Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-05-19
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
JOSEPH HARVEY. OF HOWARD CITY,
MONTCALM CJUNTY. KILLS HIS
WIFE, GRANDMOTHER AND UN
Gle AND FATALLY WOUNDS
HIS INFANT CHILD AND
FATHER-IN LAW.

Then Tries TO XIII Himself. but Infiic g
Only a Slight Wound.
Victims of the tragedy: Killed.
Mrs. Carolina PiersOn, jagged 70, the
murderer's grandmother; Robert Pier
sou, the murdcrer's uncle; Mary Har-
vey, the nurderer's wife. ILiured,
the murderer's infant child; John Lo-
gansayer. the mnrderer's father-iu.
law.
Howard City, Mich, May IL
Joseph Harvey, aged about 30 years
old, last evening shot and killed his
grandmother, Carolina Pierson his
uncle, Robert Pierson. and his wife,
Mary Harvey; probably fatally wound
ed his three-months old baby; badly
wounded his father-in-law, John Log
anslayer, and then attempted to COM
NIT suicide.
Mrs. Pierson, who was 20 years old,
and her son, Robert, aged 35 years,
lived mile north of here. Harvey
went out to the house about o'clock
las, evening. He claims he found his
uncle and his grandmother engaged in
a quarrel. Harvey says he attempted
to interfere, when his uncle stabbed
and killed the old lady. Then Harvey
drew revolver and shot his uncle
dead.
The appearance of the bodies does
not bear out Harvey's story. Robert
Person was found sitting in chair,
and he had evidently been shot with
out warning. After shooting his
uncle, Harvey stabbed him three times.
Mrs. Pierson had evidently retired
for the night, and was attracted to the
room where the tragedy occurred by
the shooting. She evidently made a
desperate struggle for her life, as the
walls and floor of the room are covered
with blood. She had been stabbed
many times.
After completing his awful work at
the Pierson residence, Harvey returned
home and changed his clothing, AID
shortly afterward, with his wife and
baby, started for the home of John
Loganslayer, his father-in-law, two
miles south Of town. Mrs. Loganslay-
er died yesterday morning and the
young couple had arranged TO spend
the night at the homestead. Mrs, Har.
vey decided to sit up with the body Of
her mother. and her husband and
father retired quite early. The shoot
ing at the Logauslayer house occurred
about o'clock this morning. Harvey
walked into the room where his wife
sat by the side of her dead mothers
body and without a word fired two
shots at her. Both took effect and the
woman lell uedu.
Harry then fired shot at his three
baby, the bullet SCATTERING
one OF its arms, and, evidently taking it
for granted that he had killed the child
made his way To the room occupied by
his father-in. law. The old man had no
chance to defend himself and Harvey
fired two bullets into his body, neither
Of which touched Il vital point, however.
As soon as the old man fell to the, floor
Harvey turned the revolver on himself
and fired. the bullet taking effect in his
neck. The wound is not a serious one,
and the murderer will recover.
Harvey was arrested this morning.
lie was cool and collected and dis
played no emotion. After his arrest for
he murder of his wife, he informed the
sheriff of the tragedy at the Plerson
Investigation proved that
lis story was true. The officers say the
Person house resembled a slaughter pen
when they entered this morning.
1t is said that Mrs. Pierson had about
800 in cash in the house. This money
has disappeared as well as several deeds
which she was known to keep IN the
rouse.