Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2025 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== USGenNet Data Repository Notice: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= Grand Rapids Daily Eagle Saturday, 25 September, 1869 Marshall, September 22 The murderer of CHARLES FITZGERALD, of Bellevue, has just been caught. The facts about the murder are as follows: Yesterday afternoon a colored man, about 18 years old, who had been in the employ of CAPT. FITZGERALD for over a year, on his farm near Bellevue, went out with a shot-gun to keep pigeons off the wheat. MR. FITZGERALD'S youngest son, CHARLES, about nine years of age, followed HAWKINS into the field, and they both stopped near an old house on the premises, not used. One of CAPT. FITZGERALD'S sons was at work in the field near by, and saw the deceased and HAWKINS together. Soon after, hearing the report of a gun, he called first to CHARLES and then to HAWKINS, and not getting any answer from either, he went to the old house, and to his utter horror, discovered young FITZGERALD lying upon the ground, about five feet from the house, with a fearful wound through the head, dead. The entire charge of the gun had passed through his head. The gun used by HAWKINS, and his boots, were in the house, but no traces of him were seen. The news of the murder soon spread to the surrounding neighbors and towns, and before nightfall about 150 men were on the murderer's track. The search was continued all night last night, several of the Calhoun county officers being also on the track, and this morning, about 11 o'clock, JOHN COLLENDER, in company with several others, discovered the criminal two miles and a half south of Bellevue, in a swamp. Sheriff BARBER and constable SUTTON being on the ground took charge of HAWKINS, and there being so much excitement in Bellevue, it was thought advis- able not to take the prisoner there for fear of his being lynched, there being over 200 persons waiting for him there and making threats of vengeance. He was, therefore, brought to this city and lodged in Calhoun county jail, where he is now confined, awaiting the cooling down of the public feel- ing at Bellevue where his examination will be held. The accused confessed to officers SUTTON and BARBER to-day that he shot FITZGERALD, but that he did not do it intention- ally. He says that he was aiming at a pigeon, and the gun went off before he intended, struck the boy, killing him in- stantly. He was frightened when he saw what had been done, and ran away. There is proof that he had previously threatened to kill the boy, and had tried to whip him the same day. He also said that he laid under water (except his head) all night last night, and part of to-day, and his appearance indicates the truth of the statement. HAWKINS does not bear a very good reputation in Bellevue, and is already under bonds for threat- ening to kill a man there. The coroner's inquest was to be held this afternoon. The funeral will take place tomorrow at 2 o'clock. ===============================================================================