While it's been challenging and retrospective, I'm ready to offer the last installment on John H. Fuller-three times great-grandfather and murderer-and move on to other topics. If you haven't read the other three posts, stop here and go back to the beginning!
As you already know, on October 26, 1875 old man Fuller changed his plea and confessed his part in the murder of Wilson Pound. However, first let's back up to summer 1875 after his arrest, his arraignment on June 30 and his incarceration while awaiting trial. The Holland City News was on this story big-time and on July 3, 1875 wrote, "The prisoner in his cell, when he is left alone in his meditations, seems to feel the enormity of his crime and is often heard to burst out into tears and prayer". Then two weeks later on July 17 "The old man looks like a corpse and his hands and whole body tremble like a person afflicted with delirium tremens. He has been under arrest but three weeks yet this short time and the "gnawings of the worm that never dies" have rendered such a change perceptible in him that the John H. Fuller of the past would scarcely be recognized. He is not insane in the full meaning of the term but soon will be either dead or crazy". This was followed by the July 24 update "J. H. Fuller looked very much better than when we saw him last. At Grand Haven it is generally believe that his insanity was all put on. At any rate the cure was something marvelous. He started out for a ride with the Sheriff. His groans and lamentations during the drive were terrible...until on approaching the Cutler House he suddenly swung his arms heavenward and said "Oh! the eagle is coming down to carry me off to freedom"-referring to the eagle on top of the hotel. The sheriff kindly insinuated that his insanity was too transparent and that is would be better for him to drop it and appear "clothed in his right mind". He has not seen any angels since that hour". Wow! I mean gosh, you want to believe he was remorseful but it's just so hard after reading these newspaper stories!
No surprises at the October 29 sentencing of Fuller, imprisonment for life. He was immediately taken to Jackson Prison by Sheriff Woltman and became known as prisoner #823. I was hoping for a photo when I obtained Fuller's prison records from Archives of Michigan in Lansing however it was not standard procedure at the time. Fuller would spend the first two weeks in solitary confinement in the basement.
Eight months later, in 1880, a United Stated Census year, we find him back to his trial shenanigans and listed as "white, male, 60 years of age, widowed and under the "occupation" category-INSANE! This is highly relevant since most of the other convicts are enumerated with occupations such as barrel maker, wagon maker, carpenter, laborer, etc. as numerous businesses were located on prison grounds (cheap labor). Of the 816 prisoners on this census, only 12 are listed insane. Faking insanity could lead to an extremely long and worthless prison existence with plenty of time on your hands. In fact, enough time to plan a prison escape!
On May 19, 1880 at 5:00 am old man Fuller did in fact escape however was recaptured just 2 hours later. Whether or not he was punished further is unknown, but on September 30 he made a second escape and was never recaptured, ever! He lived the remainder of his life a free man.
Jackson Daily Citizen, September 30, 1880, No. 159, page 4. Jackson Districk Library Carneige Branch.
Yes! Absolutely! Give the man who tried to escape 4 months ago "the run of the corridors"!
"The Nightkeepers Reports" (1882) by John H. Purvis is a publication of the partial journal Mr. Purvis keep as the nightkeeper of Jackson Prison to inform the warden of the evenings events. Purvis mentions several times that "free men in the shops leave their clothing lying about at quitting time. He actually warns the warden that "the practice must be stopped" and "the last escapee took clothing like this which greatly aided his getaway". Maybe that's where Fuller got his hands on "the blue flat-top hat"?
In 1880 in Jackson, Michigan was a railroad hub having three depots-Michigan Central Railroad Depot Union Station (now called Jackson Station and the oldest, continuously operating passenger train station in the United States), Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Depot and Fort Wayne & Jackson Railroad Depot and all within 2 miles of the prison. In fact, the Michigan Central line served the prison and the track ran directly on the west of the it! Seriously, just yards away! So, in fact, it probably wasn't hard for Fuller to escape as long as he made it to the train tracks and hopped a car.
Fuller disappears from all records (with one exception, I will explain later) from the time he escaped until his death in Wisconsin on June 10, 1900 or maybe I should say I just haven't found any more yet. Curiously, he did not change his name, evident from his death certificate, and last known residence was in a town called Byron, Monroe County. (If you remember, the old man was no stranger to Wisconsin The Infamous John H. Fuller-The Beginning). This small village just happened to all but share a county line with Sauk County his previous residence before removing to Michigan. A little more collateral research on Fuller reveals a sister Julia Wood lived in this same county and is buried near him in the Wood Family Cemetery in Tomah, Monroe County. Did she know he was a murderer? In 1880, no cars, phones, internet and just newspapers, telegraph and mail it would be hard to know for sure.
Last weekend I located a warranty deed land record from Ottawa County containing the signature of John H. Fuller, notarized while in prison on March 22, 1876, for the sale of his 160 acres in Holland, Michigan. Interestingly, the land was sold to George C. Stewart, Melvin Fuller's attorney, for the sum of $1,000. Obviously, someone collected the money from the sale for Fuller, most likely his acquitted son Melvin. One thousand dollars would have been quite a sum to have in your "back pocket" when planning an escape, comparable to almost $23,000 in today's currency. Would Fuller have risked making Holland his first stop after escape to collect his money? Would you? Or just maybe, all that money went to Melvin's defense. There are so many unanswered questions.
Pilgrim Home Cemetery, Holland, Michigan.
Lastly, I would like to remember the innocent victim, Mr. Wilson Pound, the old bachelor who lived on the shores of the Black Lake spending most of his days fishing and trapping. Regrettably, his final resting place is in the same cemetery in Holland as Melvin Fuller, acquitted...ahem...for his murder.
Next Month:
Guest blogger William H. Atwell