McKinney Murder of Dorr
1882



TWO PROMINENT FARMERS ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF A NEIGHBOR

Two Allegan County Farmers Charged With a Crime Committed a Year Since.

Special Dispatch to the Detroit Free Press.
GRAND RAPIDS, January 19.--Anton Hartwig and Ferdinand Fay were arrested last evening by Deputy Sheriffs Platte and Boyland at North Dorr, Allegan Co., on the charge of murdering Justus McKinney, a young farmer living in Byron Township, that county, on the 15th of November, 1882. The three men left this city together that day for their homes after selling the produce which they had brought to the market. They engaged in racing horses on the way home. McKinney was found near the Emmons school-house, in Byron Township, lying in the road on a buffalo robe with a grain bag folded under his head, and died soon after from the effects of a large and deep gash on his head. It was supposed that the gash was caused by his being thrown from the wagon and striking on a cider barrel chime. The Coroner's jury could not explain the placing of the bag, and suspicion pointed towards the prisoners who were seen on the road beyond where the body was found.
The officers have been working the case for some time. The prisoners are respectable farmers, aged 45 and 50 respectively. They refuse to talk about the case and assort their innocence. Their examination will be held at Grandville next week.

Detroit Free Press - January 19, 1884





The Allegan Gazette - March 8, 1884

COUNTY NEWS
------------
DORR--Hartzig Discharged and Zey Held for Murder.

The examination of Anton Hartzig and Ferdinand Zey, charged eith the murder of Justice McKinney, was concluded before Justice Galloqay at Grandville on Thursday (Feb.28). The most important testimony was that of Wm. Tibbits of Byron, who testified that on Sunday last he was at the house of Frank Neuman in Dorr, in company with Zey and others. He was there for the purpose of settling with Zey for services rendered in this case: that after the settlement a discussion followed as to how the blow that caused McKinney's death was struck, how the robe was placed under him, and how the bag came to be under his head, and Tibbits ventured the opinion that McKinney probably drew it under him by grasping with his hands, caused by the pain he suffered. Zey said it was not placed there in that way, but when it became necessary he could tell how the bag came to be under the head. After the conclusion of Mr. Tibbitt's evidence Clay and Kingsley, counsel for the defense, moved that the respondents be discharged. The motion was granted by the court as to Hartzig, but Zey was held to bail in the sum of $5,000 for his appearance for trial at the next term of the Kent county circuit court.
Detroit Free Press - March 1, 1884

One Taken and the Other Left.
------------

GRAND RAPIDS, February 29.-- The examination of Anton Hartzig and Ferdinand Zey on the charge of murdering Justus McKinney was concluded before Justice Galloway, of Grandville, yesterday. The strongest testimony presented was given by William Tibbitts, of Byron, who testified that he had a settlement with Zey last Sunday at Frank Newman's residence for services, and there heard a conversation between Zey and Newman as to how the blow was inflicted: also, that in discussing how the bag came under McKinney's head Zey said that he could tell how it came there, if necessary. Zey was held in $5,000 bail for trial of the next term of the Kent Circuit Court, and Hartzig was discharged.






Return to Allegan County MIGenWeb Home PageReturn to Home Page


USGenWeb Project     MIGenWeb   

All rights reserved.
This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated
in any fashion without my consent.
The information on these pages is meant for personal genealogical
research only and is not for commercial use of any type.
Last Updated on 11/9/2020
By Lynn Matt