The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-30
PARDONED By PINGREE
Men Convicted of the Molitor
Murder Set Free.
FINAL CHAPTERIN A FAMOUS CASE

The Four Men Who Were Serving Life
Sentences at Jackson Prison for Killing
Albert Molitor In 1873 Released by the
Governor-were Not Tried Until Nine
teen Years After the Crime-Had Lived
Upright, Honest Lives.
Lansing, Mich, Jan. 30.-Another
chapter in one of the most famous cases
in the history of Michigan was writ
ten by Governor Pingree Thursday when
he attached his signature to the par
dons of August Grossman, August
Fuhrmann, Henry Jacobs and Carl
Voegler, who were serving life sem
tences in Jackson prison for the murder
of Albert Molitor, at Rogers CITY,
Pressure Isle county, in August, 1873.
Molitor was known as the king or
Presque Isle" He came to Rogers CITY
when the county was wilderness and
established himself as lumberman and
storekeeper. Through his efforts col
ony came from the old country ana set
| tied themselves there. Being man or
rare education and great natural aplii-
| ties Molitor became the leader anu
actual ruler of the county. He was
|
elected to the principal county and
township offices, and handling the funds
at his pleasure. 1t was alleged tnat
through his commanding influence as
member of the county board, he would
secure the levying of taxes for all man
ner of improvements and then pocket
most of the money, expending but
small part of the amount raised and
giving no account of the balance. FL
nally he came to be the most hated man
in the county.
Conspired to Kill Him.
Whom natience was exhausted 100 Of
Molitor's neighbors and victims held
secret meeting and entered into con-
spiracy to take his life. Each partlcl-
pant took an oath of secrecy, ana IL
was further vowed that If any one re-
vealed the secret the others should
swear the crime upon the victim. SUB
seouently twenty of the conspirators
met one night in August, 1873, and went
TO Molitors store. Surrounding the
building, they shot through the win
: dows. mortally wounding Moltor and
his clerk, Edward Sullivan.
Molitor was so ardently hated by the
community that practically no attempt
was made to bring the murderers t'
Justice. 1t was not until nearly TWEEN
= tv wears later that William Repke, ont
= of the conspirators, spurred by ms con
v science. made a confession, imphcauhs
: himself, the convicts above nameu
Stephen Reiger. Herman Hoeft, An
drew Banks, August Baragas and oth
= ers now dead. SAS his confession III
d arrests were mada. The trial of Gross
d man at Alpena in January, 1898, at
z Oft DoO
J. n,e's case was conducted by Attorne
5. General Ellis. and the prisoners wer
d ably defended On the testimony Q
l. Repke. Grossman was convicted, an
1t several months later the conviction G
r. Jacobs Voegler and Fuhrmann FOL
,r lowed. Reiger was subsequently triee
y but Repke refused to testify, and
E was acquitted.
l. UptustIy Accused and Convicted.
lie The accused strenuously denied the
puiIt. Although admitting their cor
T. nection with the original conspirac!
~ they denied having been present on IN
Is night of the murder During the year
p intervening between the crime and IN
l. arrest the convicts lived honest. VI
ne right lives and were highly respecte
so IN the community. After they had bee
LII in prison year or more Repke mac
u another confession wholly exoneratin
rt them from any participation in II
8 actual crime, and the careful investig'
40 ton made by the pardon board col
ne WINGED the members that the men we
S4 innocent. The result was that unan
er NOUS recommendation that they be pa
ar doned was made to the governor.
The report of the pardon board
ry verely reflects on the conduct OF Alto
ey ney General Ellis, who is accused
N knowingly introducing false certi
ed cate of birth of one of Grossman's ch
n dren in order to impeach his testimon
n Repke. having confessed participant
= in the killing. had nothing to hope
on from his second confession. and
de spend the rest of his days in prise
as Fuhrmann is now 73 years old. Jaco
GO Grossman "a and Voegler 81. Go
OF ernor Pingree went to Jackson Thui
an day afternoon, and after interview
ne each convict handed him his pardon
It's. -----
q wild Animals in Plenty.