down when Cook came along
and found me. He wanted TO know
what in hill was dong there. calling
me hard names, and made me get out.
had taken my shoes Oft so AS not TO
make any noise. As we came out to-
Rether, Stevenson bad just come in
from scraping the road with the horses.
We took them to the barn. While
there Cook threatened TO sdueal
on me to Mr.. Stevenson. / tried to
coax and persuade him not TO and
offered him $50 if be would keep still.
Cook refused the money and told me
would have 10 leave the place at once
and never show up again or ne would
drive me off. TINS l refused to do.
Cook then took the pitch fork, which
Was hanging on the wall IN the stable
near the neck.yoke, and began putting
the bedding under the horses. not
going, he made for me with the fork
and struck At me three times. lodged
and picked up neck-yoke and
wbacked him on the head, laying him
out then struck him two more times
on the head. dropped the neck-yoke
by ms side and picked up the fork
banging 1t up IN the proper place"
speedy Justice Promised.
When asked Why he hung the fork
up he replied: "For fear IT might get
broke" Colby Is cool-headed and does
not realize his act. He says he Is glad
Cook 10 dead and he is willing to 60 TO
state prison. Mr. Stevenson's people
say Colby had no reason 10 be Jealous,
rs Cook mas been q member of the fam
lily ever since q boy and would do for
the girl the same as any father would
for one of his children. When the
body was found, the horses were all
bedded and the chores done. From
the location of the body 1t is supposed
Colby drew it back and close to one of
the horse stalls to appear rs If = horse
kicked him. The family think Cook
was suspicious OF Colby, and had been
watching him on the sly for some time,
and that this - how he came TO dis
cover Colby under the bed.
Colby was taken Saturday night TO
Che county Jail at Port Huron. The IN
qnest adjourned to this morning has
been discontinued as unnecessary, bv
order OF Prosecutor Hovey. Sheriff
Bernatx and Mr.. Hovey have Colby's
written statement admitting the muir
der and giving full account OF the
tragedy. THIS morning Colby will be
arraigned 1t Port Huron. will plead
guilty and will receive his sentence.
This afternoon re will be taken to the