The morning news., 1897-04-17
BLOODY WORK IN A BUGGY.
TWO WOMEN KILLED AND A MAN
BADLY WOUNDED.

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The Latter Claims the Shooting Was
Done by the Divorced Husband of
One of the women-The ex-Hus-
band Under Arrest and Claims Vie
Can Easily Prove His Innocence.
The COrOncr's Jury Charges Him
with the Crime-A Revolver De-
longing 10 the other Man Found
In the buggy.
Watertown, N. Y, April 16.-A special
to the Standard from Sacketts Harbor,
ten miles from this city, says: "one of
the most horrible crimes ever committed
in this village was perpetrated in the early
hours of this morning, by whom it is not
known.
Mrs WILDER Crouch, a divorced wo-
man, and Miss May DAILY lost their lives,
and George Allen is close to deaths door
Last evening Allen engaged a rig of
livery man here. He then went to the
barracks of the Ninth Infantry and got
Mrs. Wilber Crouch and Miss DAILY, two
domestics employed by Lieut.. Anderson.
They drove about the village and sur
rounding country nearly all night. Be
tween and o'clock this morning, they
were coming along the road leading from
this village to Brownvlle, when, accord
ing to Aliens story, Crouch, the former
husband of Mrs. Crouch, leaped from the
roadside and began firing at the three oc-
enpants of the carriage. All three were
hit by the bullets.
'The horses became frightened and ran
back to the stable in the rear Of the
Everlelgh house. one of the women was
between the dashboard and the wheels,
with her head hanging nearly on the
ground. The other was lying on her side
THE clothing 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 clothing TO become ignited. In the
rig was found a siX-chamber revolver
with four loaded cartridges and two empty
chambers. 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 creek, 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. A knife was found in
his pocket, but no blood stains were on 1t,
nor was there anything about his appear
ance nor about his actions to point to-
wards his guilt. Crouch and his wife had
not lived together for long time.
"The coroners jury brought In 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, laughing: "Well, sheriff. they have
brought me TO you, but l guess 1 won't
be with you long"
He appears to be confident that his In
nocence 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 before
saying: Get the women out of the
creek"
He was taken to the hospital wet from
head to foot ana showing signs of having
been in the water. For some time 1t was
impossible to get any statement from
him. Stmulants were given and as soon
as he was aroused the following state
ment was given, but only in answer TO
questions, he saying that It burt his
throat: Crouch did It. IL was done by
the creek. Crouch grasped the reins.
frightened the horses and 1 leaned out OF
the rig. 1t was a one-seated top buggy.
1 was struck by lash and then shot.
tried to get out my revolver, but before
could do so / was shot again. In getting
out my revolver 1 accidentally shot my
self in the throat. The women were shot
and fell on top of me-
ALLEN was asked how many times he
was shot and would hold up his hands
with fingers outstretched, meaning that
FIVE bullets had pierced his body.
"Allen has been in charge of the off,
GERS club. He has been keeping COM
pany with Miss DAILY, and II is said they
were to be married"