The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-17
A TRIPLE TRAGEDY
Two Barracks Women Muir.
dered by an Unknown.
IN a BUGGY WITH ALLEN
HIS STRANGE STORY OF A NIGHT
ATTACK.
BUT PISTOL FOUND IN BUGGY
Allen Was Stabbed ard Shot and
Claimed that the Murderer Was
Husband of One Ct the Women
Which is Doubled.

Which is Doubled.
Watertown, N. Y, April 1G-A special
to the Standard from Sackett's Harbor,
ten miles from this city says:
One of the most horrible crimes ever
committed in this village was perpetrated
N the early hours this morning, but by
whom is not known.
Mrs. WILDER Crouch and Miss May
DAILY lost their lives, and George Allen
is close to deaths door. Last evening
Allen engaged a rig of a liveryman here.
He then went to the barracks of the
Ninth infantry and got Mrs. WilbeI
Crouch and Miss May DAILY, two domes-
tics employed by Lieutenant Anderson.
They drove about the village and sur.
rounding country nearly all night. Be
tween 3 and 4 O'Clock this morning they
were coming along the road leading from
the village to Brownville, when accord
ing to Aliens story, Crouch leaped from
the roadside and began firing at the three
occupants of the carriage. All three
were hit by the bullets. The horses be.
came frightened and ran back to the
stable in the rear of the Eyerleigh house.
One of the women was between the
dashboard and the wheel with her head
hanging nearly on the ground. The
other was lying on her side. The cloth.
ing of both was badly torn. The dress
of one of the women was burned along
the arm as also was her flesh, which
makes it conclusive that the firing was
done at short range, causing the cloth
ing to become ignited In the rig was
found six chamber revolver with four
loaded cartridges and two empty cham
bers. The revolver is the property of
Allen
According TO Aliens story, he was
thrown out of the buggy near the iron
bridge which spans Mill Greek and fell
into the water, but soon extricated him.
self and shot and stabbed as he was
managed to crawl to the kitchen door
of the quarters, but on his arrival there
was unable to speak,
Crouch was arrested and placed under
close surveillance. \ knife was found
in his pocket, but no blood stains were
on it, nor was there anything about his
appearance nor about his actions, to point
toward his guilt. Crouch and his wife
had not lived together for long time.
The coroner's jury brought in a verdict
to the effect that Crouch killed the wo-
man and Crouch was brought to the JEFF
ferson county Jail in this city for safe
keeping. When he arrived here this even
ing he appeared cool and collected and
said, laughingly: Well Sheriff, they
have brought me to you but l guess l
wont be with you long"
He appears to be confident that his
innocence viii soon be established.
Allen the man who was with the wo-
man, reached the Mess Hall at 4:30 in
the morning, when he tainted, but not be-
fore saying: Get the women out of the
creek"
He was taken to the hospital wet from
head to foot and showing signs of hav-
ing been in the water. For some time it
was impossible to get any statement from
him.
Stimulants were~giyen and as soon as
he was aroused the following statement
was given, but only in answer to oues-
tions, he saying that it hurt his throat:
Crouch did it. 1t was done by tie
Creek. Crouch grasped the reins of the
right horse and | leaned out Of the rig.
1t was a one seated top buggy. | was
struck by lash and then shot. I tried
to get out my revolver, but before
could do so was shot again. In getting
out my revolver, l accidentally shot my
self in the throat. The women were shot
and on top of me-"
Allen was asked how many times he
was shot and would hold up his hand
with fingers outstretched, meaning that
five bullets had pierced his body. After
the shooting occurred Allen says he was
driven long distance by Crouch and
afterwards fell out. He partly recover
ed, but grave fears are now entertained
for his recovery. Allen has been in
charge of the officers club. He has been
keeping company with Miss DAILY and it
is said they were to be married to-mor-
row