The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-16
A MICHIGAN TRAGEDY
MILLIONAIRE ZIMMERMAN AND
a FAMILY KILLED.
Bloody Deed by s. 3. Minchel1 at Pent-
water-Assassin Alleges Oppression
by the Millionaire, and Fear that His
Family Would Live in Poverty.
Story of the Crime.

the history of Western Michigan occurred
at Pentwater Thursday night. As a re-
suit William B. o. Sands lies dead, with
his right arm missing, and s.. B.. Minchell,
his wife and three children are dead at
their home.
The whole is the work of Minchell, who
made an attempt to assassinate Sands and
then returned home and shot every mem
Der of his family dead. After completing
his bloody work he turned the weapon up
on himself and sent a bullet into his
brain.
MI. Sands, who had been at work in the
office of the Sands & Maxwell Lumber
Company, started for home at $50. When
within a few rods of his house a man be-
gan firing at him with a rifle. Sands
started for the nearest house. The assas-
sin followed and fired as he ran. MI.
Sands ran into the yard, and was chased
around the building until five shots in all
had been sent after him. Then the as
sailant disappeared in the darkness. Sands
was found a moment later. Three out of
the five shots had penetrated his right
arm and the fourth had inflicted a flesh
wound in his leg. The arm was so badly
shattered amputation was decided upon,
though the physician Informed the family
that the operation would probably prove
fatal. Sands was 65 years old and his re-
covery was unlocked for. He died Friday
evening.
Not until morning was the identity Of
the assassin known. S. B.. Minchell, an
insurance agent and attorney, who made
a speciality of collecting bad debts, had
had some words with Sands over Il bust
ness transaction, and suspicious were en-
tertained that he might be the man. Off
GERS called at his home to make an inves-
tigation, but were unable to gain admis-
sion. They concluded the family was
away from home, and did not try to force
an entrance then. With the circumstan-
ces pointing more toward the theory that
Minchell was the assassin, it was decided
to place him under arrest. Then, as be-
fore, no one answered the rappings, and
the front door was broken down. The
sight that presented itself almost frOZe the
intruders' blood. Mrs. Minchell and her
husband and daughter, Ruby, were found
| dead in the sitting room. The two little
boy babies lay dead in their bed, all pierre
ed with bullets.
Minchell three years ago lived in Chi
cage. His family were well known and
popular. His daughter, Ruby, had a
class in music, and was considered a COM
petent Instructor. Minchell was a lay
reader of the Episcopal Church. He was
a devout man, but of quarrelsOme DISPOSE
ton and several times had trouble with
neighbors and business clients. Some
time ago in an alteration with the post
master he is said to have threatened that
officials life.
Temporary insanity was at first sus-
pected, but it now appears the crime was
p~remeditated and deliberate. From a let
ter written by Minchell it is proved that
Minchell contemplated the tragedy two
months ago. Fear of van and poverty
for his family is the excuse offered.
In the letter he told a Chicago friend
should his family survive him he hoped
the friend would look after them, showing
that at the time of writing he was yet I'M
decided as to whether or not he should
murder the family.
Minchell left another long letter, the
gist of which was that Sands had prom
Used him all of the company's business and
now demanded one-third of the commits
sion. Minchell was badly involved and
extreme love for his family prompted him
to kill them rather than see them suffer.
MI. Sands was % years of age. 1t was
expected he would have been chosen a
delegate to the Republican national con-
vention had he lived.
In a letter addressed to A. Williams.
Rookery building, Chicago, Minchell said
he had allowed himself to be elbOwed out
of the swim and had become a detriment
to his friends and was incapable of help
ing his family. He referred in detail to
the good qualities of members of his fam
lily and declares that their home relations
were most happy, although he was the
victim Of overmastering business trou-
bles and anXieties. He felt, he said, that
the resolution which led pauper fathers
to Kill their pauper children was Spartan
lk and that no one not so situated could
realize the situation.
Samuel B. Minchell came to Chicago
about ten years ago. He had previously
been a justice of the peace in Colorado.
He had little success as a lawyer beyond
becoming the salaried attorney of the
Woman's Protective Association. He oc-
cupied an office with Attorney c.. C. Bow
ersock for two or three years and was a
partner of County Attorney Robert S.
lies for about six months in 1891. He
and Mr.. lies disagreed about money mat
tiers, and he had a desk for a while with
Case & Hogan. He left for Michigan in
1892 and was not known to have returned
to Chicago since then.
Minchell owned a home at Argyle Park.
He rented one floor to another family. The
two families quarreled and Minchell evict-
ed his tenants. The whole npiChborhOod
became involved in the squabble, and
Minchell was repeatedly arrested on as
sault and battery warrants.
Every case against him was dismissed
by the justice of the peace at Argyle, but
Minchell's enemies persisted in prosecut-
ing him until he filed an injunction bill
to stop them. Judge Tuley granted a
temporary injunction and the matter was
adjusted.
Tim Sheehan, discharged from the ser
vice of the Cincinnati Southern Railway
because of color blindness. killed himself