Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2024 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/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Detroit Free Press Tuesday, 21 October 1879 A DOUBLE MURDER Hadley, Lapeer County, the Scene of a Terrible Tragedy A Fiend Named FITCH Shoots His Wife And Then Murders Their Three Year Old Girl The Testimony Taken at The Coroner's Inquest Full Details of the Horrible Crime The Murderer Still at Large A Reward Offered for His Arrest Special Dispatch to The Detroit Free Press Flint, October 19. - For four or five years a man named JAMES M. FITCH has lived in Goodrich, Genessee County. His family consisted of himself, 42 years old, his wife, EMILY WHITE FITCH, 41 years old; a daughter FLORENCE, married, aged 20, living in Jackson; FLOYD, aged 18, in Goodrich; FRANK, aged 10, and little EDITH, aged 3 years. FITCH was a carpenter by trade and a hard working man, though at times DRINKING AND BRUTAL He was arrested some six years ago, when living about three miles from Hadley, on her complaint of his thrashing her. This was settled, and they lived together again till about two months ago, when his UNCONTROLLABLE TEMPER and her's not much better, caused them to separate. He often made threats of killing her, and often were the neighbors called in to stop his breaking dishes, etc. When they separated MR. FITCH would not allow her to take with her a sewing machine which her son FLOYD, an honest, noble boy, had bought for her. MRS. FITCH went to S. P. MARTON'S living in Hadley Township, eleven miles east of Goodrich, and eleven miles south- west of Lapeer, where she had lived for three or four weeks past. Friday night she came back, and Saturday started back to MARSTON'S, taking the sewing machine. Up to this time FITCH seemed to have thought his wife would come back to live with him. Now thinking ALL WAS OVER. He sold his carpenter's tools, worth fifty dollars, for ten dollars, hired HERMAN FARRAR to take him to Grand Blanc, proceeded to Flint and bought a navy re- volver and bottle of whiskey. Returning to Goodrich he told several that he INTENDED TO KILL MRS. FITCH, FLOYD and all, and also MRS. J. Q. ADAMS and ADDISON DAVIS, who he thought had encouraged his wife. Your reporter, as he saw FITCH enter the postoffice with distorted features and rapid step, asked a by- stander what ailed FITCH, and received the reply: "MATT IS CRAZY AND IS GOING TO KILL HIMSELF." Several then went to the Justice of the Peace and told him FITCH ought to be taken into custody. FITCH then went to SETH PIXLEY, the Postmaster, and gave the address of his father, SEYMOUR FITCH, Greene, Chenango Co., N.Y., saying he was going to KILL THE WHOLE FAMILY And after all was over to write to his father and tell him all about it. THREATS FREELY MADE. He then started on a run in the direction MR. MARSTON and MRS. FITCH had taken. Meeting Mr. DAMON WEST a half mile east of Goodrich, he says: "Dam, can I have one of your horses tonight. I am going to kill my wife." "No," says WEST, "you ain't going to do any such thing. You come with me and go back to the village." "By G--d, I am going to finish this job. I'll kill the whole G--d d--d mess." He showed his revolver, a navy thirty-two large. WEST got out of his buggy and tried to pursuade him to go back, saying: "You mustn't do it. They will string you up." "Don't care; I'll fix myself." A NEGLIGENT JUSTICE MR. WEST then went to Justice BROWN, in Goodrich, and told him that FITCH ought to be arrested and taken care of. BROWN didn't think it necessary, and took no steps to prevent the murderer carrying out his threats. Later MR. WEST, in company with ALF. UPDEGRAFF, HARRY BRONELL and JOHN McCOLLOM started in pursuit of FITCH. PRACTICING Meanwhile FITCH ran on, shot twice at PETE TRUAX'S dog as he passed, and going to DAMON WEST'S barn, on the FROST farm, TOOK A HORSE AND RODE TO MARSTON'S. Reaching the house he rapped, and MARSTON'S boy went to the door. MRS. FITCH followed and went to the gate, three or four rods. He then SHOT HER Under the temporal bone, the ball coming out near the right eye, and as she fell shot her again through the breast. Then, fiend-like, he turned to litte EDITH, who had trotted down to the gate "to see papa," PLACED THE REVOLVER TO HER FACE And fired. He shot her again through the abdomen, and as she turned to run, a third time in the back. Then he retraced his steps a half mile this side and met WEST and his posse. It being dark they did not recognize him till nearly by, when one says "THAT'S FITCH." With difficulty they turned around and chased him for a mile and a half, when he left his horse and WENT TO THE WOODS. Fearing he would go to MR. WEST'S, where the little boy FRANK was, they hurried back. A VISIT TO THE SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY Sunday morning your reporter visited the scene of the terrible tragedy. Justice PARMERLEE was holding an in- quest, the results of which is given below. Crowds were passing and repassing, coming for miles from all direc- tions. A POOL OF BLOOD Near the gate told of the fatal work. MRS. FITCH lay in the house, a horrible spectacle, While Dr.s STONE, SUTOR and HOWELL attended the little sufferer, EDITH, and extracted the ball. The little girl, if not already dead at this writing, cannot possibly live. The funeral of MRS. FITCH will be held on Monday at the Methodist Church, Hadley, at 1 p.m. THE SEARCH FOR THE MURDERER. It is thought that FITCH is lurking around trying to get a chance to shoot the two boys and then kill him- self. Crowds of men are scouring the woods in search of him. A GRIEF-STRICKEN MOTHER. MRS. FITCH'S mother, MRS. WHITE, was at MARSTON'S Sunday, stricken with grief. THE INQUEST. Deputy Sheriff DONALDSON, of Lapeer, officiated at the inquest, the Hadley deputy being in search of FITCH. J. F. SUTOR Sworn: Reside at the village of Hadley, Lapeer County, Mich. Was called to the residence of S. P. MARSTON, in the Township of Hadley, on the evening of October 18, 1879. He found the body of MRS. M. FITCH; dead when he arrived. Was called about 8 o'clock, and arrived at the house about 9 o'clock. Death was caused by missiles from firearms. One ball entered below the right temple and came out near the left eye. One ball took effect about two inches below, and to the right of the left nipple, and was found lodged five inches below the right shoul- der blade. He extracted the ball, which was of conical shape, about half an inch in length, and thinks either one of the shots would have been fatal. MRS. S. P. MARSTON Sworn: Says she resides the Township of Hadley, Lapeer County. Was acquainted with MRS. FITCH, the deceased, about three or four weeks. On Saturday evening, October 18, about dark, an unknown man to me came to the door of my house and called for MR. MARSTON. MRS. FITCH immediat- ley went to the door. Then I heard reports of firearms in the front yard. I then Went to the door and saw this unknown man shoot a little girl belonging to MRS. FITCH, and I also saw MRS. FITCH laying on the ground. I next saw MRS. FITCH on the lounge in my house, dead. S. P. MARSTON. Sworn: Say I was acquainted with MRS. EMILY FITCH about four weeks that she was at work for me; that he saw her alive last on Saturday, October 18, about 6 o'clock p.m. She was standing near the front gate. Her husband, M. FITCH, was with her. I was standing on my steps, about three or four rods from them. I heard FITCH spead "FLOYD," or other names which I could not distinguish, and that their time was short. I then heard three reports of a pistol, and saw MRS> FITCH fall to the ground at the first report. MR. FITCH then stepped inside the yard, where MRS. FITCH LAY, and shot her twice. He turned immediately to the little girl and shot at her twice. The little girl was with her mother at the fence. After shooting her twice she continued to scramble around on the ground and shriek and cry. I went and brought the little girl to the house imeediately. I then went to the woman and found her dead. I gave the alarm immediately after bringing the girl to the house, but before any help came FITCH had disappeared. This was all done inside of two minutes. It was light enough so I could see MR. FITCH pointing the pistol towards MRS. FITCH. I called the neighbors as soon as I found the woman was dead. JOHN MIDDLETON was the firs man to come. He came while I was at home. I then went for help, and while absent the body was taken to the house. MRS. FITCH told me, previous to the shooting, that MR. FITCH was her husband and pointed him out to me as such. S. DEXTER HEMINGWAY Sworn: Says that he resides in the Township of Hadley, Lapeer County; that he was not acquainted with MRS. FITCH; that on Saturday evening, October 18, I saw a dead body which was called the body of MRS. FITCH, lying on the ground, a little north of the large gate in front of the residence of S. P. MARSTON. I saw DAVID A. CRAMPTON, PERRY HINES, JOHN M. HEMINGWAY, JAMES HURD and JAMES M. HEMING- WAY carry the body into MR. S. P. MARSTON. JOHN A. MARSTON Sworn: Says he lives in the township of Hadley. Am a son of S. P. MARSTON. On Saturday evening, October 18, was at home at my father's house. About dark a stranger came to the door and rapped. I opened the door. He asked if MR. MARSTON lived here. I said he did. Then MRS. FITCH went to the door. MRS. FITCH whispered to me and said "MR. FITCH." He then called her by name and says: "EM, I want to see you." They both then walked down to the gate, and MR. FITCH said these words: "FLOYD and you and me." She then asked him what FLOYD had done. He then fired a pistol, and as soon as I saw the flash I went away. I heard the report of the pistol. MRS. FITCH screamed. When MRS. FITCH whispered to me "MR. FITCH," I understood that he was her husband, MR. FITCH. This man FITCH was the same man who fired the pistol. I next saw MRS. FITCH lying on the ground dead. THE VERDICT The jury find that MRS. M. FITCH came to her death on Saturday evening, October 18, 1879, about the hour of 6 o'clock, by being shot in the head and the left breast, at the large gate in front of the residence of MR. S. P. MARSTON, in the town of Hadley, by a pistol or fire arms in the hands of a person by the name of MATT. FITCH, her husband. NO TRACE OF THE MURDERER. Up to this time FITCH has not been caught. A reward has been offered by the Sheriff of Lapeer County and the con- stables of Atlas Township. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The True Northerner Paw Paw, MI Friday, 31 October 1879 Lapeer, Mich., 27. - After defying hundreds of armed citizens and the whole official force of Lapeer county for a week or more. MATT FITCH, the man who killed his wife and infant daughter, has been captured and lodged in jail. The woods and fields have been scoured day and night, roads blockaded and picketed, barns guarded, and swamps beaten as the jumgles are beaten for lions, but all in vain, until the man whom they sought practically gave up, left his place of concealement and WENT WHERE CAPTURE WAS INEVITABLE. On Saturday evening he walked into Goodrich village, Genesee county, went to his former home, entered and went to bed. On Sunday morning two young men named CHARLES WALKER and MARSHALL HOARD found him and resolved to take him. The offer of a reward for him, dead or alive, perhaps stimulated their courage and determination, but at any rate they did not hesitate. HOARD started to give the alarm while WALKER stood guard. The latter finally demanded the madman's surrender, when the latter quietly yielded and was disarmed of his revolver and dirk knife. When help arrived he was marched out of his house, given a good breakfast, and, GUARDED BY 17 MEN who proposed to see him kept safely, was started for Lapeer. On the way he stopped at DAMON WEST'S and made a settlement of some business with him. A Goodrich land- lord had hurried to Hadley to arouse the town, and a few moments after he had performed that entirely unnecessary and uncalled for act the prisoner was hurried through the village and on toward Lapeer, only stopping a moment at Justice PARMLEE'S to see his boy, FRANK FITCH, and bid him good-bye. After leaving the village a crowd of people who acted like lynchers, but who were very anxious that some one else should do the lynching, hove in sight, and one promiscuous indivicual crowed his way to the convey- ance in which FITCH was seated and was speedily crowded back again. Other demonstrations were made, none of which were more formidable than this, until the arrival at La- peer, where things LOOKED DUBIOUS FOR THE MURDERER. Here the people had a rope ready for him and demanded him of the authorities. But those who know what kink of a man Sheriff TOWNSEND is have no fear that the law will be prevented taking its proper course in FITCH'S case. The murderer converses freely about his movements since committing his crime, and narrated just how he lived, dodged his pursuers, and finally gave himself up to sure capture by returning to his home. He came back solely to surrender. After killing his wife at MR. MARSTON'S house he took to the woods, but asserts that he returned and saw the dead body lying on the ground before it was takne care of by the neighbors. FITCH is badly used up, but is now quiet and tractable. The jail is well guarded, and Lapeer is quieting down after an extremely boisterous Sunday. ===========================================================================