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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Ludington Daily News
Thursday, April 16, 1896

         The Pentwater tragedy, wherein S. M. MINSHALL
       mortally wounded W. B. O. SANDS, Pentwater's most
       prominent citizen, and then killed his own wife
       and children, committing suicide as a windup,
       will long be remembered.
         The causes leading up to the awful crime are
       somewhat mixed according to rumors which come
       from our neighboring town. The letter left by
       MINSHALL, in the form in which it is published,
       claims that he was suffering from oppressive
       measures from his employer, and that his family
       and himself were living in abject poverty in con-
       sequence.
         Many another has suffered in like manner, in
       fact, oppression and wrong have been in order
       since the dawn of history and probably long be-
       fore. There was no justification for murder and
       suicide. He might have carried his burden bravely
       as thousands of others have to, and sought employ-
       ment elsewhere, leaving vengeance to whom it be-
       longeth. It would appear that he had contemplated
       murder and suicide for some time and must have
       been suffering from temporary insanity at the
       time, and it is hard to believe that there was
       the slightest justification for his bloody dead.
         Himself and murdered family were the subjects
       of a coroner's inquest and the following verdict
       was reached: 
         At the residence of SAMUEL M. MINSHALL we
       found the body of Mrs. EVA MINSHALL, Miss RUBY
       MINSHALL and GEORGE and FRANK, the two children,
       and also the body of SAMUEL B. MINSHALL, who 
       came to their deaths from gun shot wounds fired
       by the said SAMUEL B. MINSHALL. We further find
       that on the same evening WILLIAM B. O. SANDS was
       shot at the corner of Wythe and Ninth streets,
       receiving wounds that caused his death the fol-
       lowing day. We believe that the said WILLIAM B.
       O. SANDS was attacked and shot by the same 
       SAMUEL B. MINSHALL, motive not known.
         Mr. MINSHALL is reported to have been a Span-
       iard by birth, over-sensitive and easily offended
       and may have been of a temperament which sought
       revenge for real or fancied injustice. Other 
       men would have found other avenues of employ-
       ment.
         On Sunday, April 12, services were held at
       the home of the unfortunate family. Hundreds
       from the surrounding country and as far north
       as this city were in Pentwater that day. MIN-
       SHALL, his wife and daughter were each laid
       in a casket, and the two little boys of 3 and
       2 years were laid together in one coffin.
         At 2 o'clock Rev. W. P. Law, an Episcopal
       clergyman of Grand Rapids, stood beside the
       caskets and read a short but impressive ser-
       vice over the dead. Closed carriages followed
       the hearse conveying the five bodies to the
       cemetery. At least a thousand witnessed the
       services.
       
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