Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1889 — A STRANGE TRAGEDY. [ARTICLE]

A STRANGE TRAGEDY.

TWO MICHIGAN OFFICERS SHOT DOWN DOING THEIR DUTY. An Attempt by Charles T. Wright to Prevent the Seizure of His L,ogs for NonPayment of Taxes Results Fatally to Two Men—The Murderer in Custody. A Frankfort (Mich.) dispatch says: The steamer Dewar returned from Otter creek, having on board Sheriff Case and a posse, also C. T. Wright, who killed Officers Marshall and Thurber Saturday night. The body of Deputy Sheriff Marshall, which is now lying at Watson’s undertaking rooms, is being prepared for burial. The trouble which culminated so tragically Saturday originated years ago in the refusal of Wright, as president of the Otter Creek Lumber company, to pay taxes on his mill property, which is located in Aral township. The town has never questioned its right to the taxes, but Wright’s steady refusal to pay them and his influence over the rather rough men in his employ made collection a very difficult task. Three weeks ago the sheriff seized a number of logs belonging to the Otter Creek company, and Charles T. Wright made several determined efforts to regain possession of the stock, but failed, owing to his inability to furnish what the authorities deemed a good and sufficient indemnity bond. In consequence of this seizure, the mill has been idle for some time. Wright put in an appearance at the mill with a force of men Saturday and swore that he would have possession of the logs. T nder Sheriff Marshall and Supervisor Thurber, accompanied by a posse, were guarding the property in the interests of the township, and Marshall tried to dissuade Wright from doing anything hasty. Wright would not listen to reason, and ordered bis men to release the logs and to shoot the first man who interfered. Marshall and ihurber drew their revolvers and in the name of the State called on the mob to disperse" and not to molest in any way the property at issue. Wright’s men fell back. Whereupon Wright himself, whit? with rage, made a move toward the logs and the under sheriff discharged his weapon into the air. The harmless action was answered by Wright, who shot to kill, and at the first report Thurber fell, shot through the brain. Marshall called upon his men to arr st the murderer and uphold the law. A moment later he too, fell, mortally wounded. But the mill hands, who had lent Wright some encouragement by their presence, saw the magnitude of the crime even before its enraged perpetrator, and fell back, leaving ’him alone. Wright walked away, caressing his Martini rifle, and disappeared in the timber back of the mill, his friends joining him and planning at once for his escape.

The news of the murder and the prominence of all parties concerned, spread like wildfire over the country. The sheriff on arriving at the scene of the tragedy assembled over 200 brawny settlers with a fixed determination to hang the murderer. The crowd learned that an Indian knew Wright’s hiding place, he was asked to reveal it, but on getting no answer the heaving line of the propeller Dewar was placed around his neck and he was hung up to a pine tree until nearly strangled, and let down to get his story. He at last confessed that Wright was hiding on the north bluffs and had made arrangements with him to await the departure of the lumber barge Seymour; then to meet him at the sand bluffs with a skiff and placs him on board. The bookkeeper, Fred Crosset was questioned. He confessed all he knew of the crime, during the midst of which Wright suddenly appeared at the edge of the woods and voluntarily surrendered to the sheriff, and, at the same time, claiming protection. He was taken on board the steamer, and is now lodged at Frankfort jail, with armed guards on watch to prevent any attempted violence.

The story of the capture is thus told, by Krouse: After the hanging and confession of the Indian I started out to the north of town, near the timber, with Constable Ernest, searching for Wright. We heard a slight cracking of twigs, and, being old hunters, listened. Ernest said: “There is a man dodging from tree to tree.” Soon I covered ths man with my rifle, calling, “Come out of there.” I heard an unintelligible answer, but I recognized the voice. I said: “Is that you, Charley?” A nervous answer, “Yes, Ed, for God’s sake don’t let them shoot me.” Wright then came toward me with his hands up. I cautioned him to keep quiet and cool, and then called for Sheriff Case. At this some of the crowd rushed up howling and yelling in rage. One of the first to arrive was William Marshall, a brother of the murdered Deputy, with a rifle, calling, “Are you the man who shot and killed mv brother?" Wright nervously answered, “No, sir.” Marshall raised his rifle I sprang forward and wrested the gun away Other deputies then came to my assistance, forming a circle about Wright, and kept the crowd away. We handcuffed him, and in searching him found a forty-four caliber bulldog revolver in his right hip pocket. We hurriedly marched him to his residence a;id placed him under arrest before the rest of the settlers were aware of his capture. Mrs. Wright had just returned from an absence of several months in lowa and Wisconsin, and the meeting between husband and wife was pitiful in the extreme. In an hour the officers quietly slipped Wright out the back way and through a strip of woods to the lake shore, then on board the steamer Dewar, and immediately departed for Frankfort.