The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-01-04
JEFF. MASON HELD.
FOR TRIAL FOR SPRAGUE
MURDER.

STRONG EVIDENCE POINTING TO HIS GUILT
WHAT THE PEOPLE EXPECT TO PROVE
AN INTERESTING CASE.
Stephen Sprague, an elderly man, was
employed by e. Van Orden of South
Haven in and about his store. Monday
morning, March 6, 1898, he left South
Haven on foot to go to the home of VIM.
G. Betz in the township of Covert, TAX
ing with him small basket containing
beef steak and some peanuts fol TIE Betz
children. He arrived at the Betz place
about nine o'clock in the morning and
remained there during the day. Mrs.
Betz cooked the meat that Sprague
brought and, while there, Betz took out
his pocket-book and paid Mrs. B. fifty
cents, saying that he had little over
three dollars left. The pocket book was
small, light colored, calfskin book.
Sprague left the Betz place at about
the hour of four o'clock in the afternoon,
saying that he thought that he would go
down the narrow gauge railroad track, as
it was better walking that way. He
started east from the Betz place on the
highway leading to the railroad track.
George Mason, father of Jefferson
Mason, lives adjoining the Betz place on
the east. Within few minutes after
Sprague left Betzs, JEFF. Mason left his
fathers place, going north on the road
known as the muck road, which is parallel
with and west of the railroad track. He
followed this road until he came to the
east and west town line road between
Covert and South Haven, which road
runs by Packards station on the narrow
gauge railroad. He was seen going east
on this road, toward the railroad track,
by one VIM. Feegles.
Rubber boot tracks, corresponding in
in measurement to the same kind of
boots worn by Mason, were found leading
across the orchard of VIM. Bailey, made
by person travelling in the direction of
the highway running north and south
parallel with the railroad and from a
quarter to half mile west of the road on
which Mr.. Joseph Landry lives, and about
one and three-fourths miles from the
long bridge over Derrick creek. Mason
was seen passing this point by Mrs.
Landry and her son at about five o'clock,
perhaps little later. About sundown
Mr.. d. j. Robinson, who lives in the
vicinity, heard two shots in the direction
of the bridge. A Mr.. Pratt, also living
near by, heard the same shots, which were,
fired within few seconds of each other.
Sprague not putting in an appearance
at South Haven, his friends became
alarmed, and Bert Smith, his brother-in-
law, in company with Fred Arms, Chas.
Lotwine and w. G.. Betz, instituted a
search for him. This was on Thursday,
the fourth day after Sprague's disappear
ance.
They went down the railroad until
they came to the long bridge, where their
attention was attracted by har riker
chief on the end of one of the mlAsills
of the bridge. Going down into she
ravine, they began an investigation. Olyc~
of the party discovered what appeared 20
be piece Of cloth waving in the stream
that runs through the rayine. Cutting a
hooked stick, they drew this object from
the water and with pulled out the body
of Sprague, the missing man, with two
bullet holes in his head, one entering at
the corner of the right eye and the ott =
through the lobe of the right ear. There
was also bruise on the left side of the
face Further examination revealed the
basket that Sprague had carried with
him, concealed underneath the end of
one of the timbers of the bridge and con-
tanning loaf of bread and some cookies
that Mrs. Betz had given him. His
scarf, pipe bowl and some other things
were found scattered around on the
ground. Examining Sprague's clothing,
a revolver was found in his left hand
coat pocket, all of the chambers of which
we're loaded with ball cartridges, except
that the one on which the hammer rested
was empty, not even containing an ex-
ploded shell. His left hand pants pocket
was partially pulled out and his pocket
book was gone. An open faced silverl
watch found on the body had stopped at
62S The place where the body was
found sunk in the creek was some tenor
twelve rods from where the basket and
other articles were discovered.
jeff. Mason returned to his fathers
place on the evening of the murder, arriv-
ing there, ,etween 7:30 and 500 O'Clock.
He ate lunch and went across the road
to see Byron Ingalls,, remained thefo
few minutes and then went home
He was arrested shortly after the find
ing of Sprague's body and taken to ~
lookup at South Haven. Ingalls, heafoI
of his arrest and went to see him. jeff J
told him what he was arrested for AM.
also told him that he had a revolverI
and box of cartridges in small box
up stairs at his fathers place, and said
it would look bad il that stuff was found
among his things. He requested ingalls,
to go and tell his father that he, JEFF, had
sent him after the gun and cartridges and
!. 70 get them and put them away, and also
81 his father that he wanted to see him.
ssssSalls went that same night, after
e Nss's folks had gone to bed, called
l. sn4sls made his errand known ~