RETRIBUTION. The Quadruple Murder of the Vacelet Family Avenged by the Accused Murderer’s Own Hand

The last act of the dreadful tragedy of Wednesday night, in which the Vacelet family were murdered, took place in one of the cells of our county jail, Saturday night. When the cell of Pierre Provost, the accused murderer, was opened Sunday morning by Deputy Sheriff Henry Rumer, for the purpose of feeding the prisoner, he was met with the frightful scene of the hanging body of Provost. The means used were a towel and his coat. The former was knotted loosely around his neck, and one sleeve of his coat was tied in it, while the other sleeve was fastened to the back portion of the upper berth of his cell. His head was not more than four feet from the floor, and his knees almost touched it. His feet had apparently been by his own effort thrown out from under him so that the weight of his body would be sustained by the neck.

Three other prisoners were confined in the jail at the time, but nothing explanatory was elicited from them, except that they had heard slight noises in the night, but they did not arouse any suspicions.

A coroner’s jury was quickly empaneled, composed of Thos. R. Cobb, F. W. Viehe, S.S. Burnet, E.M. Kellum, Will Dawes and Sam Rumer, who, after hearing the testimony of Henry Rumer in accordance with the facts set forth above, returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death by hanging himself. His remains were removed to E.G. Gardner & Son’s undertaking establishment, where they were viewed by thousands of our citizens; public curiosity seeming not to abate in the least during the entire day. He was buried at the expense of the county at four o’clock P.M., in the portion of the public cemetery known as "Potter’s Field."

Provost’s suicide seemed to have the effect of settling the public mind as to his guilt, which the crowd was free to express, Sunday, as it visited the remains. Various ideas were entertained, however, as to the cause of Provost’s death, some expressing the impossible theory that a mob had something to do with it. Provost’s neck was not broken, and there was no discoloration of the face or neck, and no protrusion of the eyes or tongue, indicating that he came to his death by strangulation. notwithstanding all this, there can be no reasonable doubt that the hanging, self-imposed, was the cause of his death. All other theories are not only improbable, but impossible.

Provost was visited by Rev. Father Oester, assistant pastor of the Cathedral, Saturday at two o’clock p.m., and again at eight o’clock p.m. At his first visit he was favorably impressed with the conversation and bearing of the prisoner, and was in considerable doubt as to his guilt. He departed promising to return Sunday and administer the Holy communion to him, bur hearing rumors that a mob would probably visit the jail that night, he came back at eight o’clock, which gave the prisoner an apprehension that there was danger. But he seemed hardened to suit the emergency, and expressed himself as being ready to die after receiving the rites of the church. So far as the world will ever know he made no confession of his guilt to Father Oester.

Below we give the testimony of Provost at the Coroner’s inquest over the Vacelet family. It is the only evidence in his favor, while all the circumstances are against him:

TESTIMONY OF PIERRE PROVOST, THE ACCUSED MURDERER.

Pierre Provost being duly sworn, stated that he was willing to testify. He was born in France on the upper Rhine. Didn’t know Vacelet there, lived fifty miles from where he came from. Said he left France on the 25th of December, 1877; landed in New York and came to Ohio, where he staid three days; went to Chicago and from there to Fon du Lac, Wisconsin, and from the latter place to Vincennes; was always by myself in traveling. Left Chicago on foot, then paid $2.15 and rode on railroad as far as that would take me, and it brought me to Vincennes at the depot. Got into a saloon, Jacob Kuhn’s, after reaching here; a Frenchman by the name of Boyer treated to the beer. Boyer took me in the country in a wagon; inquired for work at the widow Busseret’s; Bouschie brought me over to Vacelet’s, and I got work; got to Vacelet’s about the last of January; stayed there six or seven weeks before I was employed by Vacelet; worked for my board. On the 16th day of March I contracted with Mr. Vacelet to commence work for him on the 1st of April; for first year he was to pay me $85 and a pair of boots and pants for my labor; I stayed until the time of the murder. I was digging potatoes Wednesday with the children, and Mr. Vacelet was sick in bed, but got up at noon and sent me to work, and stayed around. I quit work at dark. put up the horses and went to supper; we all ate supper together about 7 o’clock. Me and the two boys hulled two sacks of beans after supper. Mr. V. went to bed at 8 o’clock and Mrs. V. mended his pants. I went to bed at a quarter to ten o’clock, and Mrs. V. and the boys at the same time. I went to sleep in about ten minutes. Mr. and Mrs. V. slept in big [south] room, and the boys and me in little [north] room. Mr. V. slept in the front part of the bed. Mr. V. was awake and Mrs. V. was up when I went to bed, but don’t known whether boys were awake or not. Lamp was burning in the old man’s room when I went to bed. I slept in a low bed in front of the boys’ bed; it stood in straight line with the boys’ bed. There was but one door in room, and it was partly closed Wednesday night. Don’t know what time I woke, but heard a noise of blows in the big [south] room and got up and went and opened the door; when I opened it some one struck me a blow on the left shoulder; had hold of the door when the blow was struck. Saw several men striking, but don’t know what I was struck with. Only a little light in the room, but don’t know where it came from. I ran back and opened the window; it was the window where the sun rises and near the head of the boys’ bed; I got out of that window, and after I went through the sash fell; while going through a heavy blow was struck, but don’t know what it was done with. I ran toward the hog pen on the side where the sun rises and listened a while and heard the same noise; I was just across from the hog pen, but don’t know how many blows were struck. I ran along the fence south towards Mr. Bruat’s, and went there without stopping--it took about ten minutes to go. I called Mr. B. and told him I was cold and how it happened. I said, “Mr. Bruat, get up, hurry up, let me in--no need to make a light,” because I was in my shirt tail. Mr. B. told me to go around to the other door; I went around there and commenced telling him of the trouble. “Don’t know what is going on at our house.” Mr. B. said, “my God, what is it?” I entered the big room; think they were all in their two rooms; children came in from the other room; big boy came in right away. I told Mr. B., “the devil is up down at our house." I could not explain it, for I didn’t know anything about it. I told Mr. B. about getting out of the window and said I didn’t know Mr. Vacelet had any enemies. I didn’t tell Mr. B. about anybody getting hurt. Told him that I didn’t known Mr. V. had any enemies but one man he quarreled with. Mr. Poulet loaned Mr. V. $200 for some other man, and Mr. and Mrs. V. had a fuss about borrowing money for him. That man was the enemy. Mrs. V. said no good would come of it. Stayed at Mr. Bruat’s from four o’clock to eight o’clock. Had breakfast at five o’clock; sun was not up. Mr. B. went to Mr. V.’s about daylight, but I didn’t go, because I had no shoes. A neighbor brought me shoes; my boots were at the house.

Had on two shirts when I got out of window [at Vacelet’s]. I didn’t go barefooted about the farm much; I told Mr. B. that I asked Mr. V. for money to buy shoes. Traded boots with Mr. V. I had no shoes when I traded; Mr. V. never wore the boots, they were hanging in the room where I slept. Boy went after the neighbors. I told Mr. Bo to go to the house and ask Mr. V. for my boots. Mr. Bruat went to Mr. V.’s half hour after breakfast; didn’t care about going sooner, but didn’t say he was afraid. Mr. B. gave me the pants I have on. I sat near stove and smoked Mr. B.’s pipe. Had only been at Mr. B.’s three or four times. When Mr. B. came back he told me about the murder, and I said, “what a misfortune!" I went down in half an hour. Didn’t go sooner because I had no shoes. Mr. B.’s little boy went after the shoes about eight o’clock; I went right away to Mr. Vacelet’s. Had the shoes before Mr. B. came after me. Didn’t want to see such an affair. Half a mile to Mr. B.’s house. Mr. Vacelet had two dogs, an old one and a young one--old dog a good one; old man put him in the stable after supper; didn’t hear dogs about the house; they didn’t sleep in the house; I haven’t seen the dogs since the murder. The dogs would not catch an animal; they would go in the field every day with us. I didn’t see anybody about the house during the day: Mrs. V. caught a man in the milk house before on Monday about daylight, and told him she was going to set the dogs on him; he was about my age, rough dressed and getting gray. His clothes were black and pretty well worn; showed him the road to the Highlands, and in two hours he came back and asked Mr. V. for bread; he spoke English; I don’t understand English, but a little boy told me what he said. I don’t known where the man is, haven’t seen him since two o’clock Monday; there was no other stranger about the premises either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Every day some man came and asked for something to eat; I didn’t known any of the men, and I didn’t talk to any of them. Never seen Mr. V. until I went to work for him; didn’t know him in the old country. Mr. V. had two axes; that is all I seen. They generally lay where they cut wood. Vacelet had a grub hook, but don’t know which room it was in; had a butcher knife, but didn’t see any knives that shut up. (Witness showed a knife and said Mr. V. gave it to him.) It laid on the window sill, and was used to cut twist tobacco. The doors of the house were locked; there were two doors on the outside of the house. In winter one door was closed--the one next to the railroad; don’t know whether it was fast on the night of the murder or not; don’t know whether the doors or windows in Mr. Vacelet’s room were fast or not; am certain that the window I went out, if not closed when I went, was closed afterwards; if there was a lath over it, it was put there after I got out; only examined the window where the blow had been struck, and think I told Mr. Bruat he could see the blow on the window; didn’t know what the blow was struck with, and don’t know now; I fell down as the blow was struck, and went out head first; sash fell on my feet; blow struck after window fell; heard no noise till got to hog pen; sounded just like they were chopping wood; heard no voiced nor struggle--nothing but blows. Don’t think I made a mistake as to the window I got out of; had three pairs of pants. [Witness shown three pairs of pants]. Vacelet and I were of the same size--both had a pair of light pants alike; Mrs. Vacelet cut and made them both. First pair [light pants] are mine; second pair [dark jeans] Mrs. Vacelet bought for me, ready made; laid the pants I wore next to the bed, and think they were in the same place when I found them. [Shown suspenders]. They are mine--Vacelet didn’t wear suspenders. [Was shown two handkerchiefs]. Not mine--are Mr. Vacelet’s; Mrs. V. gave me one to use. Third pair, [striped pants] brought them from Ohio; swapped with a Frenchman in Ohio for them; had on two shirts; nobody in the room when I woke up, and no light; there was one in the other. I didn’t look at the boys. The person that struck me was three or four feet from me. There were five or six persons in the room. Door was wide open. Outside door open also. Stars made it light. Could’nt see the stars through the door. Was almost in the door when struck. Could’nt tell whether I had a hold of the latch or not. Run like the wind when struck. He struck me as soon as I seen the light. Don’t think that the boys could have been killed before I opened the door. Did’nt know anybody. Did’nt have time to examine whether they were in their shirttails or not. Did’nt have time to look around much. It was very easy to see the light as the door was. I think I had hold of the door. Felt no blood splatter in my face. I can explain blood on my shirt very easy. A little hog broke its back and we were cutting it up when I got some blood on my shirt. Killed and cut it up about 3 o’clock, Monday. Got its back broke about five weeks ago. It weighed only thirty pounds. Don’t whether it was when he killed the hog or cut it up, that I got the blood on me. Don’t know which pants I had on. Had on suspenders, but no coat. had on the suspenders, (exhibited), they were all I had. When blow was struck blood might have got on my shirt. (suspenders were tried on the prisoner and cover up part of the blood spots on his shirt). Had on this shirt when killing the hog. The jacket is mine, Mrs. V. bought it for me.

Mr. V. was in town on Monday, getting a load of planks for his landlord. He delivered pigs and cattle together on Monday. There were three hogs, two beeves and a young one. Brought cattle to slaughter-house in the morning, and the hogs in the afternoon. Mr. V. got $75.00 for the stock. Saw him bring the money home, but don’t know what became of it. Mrs. V. took the money and put it in the bed--the one examined yesterday. It was wrapped up in a rag then. She put it in a stocking. This was about 5 o’clock on Monday. Don’t know where there was any other money in the stocking or not. It was a woman’s stocking--an old one. Always kept their money there. Put a hundred dollars there in the spring from the sale of old wheat. Don’t know what became of the money. Paper and silver money in the stocking--got it from the butcher Marone. Think some of the silver was dollar pieces. Sold a horse to Mr. Bouchie during the summer for $65, but don’t know what he done with the money. The meat of the hog is in a small barrel in the cellar. The pig was white and black. Used a big knife to cut it up. Did’nt use the corn-knife. Killed the rabbits on Wednesday. They are not eaten yet. I cut wood right-handed. The blow pushed me back. (prisoner was shown two coats). They are mine. A tailor made the dark coast for me in France.) He tried the coat on and it fit him).

[The evidence was not signed by the prisoner--EDITOR SUN].

Cadet Bouschie testified that he had recommended the prisoner to Vacelet’s to get work. Said the light pants were not Mr. V’s. the other two pair were his. Had examined the pants in the room--never saw prisoner wearing them. He knew of no trouble between Vacelet and prisoner.

Dr. Beard was re-examined and testified that he had analyzed specks of blood on prisoners shirt, and that it might be either animal or human blood. The hair on corn-knife was not of a human, the blood on it was of an animal, also.

Mary Bruat corroborated her husband’s testimony, which appeared in Friday’s SUN.

Henry Seivers testified to going to Vacelet’s house and finding family murdered. Doors and windows were fastened. Found no tracks around house; lamp was burning; was there when Sheriff broke open the door; were two axes in back room and one in front room; grubbing hook was near bed.

August Marone testified that he paid Mrs. Vacelet $75 on Monday; was at Vacelet’s on Sunday and saw the prisoner there.

Sam. Rumer testified that when he arrived at house he found doors all fastened. Broke in door on porch with bar of iron; found window where prisoner said he escaped fastened with stick over it.

August Imhoff’s stated he was administrator of Vacelet’s estate. Found $75 in stocking in barrel; was one $20 greenback, three $5 national bank notes, five $2 greenbacks, ten $1 greenbacks, four legal tender silver dollars, one trade dollar, twenty-six half dollars, one 50 cent Canada piece and six silver quarters. Were no blood marks on barrel.

Other evidence was taken, but no additional material facts were brought out.

The Coroner’s jury, which was composed of Wm. Gardner, Wm. G. Dean, John B. Wilkinson, Dan. O’Neal, Thos. D. Hall and S. Shoenfeld, after weighing the evidence, which was concluded Saturday evening, found a verdict that the deceased persons, John Desire Vacelet, Victoria Vacelot, John Vacelet and Frank Vacelet came to their death at the hands of Pierre Provost. But before the verdict was returned, which was on Sunday, Pierre Provost had balked either the mob or the law of their prey, and had executed swift and dreadful vengeance with his own hands. Just what would have been his fate had he been alive at the time the verdict was rendered is not positively known, but that he would have had to face a mob thirsting for his life within less than a dozen hours, is not doubted by the mass of our people. A fervent “thank God" escaped the lips of hundreds when they heard the news of the suicide, for the peace and order of our city and county were not to be disturbed by the dark record of murder by a mob tribunal. We are convinced that there is a strong sentiment in this community in favor of capital punishment as a remedy for the too frequent murders that have occurred in our midst.

The Vacelet family were buried, Friday, at the Highlands, in one grave, by the side of the oldest son, who died but a short time ago. Thus ends one of the most horrible chapters of crime that has ever occurred in our midst--indeed it has but few parallels in the whole country. The dreadful scenes of the past week will not soon be forgotten by our citizens, and it will be an unhealthy place for tramps around here for a long time to come.