*** No headstone for this person. Burial here confirmed by cemetery map and obituary.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter May 2 1930 “Murder Charge Will Be Lodged Against Woman: Hold Mrs. William Goodfellow For Murder of Husband”
A formal charge of murder will probably be lodged today against Mrs. William Goodfellow of Bates, held at the county jail at Crystal Falls in connection with the killing of her husband at about 6 o’clock Wednesday evening, according to Leigh C. Caswell, prosecutor. Although no admission of guilt has been obtained from the woman, officers questioning her at the jail claim they have detected irregularities in her story. It was also stated this morning that the prosecutor is in possession of a written and sworn statement from Nick Larson, her son by a former marriage, in which he claims that he was an eyewitness of the murder of his stepfather, naming his mother as the murderess.
Mike Larson, another son, is also held at the county jail for questioning. Discrepancies in his story convince the authorities that he may know more than he is willing to tell. It is reported that Nick Larson said his brother was sitting near the barn door at the time of the murder and made no move to prevent the deed. Nick has also made known that he will make a “clean breast” of the whole thing, claiming that he believes his brother would willingly swing the murder to his shoulders if he could.
No motive for the murder has been established, although it is known Mr. and Mrs. Goodfellow had often quarreled and on several occasions Mrs. Goodfellow had threatened to kill her husband.
KILLED IN BARN William Goodfellow, about 60 years of age, was murdered at about 6 o’clock Wednesday evening while milking a cow in a barn at his farm near the Sunset lake pavilion, three miles northeast of Iron River. The murder was committed with a shotgun heavily loaded with buckshot and fired at close range, the charge striking him in the back. It is said that death must have been instantaneous as the spine was shattered by the shot.
Mrs. Goodfellow, who is 63 years old, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the act, although admitting that she had quarreled with her husband and that she had been drinking.
Mr. Goodfellow, it is said, ordered one of the sons out of the barn early in the evening and that this served to increase Mrs. Goodfellow’s anger against her spouse.
A jury will be drawn and a coroner’s inquest will be held sometime this afternoon, it was stated this morning. Funeral arrangements have not as yet been made.
CORONER SUMMONED A.E. Stuht of Iron River, county coroner, who was summoned to the farm by Nick Larson, step-son of the murdered man, and Charles Olson, a neighbor, found Goodfellow dead, lying face upward in a pool of blood in the cowbarn.
A post mortem was immediately ordered by Leign C. Caswell prosecutor, who was notified at once and Drs. L.E. Irvine of Iron River and Robert E. White of Caspian performed it. It was stated that death was caused by a bullet wound, the buckshot having penetrated to the lungs and the spine. It was evident from the size of the wound, which was nearly three inches in diameter, that Goodfellow had been shot in the back with a heavy charge of buckshot at close range.
Sheriff Dickie, summoned to Iron River sometime after the murder, viewed the body at the Stuht Funeral parlors and then went to the farm, reaching there about 10 o’clock.
A search at that time failed to yield any evidence and it was not until yesterday morning that a double-barrel shotgun with one exploded shell was found hidden in the cow barn. Only one exploded shell was found in the gun, the other barrel being useless because of a broken hammer.
TAKES WOMAN TO JAIL Arriving at the farm, the sheriff found Mrs. Goodfellow in bed. She was fully dressed and pretended to be fast asleep. All attempts to awaken her were futile. The two sons, at the time, were about the home.
Leaving Mrs. Goodfellow in bed, the sheriff proceeded with his investigation. The two sons were questioned, but nothing could be learned to help establish a motive for the killing.
Attempting to arouse the woman again, Sheriff Dickie finally ordered the officers to carry her to the car. It is said she “came to” in a hurry when she found that she was on her way to the county jail. Even before she was questioned, she emphatically denied any knowledge of the killing.
Sheriff Dickie stated last night that she was slightly intoxicated but that she pretended to be more under the influence of liquor than she actually was.
Questioning revealed that she and her husband had argued on numerous occasions and that their domestic relationship was strained. She refused, however, to implicate her sons, claiming that there was no ill blood between them and their stepfather.
Goodfellow and his wife were in Iron River Wednesday morning to do some shopping. During the time they were here an argument ensued and the murdered man drove home without her, she following later by getting a ride with a driver from Heppen’s store.
Domestic troubles brought the family into Iron River justice court about two months ago when Mrs. Goodfellow swore out a warrant for the arrest of her husband on the charge of assault and battery. A few days later, however, the complaint was withdrawn and Goodfellow was freed upon the payment of court costs.
Goodfellow has been a resident of this district for over 40 years and was regarded as one of the county’s most progressive dairymen. He has been in the farming industry for the past 20 years, having previously been a lumberjack.
It is alleged that Mrs. Goodfellow was considerably addicted to drink, and made trips to this city frequently to replenish her supply.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter May 6 1930 “Guilt Of Woman Is Strengthened: Release of Son Accepted As Indication He Is Not Implicated”
With the releasing of Mike Larson, 40, son of Mrs. Goodfellow, being held in the county jail for the murder of her husband William Goodfellow, belief in the guilt of Mrs. Goodfellow has been strengthened.
Mike was held for investigation by the authorities who believed that he may have been connected with the killing in some manner. The fact that he has been released would seem to point to the fact the authorities believe Mrs. Goodfellow solely responsible for the crime. Nick Larson, another son, has signed a statement claiming his mother killed Goodfellow.
Though it is believed that a statement of importance has been obtained from Mrs. Goodfellow over Sunday, yet officials in the case are loath to reveal the import of the same.
FUNERAL OF MURDERED MAN HELD The funeral of the man whose life had been taken with his back turned was held Sunday afternoon at Coroner A.E. Stuht’s undertaking parlors here, the Rev. Milo Filipi, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating. Burial was made in the Bates township cemetery.
Having requested the privilege of attending the funeral, Mrs. Goodfellow was given an escort consisting of Sheriff James A. Dickie and a woman deputy and permitted to attend. She showed no outward signs of emotion throughout the service.
Nick Larson, a second son, interrupted the service when he arrived after the minister had begun the service, and took his place beside his mother.
From the cemetery the woman was returned to her cell in the county jail, where she awaits a preliminary hearing, which A.J. Waffen, her attorney, has demanded in Justice Hollow’s court in Crystal Falls.
With circuit court in session, it is doubtful if her case will be set for trial at this term, so court attaches believe.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter Oct 24 1930 “Circuit Court Opens Monday: Goodfellow Murder Case Will Be Tried At This Term” (excerpt)
Circuit court opens on Monday morning at Crystal Falls with Hon. Frank A. Bell presiding.
As the August term of court had no jury trials, the present session will be an interesting one with a number of prominent criminal cases to be tried before juries.
Interest centers in the trial of Mrs. Mary Goodfellow, who is charged with murdering her husband on the farm near Sunset lake where they lived on the night of April 30. The testimony of Nick Larson, one of the two living sons, at the hearing last spring was that his mother slew her husband while he was in the barn milking the cows early in the evening.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter Oct 31 1930 “Manslaughter Is Verdict Of The Jury Of 12: Mrs. Goodfellow States The Shooting Was Accidental”
A term of 15 years in the state penitentiary faces Mary Goodfellow, 63, of Bates township, as the result of the verdict of a jury in Circuit court at Crystal Falls, after having deliberated from 3 o’clock Wednesday until Thursday morning at 10:45 o’clock. The verdict was for manslaughter.
Mrs. Mary Goodfellow was charged with having deliberately taken a shotgun out to the barn in the evening of April 30 where she shot her husband in the back as he sat milking a cow.
The condemned woman will receive her sentence from Judge Frank A. Bell on Saturday morning. Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in the penitentiary.
Judge Bell expressed the opinion that the Goodfellow case was the most important case that had come under his jurisdiction while judge of the twenty-fifth judicial circuit. He refused to allow the jurors to leave the court room at each session before the spectators had vacated the room.
ACCUSES HIS MOTHER The state had Nick Larson, son of Mrs. Goodfellow, to testify, and Prosecuting Attorney Leigh C. Caswell was able to obtain the statement, similar to that which he made at the time of the hearing, that he had seen his mother discharge the gun at her husband upon the occasion of his death, by continued questioning, the answers coming very reluctantly.
Attorney A.J. Waffen for the defense attempted to discredit the reliability of the witness by revealing the fact that he had been arrested several times, that he had shown no affection for his mother and that he was not wanted at the farm home by his mother or stepfather. His character also was attacked when Attorney Waffen asked him if he had not made “an improper proposal” to his mother. His answer to this was “no.”
A.E. Stuht, county coroner, testified that Mrs. Goodfellow had told him she had killed Mr. Goodfellow and that she was sorry for it.
Dr. L.E. Irvine testified that he had performed the autopsy on the body, and that he had found Goodfellow to have been killed by being shot in the back with buckshot, the charge severing the spinal cord near the second vertebrae, and that, in his opinion, death had been instantaneous.
ADMITS THE KILLING Mrs. Goodfellow was placed on the stand Tuesday and admitted she had shot her husband, but that she had found the gun loaded in the barn, and that she was taking it to her husband to have him put it away when she slipped and the gun was accidentally discharged.
In summing up the case, Prosecuting Attorney Caswell contended that Mrs. Goodfellow harbored the thought of killing her husband and that she had deliberately taken the gun and gone to the barn for the express purpose of taking his life.
Trouble had taken place on the day of the shooting between husband and wife, according to the evidence, when Mrs. Goodfellow, her husband and her son Mike Larson had gone to Iron River, where, it seems, Mrs. Goodfellow secured liquor through her son Mike, and was not to be found when Mr. Goodfellow started for home.
FAMILY ROW Later she was taken home by a truck driver, and Goodfellow accused Mike of having bought the whiskey for his mother. Mrs. Goodfellow, it seems, joined in this discussion with some heated words, the argument being continued between Mike and Goodfellow that evening while they were at the barn doing the chores.
It was only a short time after this that Mrs. Goodfellow took the gun to the barn and, according to her son Nick, deliberately shot and killed Goodfellow.
The testimony of Nick, it appears, was the evidence that finally secured the verdict of manslaughter, as the jury at first stood four in favor of acquittal.
The jury was composed of four women and eight men as follows: Lempi Auvinen, Crystal Falls township; Lizzie Moore, Iron River; Walter Premo, Iron River; Theodore Waldron, Stambaugh; Byron Battye, Stambaugh township; Victor Eckola, Crystal Falls township; Pearl Shelgren, Stambaugh township; John Winquist, Hematite township; Adolph Erickson, Stambaugh township; Elizabeth Penberthy, Mastodon township; and Joseph Mallman, Crystal Falls.
MICHIGAN MARRIAGES 1868-1925 at familysearch.org says William Goodfellow age 36 born 1872 in Canada married Mary Larson age 35 born 1873 in Wisconsin. Event date July 9 1908 in Atkinson. His parents John Goodfellow & ? Wilson; her parents Roger Larson & Kate Dolen.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter May 2 1930 “Murder Charge Will Be Lodged Against Woman: Hold Mrs. William Goodfellow For Murder of Husband”
A formal charge of murder will probably be lodged today against Mrs. William Goodfellow of Bates, held at the county jail at Crystal Falls in connection with the killing of her husband at about 6 o’clock Wednesday evening, according to Leigh C. Caswell, prosecutor. Although no admission of guilt has been obtained from the woman, officers questioning her at the jail claim they have detected irregularities in her story. It was also stated this morning that the prosecutor is in possession of a written and sworn statement from Nick Larson, her son by a former marriage, in which he claims that he was an eyewitness of the murder of his stepfather, naming his mother as the murderess.
Mike Larson, another son, is also held at the county jail for questioning. Discrepancies in his story convince the authorities that he may know more than he is willing to tell. It is reported that Nick Larson said his brother was sitting near the barn door at the time of the murder and made no move to prevent the deed. Nick has also made known that he will make a “clean breast” of the whole thing, claiming that he believes his brother would willingly swing the murder to his shoulders if he could.
No motive for the murder has been established, although it is known Mr. and Mrs. Goodfellow had often quarreled and on several occasions Mrs. Goodfellow had threatened to kill her husband.
KILLED IN BARN William Goodfellow, about 60 years of age, was murdered at about 6 o’clock Wednesday evening while milking a cow in a barn at his farm near the Sunset lake pavilion, three miles northeast of Iron River. The murder was committed with a shotgun heavily loaded with buckshot and fired at close range, the charge striking him in the back. It is said that death must have been instantaneous as the spine was shattered by the shot.
Mrs. Goodfellow, who is 63 years old, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the act, although admitting that she had quarreled with her husband and that she had been drinking.
Mr. Goodfellow, it is said, ordered one of the sons out of the barn early in the evening and that this served to increase Mrs. Goodfellow’s anger against her spouse.
A jury will be drawn and a coroner’s inquest will be held sometime this afternoon, it was stated this morning. Funeral arrangements have not as yet been made.
CORONER SUMMONED A.E. Stuht of Iron River, county coroner, who was summoned to the farm by Nick Larson, step-son of the murdered man, and Charles Olson, a neighbor, found Goodfellow dead, lying face upward in a pool of blood in the cowbarn.
A post mortem was immediately ordered by Leign C. Caswell prosecutor, who was notified at once and Drs. L.E. Irvine of Iron River and Robert E. White of Caspian performed it. It was stated that death was caused by a bullet wound, the buckshot having penetrated to the lungs and the spine. It was evident from the size of the wound, which was nearly three inches in diameter, that Goodfellow had been shot in the back with a heavy charge of buckshot at close range.
Sheriff Dickie, summoned to Iron River sometime after the murder, viewed the body at the Stuht Funeral parlors and then went to the farm, reaching there about 10 o’clock.
A search at that time failed to yield any evidence and it was not until yesterday morning that a double-barrel shotgun with one exploded shell was found hidden in the cow barn. Only one exploded shell was found in the gun, the other barrel being useless because of a broken hammer.
TAKES WOMAN TO JAIL Arriving at the farm, the sheriff found Mrs. Goodfellow in bed. She was fully dressed and pretended to be fast asleep. All attempts to awaken her were futile. The two sons, at the time, were about the home.
Leaving Mrs. Goodfellow in bed, the sheriff proceeded with his investigation. The two sons were questioned, but nothing could be learned to help establish a motive for the killing.
Attempting to arouse the woman again, Sheriff Dickie finally ordered the officers to carry her to the car. It is said she “came to” in a hurry when she found that she was on her way to the county jail. Even before she was questioned, she emphatically denied any knowledge of the killing.
Sheriff Dickie stated last night that she was slightly intoxicated but that she pretended to be more under the influence of liquor than she actually was.
Questioning revealed that she and her husband had argued on numerous occasions and that their domestic relationship was strained. She refused, however, to implicate her sons, claiming that there was no ill blood between them and their stepfather.
Goodfellow and his wife were in Iron River Wednesday morning to do some shopping. During the time they were here an argument ensued and the murdered man drove home without her, she following later by getting a ride with a driver from Heppen’s store.
Domestic troubles brought the family into Iron River justice court about two months ago when Mrs. Goodfellow swore out a warrant for the arrest of her husband on the charge of assault and battery. A few days later, however, the complaint was withdrawn and Goodfellow was freed upon the payment of court costs.
Goodfellow has been a resident of this district for over 40 years and was regarded as one of the county’s most progressive dairymen. He has been in the farming industry for the past 20 years, having previously been a lumberjack.
It is alleged that Mrs. Goodfellow was considerably addicted to drink, and made trips to this city frequently to replenish her supply.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter May 6 1930 “Guilt Of Woman Is Strengthened: Release of Son Accepted As Indication He Is Not Implicated”
With the releasing of Mike Larson, 40, son of Mrs. Goodfellow, being held in the county jail for the murder of her husband William Goodfellow, belief in the guilt of Mrs. Goodfellow has been strengthened.
Mike was held for investigation by the authorities who believed that he may have been connected with the killing in some manner. The fact that he has been released would seem to point to the fact the authorities believe Mrs. Goodfellow solely responsible for the crime. Nick Larson, another son, has signed a statement claiming his mother killed Goodfellow.
Though it is believed that a statement of importance has been obtained from Mrs. Goodfellow over Sunday, yet officials in the case are loath to reveal the import of the same.
FUNERAL OF MURDERED MAN HELD The funeral of the man whose life had been taken with his back turned was held Sunday afternoon at Coroner A.E. Stuht’s undertaking parlors here, the Rev. Milo Filipi, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating. Burial was made in the Bates township cemetery.
Having requested the privilege of attending the funeral, Mrs. Goodfellow was given an escort consisting of Sheriff James A. Dickie and a woman deputy and permitted to attend. She showed no outward signs of emotion throughout the service.
Nick Larson, a second son, interrupted the service when he arrived after the minister had begun the service, and took his place beside his mother.
From the cemetery the woman was returned to her cell in the county jail, where she awaits a preliminary hearing, which A.J. Waffen, her attorney, has demanded in Justice Hollow’s court in Crystal Falls.
With circuit court in session, it is doubtful if her case will be set for trial at this term, so court attaches believe.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter Oct 24 1930 “Circuit Court Opens Monday: Goodfellow Murder Case Will Be Tried At This Term” (excerpt)
Circuit court opens on Monday morning at Crystal Falls with Hon. Frank A. Bell presiding.
As the August term of court had no jury trials, the present session will be an interesting one with a number of prominent criminal cases to be tried before juries.
Interest centers in the trial of Mrs. Mary Goodfellow, who is charged with murdering her husband on the farm near Sunset lake where they lived on the night of April 30. The testimony of Nick Larson, one of the two living sons, at the hearing last spring was that his mother slew her husband while he was in the barn milking the cows early in the evening.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter Oct 31 1930 “Manslaughter Is Verdict Of The Jury Of 12: Mrs. Goodfellow States The Shooting Was Accidental”
A term of 15 years in the state penitentiary faces Mary Goodfellow, 63, of Bates township, as the result of the verdict of a jury in Circuit court at Crystal Falls, after having deliberated from 3 o’clock Wednesday until Thursday morning at 10:45 o’clock. The verdict was for manslaughter.
Mrs. Mary Goodfellow was charged with having deliberately taken a shotgun out to the barn in the evening of April 30 where she shot her husband in the back as he sat milking a cow.
The condemned woman will receive her sentence from Judge Frank A. Bell on Saturday morning. Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in the penitentiary.
Judge Bell expressed the opinion that the Goodfellow case was the most important case that had come under his jurisdiction while judge of the twenty-fifth judicial circuit. He refused to allow the jurors to leave the court room at each session before the spectators had vacated the room.
ACCUSES HIS MOTHER The state had Nick Larson, son of Mrs. Goodfellow, to testify, and Prosecuting Attorney Leigh C. Caswell was able to obtain the statement, similar to that which he made at the time of the hearing, that he had seen his mother discharge the gun at her husband upon the occasion of his death, by continued questioning, the answers coming very reluctantly.
Attorney A.J. Waffen for the defense attempted to discredit the reliability of the witness by revealing the fact that he had been arrested several times, that he had shown no affection for his mother and that he was not wanted at the farm home by his mother or stepfather. His character also was attacked when Attorney Waffen asked him if he had not made “an improper proposal” to his mother. His answer to this was “no.”
A.E. Stuht, county coroner, testified that Mrs. Goodfellow had told him she had killed Mr. Goodfellow and that she was sorry for it.
Dr. L.E. Irvine testified that he had performed the autopsy on the body, and that he had found Goodfellow to have been killed by being shot in the back with buckshot, the charge severing the spinal cord near the second vertebrae, and that, in his opinion, death had been instantaneous.
ADMITS THE KILLING Mrs. Goodfellow was placed on the stand Tuesday and admitted she had shot her husband, but that she had found the gun loaded in the barn, and that she was taking it to her husband to have him put it away when she slipped and the gun was accidentally discharged.
In summing up the case, Prosecuting Attorney Caswell contended that Mrs. Goodfellow harbored the thought of killing her husband and that she had deliberately taken the gun and gone to the barn for the express purpose of taking his life.
Trouble had taken place on the day of the shooting between husband and wife, according to the evidence, when Mrs. Goodfellow, her husband and her son Mike Larson had gone to Iron River, where, it seems, Mrs. Goodfellow secured liquor through her son Mike, and was not to be found when Mr. Goodfellow started for home.
FAMILY ROW Later she was taken home by a truck driver, and Goodfellow accused Mike of having bought the whiskey for his mother. Mrs. Goodfellow, it seems, joined in this discussion with some heated words, the argument being continued between Mike and Goodfellow that evening while they were at the barn doing the chores.
It was only a short time after this that Mrs. Goodfellow took the gun to the barn and, according to her son Nick, deliberately shot and killed Goodfellow.
The testimony of Nick, it appears, was the evidence that finally secured the verdict of manslaughter, as the jury at first stood four in favor of acquittal.
The jury was composed of four women and eight men as follows: Lempi Auvinen, Crystal Falls township; Lizzie Moore, Iron River; Walter Premo, Iron River; Theodore Waldron, Stambaugh; Byron Battye, Stambaugh township; Victor Eckola, Crystal Falls township; Pearl Shelgren, Stambaugh township; John Winquist, Hematite township; Adolph Erickson, Stambaugh township; Elizabeth Penberthy, Mastodon township; and Joseph Mallman, Crystal Falls.
MICHIGAN MARRIAGES 1868-1925 at familysearch.org says William Goodfellow age 36 born 1872 in Canada married Mary Larson age 35 born 1873 in Wisconsin. Event date July 9 1908 in Atkinson. His parents John Goodfellow & ? Wilson; her parents Roger Larson & Kate Dolen.
*** No headstone for this person. Burial here confirmed by cemetery map and obituary.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter May 2 1930 “Murder Charge Will Be Lodged Against Woman: Hold Mrs. William Goodfellow For Murder of Husband”
A formal charge of murder will probably be lodged today against Mrs. William Goodfellow of Bates, held at the county jail at Crystal Falls in connection with the killing of her husband at about 6 o’clock Wednesday evening, according to Leigh C. Caswell, prosecutor. Although no admission of guilt has been obtained from the woman, officers questioning her at the jail claim they have detected irregularities in her story. It was also stated this morning that the prosecutor is in possession of a written and sworn statement from Nick Larson, her son by a former marriage, in which he claims that he was an eyewitness of the murder of his stepfather, naming his mother as the murderess.
Mike Larson, another son, is also held at the county jail for questioning. Discrepancies in his story convince the authorities that he may know more than he is willing to tell. It is reported that Nick Larson said his brother was sitting near the barn door at the time of the murder and made no move to prevent the deed. Nick has also made known that he will make a “clean breast” of the whole thing, claiming that he believes his brother would willingly swing the murder to his shoulders if he could.
No motive for the murder has been established, although it is known Mr. and Mrs. Goodfellow had often quarreled and on several occasions Mrs. Goodfellow had threatened to kill her husband.
KILLED IN BARN William Goodfellow, about 60 years of age, was murdered at about 6 o’clock Wednesday evening while milking a cow in a barn at his farm near the Sunset lake pavilion, three miles northeast of Iron River. The murder was committed with a shotgun heavily loaded with buckshot and fired at close range, the charge striking him in the back. It is said that death must have been instantaneous as the spine was shattered by the shot.
Mrs. Goodfellow, who is 63 years old, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the act, although admitting that she had quarreled with her husband and that she had been drinking.
Mr. Goodfellow, it is said, ordered one of the sons out of the barn early in the evening and that this served to increase Mrs. Goodfellow’s anger against her spouse.
A jury will be drawn and a coroner’s inquest will be held sometime this afternoon, it was stated this morning. Funeral arrangements have not as yet been made.
CORONER SUMMONED A.E. Stuht of Iron River, county coroner, who was summoned to the farm by Nick Larson, step-son of the murdered man, and Charles Olson, a neighbor, found Goodfellow dead, lying face upward in a pool of blood in the cowbarn.
A post mortem was immediately ordered by Leign C. Caswell prosecutor, who was notified at once and Drs. L.E. Irvine of Iron River and Robert E. White of Caspian performed it. It was stated that death was caused by a bullet wound, the buckshot having penetrated to the lungs and the spine. It was evident from the size of the wound, which was nearly three inches in diameter, that Goodfellow had been shot in the back with a heavy charge of buckshot at close range.
Sheriff Dickie, summoned to Iron River sometime after the murder, viewed the body at the Stuht Funeral parlors and then went to the farm, reaching there about 10 o’clock.
A search at that time failed to yield any evidence and it was not until yesterday morning that a double-barrel shotgun with one exploded shell was found hidden in the cow barn. Only one exploded shell was found in the gun, the other barrel being useless because of a broken hammer.
TAKES WOMAN TO JAIL Arriving at the farm, the sheriff found Mrs. Goodfellow in bed. She was fully dressed and pretended to be fast asleep. All attempts to awaken her were futile. The two sons, at the time, were about the home.
Leaving Mrs. Goodfellow in bed, the sheriff proceeded with his investigation. The two sons were questioned, but nothing could be learned to help establish a motive for the killing.
Attempting to arouse the woman again, Sheriff Dickie finally ordered the officers to carry her to the car. It is said she “came to” in a hurry when she found that she was on her way to the county jail. Even before she was questioned, she emphatically denied any knowledge of the killing.
Sheriff Dickie stated last night that she was slightly intoxicated but that she pretended to be more under the influence of liquor than she actually was.
Questioning revealed that she and her husband had argued on numerous occasions and that their domestic relationship was strained. She refused, however, to implicate her sons, claiming that there was no ill blood between them and their stepfather.
Goodfellow and his wife were in Iron River Wednesday morning to do some shopping. During the time they were here an argument ensued and the murdered man drove home without her, she following later by getting a ride with a driver from Heppen’s store.
Domestic troubles brought the family into Iron River justice court about two months ago when Mrs. Goodfellow swore out a warrant for the arrest of her husband on the charge of assault and battery. A few days later, however, the complaint was withdrawn and Goodfellow was freed upon the payment of court costs.
Goodfellow has been a resident of this district for over 40 years and was regarded as one of the county’s most progressive dairymen. He has been in the farming industry for the past 20 years, having previously been a lumberjack.
It is alleged that Mrs. Goodfellow was considerably addicted to drink, and made trips to this city frequently to replenish her supply.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter May 6 1930 “Guilt Of Woman Is Strengthened: Release of Son Accepted As Indication He Is Not Implicated”
With the releasing of Mike Larson, 40, son of Mrs. Goodfellow, being held in the county jail for the murder of her husband William Goodfellow, belief in the guilt of Mrs. Goodfellow has been strengthened.
Mike was held for investigation by the authorities who believed that he may have been connected with the killing in some manner. The fact that he has been released would seem to point to the fact the authorities believe Mrs. Goodfellow solely responsible for the crime. Nick Larson, another son, has signed a statement claiming his mother killed Goodfellow.
Though it is believed that a statement of importance has been obtained from Mrs. Goodfellow over Sunday, yet officials in the case are loath to reveal the import of the same.
FUNERAL OF MURDERED MAN HELD The funeral of the man whose life had been taken with his back turned was held Sunday afternoon at Coroner A.E. Stuht’s undertaking parlors here, the Rev. Milo Filipi, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating. Burial was made in the Bates township cemetery.
Having requested the privilege of attending the funeral, Mrs. Goodfellow was given an escort consisting of Sheriff James A. Dickie and a woman deputy and permitted to attend. She showed no outward signs of emotion throughout the service.
Nick Larson, a second son, interrupted the service when he arrived after the minister had begun the service, and took his place beside his mother.
From the cemetery the woman was returned to her cell in the county jail, where she awaits a preliminary hearing, which A.J. Waffen, her attorney, has demanded in Justice Hollow’s court in Crystal Falls.
With circuit court in session, it is doubtful if her case will be set for trial at this term, so court attaches believe.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter Oct 24 1930 “Circuit Court Opens Monday: Goodfellow Murder Case Will Be Tried At This Term” (excerpt)
Circuit court opens on Monday morning at Crystal Falls with Hon. Frank A. Bell presiding.
As the August term of court had no jury trials, the present session will be an interesting one with a number of prominent criminal cases to be tried before juries.
Interest centers in the trial of Mrs. Mary Goodfellow, who is charged with murdering her husband on the farm near Sunset lake where they lived on the night of April 30. The testimony of Nick Larson, one of the two living sons, at the hearing last spring was that his mother slew her husband while he was in the barn milking the cows early in the evening.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter Oct 31 1930 “Manslaughter Is Verdict Of The Jury Of 12: Mrs. Goodfellow States The Shooting Was Accidental”
A term of 15 years in the state penitentiary faces Mary Goodfellow, 63, of Bates township, as the result of the verdict of a jury in Circuit court at Crystal Falls, after having deliberated from 3 o’clock Wednesday until Thursday morning at 10:45 o’clock. The verdict was for manslaughter.
Mrs. Mary Goodfellow was charged with having deliberately taken a shotgun out to the barn in the evening of April 30 where she shot her husband in the back as he sat milking a cow.
The condemned woman will receive her sentence from Judge Frank A. Bell on Saturday morning. Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in the penitentiary.
Judge Bell expressed the opinion that the Goodfellow case was the most important case that had come under his jurisdiction while judge of the twenty-fifth judicial circuit. He refused to allow the jurors to leave the court room at each session before the spectators had vacated the room.
ACCUSES HIS MOTHER The state had Nick Larson, son of Mrs. Goodfellow, to testify, and Prosecuting Attorney Leigh C. Caswell was able to obtain the statement, similar to that which he made at the time of the hearing, that he had seen his mother discharge the gun at her husband upon the occasion of his death, by continued questioning, the answers coming very reluctantly.
Attorney A.J. Waffen for the defense attempted to discredit the reliability of the witness by revealing the fact that he had been arrested several times, that he had shown no affection for his mother and that he was not wanted at the farm home by his mother or stepfather. His character also was attacked when Attorney Waffen asked him if he had not made “an improper proposal” to his mother. His answer to this was “no.”
A.E. Stuht, county coroner, testified that Mrs. Goodfellow had told him she had killed Mr. Goodfellow and that she was sorry for it.
Dr. L.E. Irvine testified that he had performed the autopsy on the body, and that he had found Goodfellow to have been killed by being shot in the back with buckshot, the charge severing the spinal cord near the second vertebrae, and that, in his opinion, death had been instantaneous.
ADMITS THE KILLING Mrs. Goodfellow was placed on the stand Tuesday and admitted she had shot her husband, but that she had found the gun loaded in the barn, and that she was taking it to her husband to have him put it away when she slipped and the gun was accidentally discharged.
In summing up the case, Prosecuting Attorney Caswell contended that Mrs. Goodfellow harbored the thought of killing her husband and that she had deliberately taken the gun and gone to the barn for the express purpose of taking his life.
Trouble had taken place on the day of the shooting between husband and wife, according to the evidence, when Mrs. Goodfellow, her husband and her son Mike Larson had gone to Iron River, where, it seems, Mrs. Goodfellow secured liquor through her son Mike, and was not to be found when Mr. Goodfellow started for home.
FAMILY ROW Later she was taken home by a truck driver, and Goodfellow accused Mike of having bought the whiskey for his mother. Mrs. Goodfellow, it seems, joined in this discussion with some heated words, the argument being continued between Mike and Goodfellow that evening while they were at the barn doing the chores.
It was only a short time after this that Mrs. Goodfellow took the gun to the barn and, according to her son Nick, deliberately shot and killed Goodfellow.
The testimony of Nick, it appears, was the evidence that finally secured the verdict of manslaughter, as the jury at first stood four in favor of acquittal.
The jury was composed of four women and eight men as follows: Lempi Auvinen, Crystal Falls township; Lizzie Moore, Iron River; Walter Premo, Iron River; Theodore Waldron, Stambaugh; Byron Battye, Stambaugh township; Victor Eckola, Crystal Falls township; Pearl Shelgren, Stambaugh township; John Winquist, Hematite township; Adolph Erickson, Stambaugh township; Elizabeth Penberthy, Mastodon township; and Joseph Mallman, Crystal Falls.
MICHIGAN MARRIAGES 1868-1925 at familysearch.org says William Goodfellow age 36 born 1872 in Canada married Mary Larson age 35 born 1873 in Wisconsin. Event date July 9 1908 in Atkinson. His parents John Goodfellow & ? Wilson; her parents Roger Larson & Kate Dolen.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter May 2 1930 “Murder Charge Will Be Lodged Against Woman: Hold Mrs. William Goodfellow For Murder of Husband”
A formal charge of murder will probably be lodged today against Mrs. William Goodfellow of Bates, held at the county jail at Crystal Falls in connection with the killing of her husband at about 6 o’clock Wednesday evening, according to Leigh C. Caswell, prosecutor. Although no admission of guilt has been obtained from the woman, officers questioning her at the jail claim they have detected irregularities in her story. It was also stated this morning that the prosecutor is in possession of a written and sworn statement from Nick Larson, her son by a former marriage, in which he claims that he was an eyewitness of the murder of his stepfather, naming his mother as the murderess.
Mike Larson, another son, is also held at the county jail for questioning. Discrepancies in his story convince the authorities that he may know more than he is willing to tell. It is reported that Nick Larson said his brother was sitting near the barn door at the time of the murder and made no move to prevent the deed. Nick has also made known that he will make a “clean breast” of the whole thing, claiming that he believes his brother would willingly swing the murder to his shoulders if he could.
No motive for the murder has been established, although it is known Mr. and Mrs. Goodfellow had often quarreled and on several occasions Mrs. Goodfellow had threatened to kill her husband.
KILLED IN BARN William Goodfellow, about 60 years of age, was murdered at about 6 o’clock Wednesday evening while milking a cow in a barn at his farm near the Sunset lake pavilion, three miles northeast of Iron River. The murder was committed with a shotgun heavily loaded with buckshot and fired at close range, the charge striking him in the back. It is said that death must have been instantaneous as the spine was shattered by the shot.
Mrs. Goodfellow, who is 63 years old, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the act, although admitting that she had quarreled with her husband and that she had been drinking.
Mr. Goodfellow, it is said, ordered one of the sons out of the barn early in the evening and that this served to increase Mrs. Goodfellow’s anger against her spouse.
A jury will be drawn and a coroner’s inquest will be held sometime this afternoon, it was stated this morning. Funeral arrangements have not as yet been made.
CORONER SUMMONED A.E. Stuht of Iron River, county coroner, who was summoned to the farm by Nick Larson, step-son of the murdered man, and Charles Olson, a neighbor, found Goodfellow dead, lying face upward in a pool of blood in the cowbarn.
A post mortem was immediately ordered by Leign C. Caswell prosecutor, who was notified at once and Drs. L.E. Irvine of Iron River and Robert E. White of Caspian performed it. It was stated that death was caused by a bullet wound, the buckshot having penetrated to the lungs and the spine. It was evident from the size of the wound, which was nearly three inches in diameter, that Goodfellow had been shot in the back with a heavy charge of buckshot at close range.
Sheriff Dickie, summoned to Iron River sometime after the murder, viewed the body at the Stuht Funeral parlors and then went to the farm, reaching there about 10 o’clock.
A search at that time failed to yield any evidence and it was not until yesterday morning that a double-barrel shotgun with one exploded shell was found hidden in the cow barn. Only one exploded shell was found in the gun, the other barrel being useless because of a broken hammer.
TAKES WOMAN TO JAIL Arriving at the farm, the sheriff found Mrs. Goodfellow in bed. She was fully dressed and pretended to be fast asleep. All attempts to awaken her were futile. The two sons, at the time, were about the home.
Leaving Mrs. Goodfellow in bed, the sheriff proceeded with his investigation. The two sons were questioned, but nothing could be learned to help establish a motive for the killing.
Attempting to arouse the woman again, Sheriff Dickie finally ordered the officers to carry her to the car. It is said she “came to” in a hurry when she found that she was on her way to the county jail. Even before she was questioned, she emphatically denied any knowledge of the killing.
Sheriff Dickie stated last night that she was slightly intoxicated but that she pretended to be more under the influence of liquor than she actually was.
Questioning revealed that she and her husband had argued on numerous occasions and that their domestic relationship was strained. She refused, however, to implicate her sons, claiming that there was no ill blood between them and their stepfather.
Goodfellow and his wife were in Iron River Wednesday morning to do some shopping. During the time they were here an argument ensued and the murdered man drove home without her, she following later by getting a ride with a driver from Heppen’s store.
Domestic troubles brought the family into Iron River justice court about two months ago when Mrs. Goodfellow swore out a warrant for the arrest of her husband on the charge of assault and battery. A few days later, however, the complaint was withdrawn and Goodfellow was freed upon the payment of court costs.
Goodfellow has been a resident of this district for over 40 years and was regarded as one of the county’s most progressive dairymen. He has been in the farming industry for the past 20 years, having previously been a lumberjack.
It is alleged that Mrs. Goodfellow was considerably addicted to drink, and made trips to this city frequently to replenish her supply.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter May 6 1930 “Guilt Of Woman Is Strengthened: Release of Son Accepted As Indication He Is Not Implicated”
With the releasing of Mike Larson, 40, son of Mrs. Goodfellow, being held in the county jail for the murder of her husband William Goodfellow, belief in the guilt of Mrs. Goodfellow has been strengthened.
Mike was held for investigation by the authorities who believed that he may have been connected with the killing in some manner. The fact that he has been released would seem to point to the fact the authorities believe Mrs. Goodfellow solely responsible for the crime. Nick Larson, another son, has signed a statement claiming his mother killed Goodfellow.
Though it is believed that a statement of importance has been obtained from Mrs. Goodfellow over Sunday, yet officials in the case are loath to reveal the import of the same.
FUNERAL OF MURDERED MAN HELD The funeral of the man whose life had been taken with his back turned was held Sunday afternoon at Coroner A.E. Stuht’s undertaking parlors here, the Rev. Milo Filipi, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating. Burial was made in the Bates township cemetery.
Having requested the privilege of attending the funeral, Mrs. Goodfellow was given an escort consisting of Sheriff James A. Dickie and a woman deputy and permitted to attend. She showed no outward signs of emotion throughout the service.
Nick Larson, a second son, interrupted the service when he arrived after the minister had begun the service, and took his place beside his mother.
From the cemetery the woman was returned to her cell in the county jail, where she awaits a preliminary hearing, which A.J. Waffen, her attorney, has demanded in Justice Hollow’s court in Crystal Falls.
With circuit court in session, it is doubtful if her case will be set for trial at this term, so court attaches believe.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter Oct 24 1930 “Circuit Court Opens Monday: Goodfellow Murder Case Will Be Tried At This Term” (excerpt)
Circuit court opens on Monday morning at Crystal Falls with Hon. Frank A. Bell presiding.
As the August term of court had no jury trials, the present session will be an interesting one with a number of prominent criminal cases to be tried before juries.
Interest centers in the trial of Mrs. Mary Goodfellow, who is charged with murdering her husband on the farm near Sunset lake where they lived on the night of April 30. The testimony of Nick Larson, one of the two living sons, at the hearing last spring was that his mother slew her husband while he was in the barn milking the cows early in the evening.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter Oct 31 1930 “Manslaughter Is Verdict Of The Jury Of 12: Mrs. Goodfellow States The Shooting Was Accidental”
A term of 15 years in the state penitentiary faces Mary Goodfellow, 63, of Bates township, as the result of the verdict of a jury in Circuit court at Crystal Falls, after having deliberated from 3 o’clock Wednesday until Thursday morning at 10:45 o’clock. The verdict was for manslaughter.
Mrs. Mary Goodfellow was charged with having deliberately taken a shotgun out to the barn in the evening of April 30 where she shot her husband in the back as he sat milking a cow.
The condemned woman will receive her sentence from Judge Frank A. Bell on Saturday morning. Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in the penitentiary.
Judge Bell expressed the opinion that the Goodfellow case was the most important case that had come under his jurisdiction while judge of the twenty-fifth judicial circuit. He refused to allow the jurors to leave the court room at each session before the spectators had vacated the room.
ACCUSES HIS MOTHER The state had Nick Larson, son of Mrs. Goodfellow, to testify, and Prosecuting Attorney Leigh C. Caswell was able to obtain the statement, similar to that which he made at the time of the hearing, that he had seen his mother discharge the gun at her husband upon the occasion of his death, by continued questioning, the answers coming very reluctantly.
Attorney A.J. Waffen for the defense attempted to discredit the reliability of the witness by revealing the fact that he had been arrested several times, that he had shown no affection for his mother and that he was not wanted at the farm home by his mother or stepfather. His character also was attacked when Attorney Waffen asked him if he had not made “an improper proposal” to his mother. His answer to this was “no.”
A.E. Stuht, county coroner, testified that Mrs. Goodfellow had told him she had killed Mr. Goodfellow and that she was sorry for it.
Dr. L.E. Irvine testified that he had performed the autopsy on the body, and that he had found Goodfellow to have been killed by being shot in the back with buckshot, the charge severing the spinal cord near the second vertebrae, and that, in his opinion, death had been instantaneous.
ADMITS THE KILLING Mrs. Goodfellow was placed on the stand Tuesday and admitted she had shot her husband, but that she had found the gun loaded in the barn, and that she was taking it to her husband to have him put it away when she slipped and the gun was accidentally discharged.
In summing up the case, Prosecuting Attorney Caswell contended that Mrs. Goodfellow harbored the thought of killing her husband and that she had deliberately taken the gun and gone to the barn for the express purpose of taking his life.
Trouble had taken place on the day of the shooting between husband and wife, according to the evidence, when Mrs. Goodfellow, her husband and her son Mike Larson had gone to Iron River, where, it seems, Mrs. Goodfellow secured liquor through her son Mike, and was not to be found when Mr. Goodfellow started for home.
FAMILY ROW Later she was taken home by a truck driver, and Goodfellow accused Mike of having bought the whiskey for his mother. Mrs. Goodfellow, it seems, joined in this discussion with some heated words, the argument being continued between Mike and Goodfellow that evening while they were at the barn doing the chores.
It was only a short time after this that Mrs. Goodfellow took the gun to the barn and, according to her son Nick, deliberately shot and killed Goodfellow.
The testimony of Nick, it appears, was the evidence that finally secured the verdict of manslaughter, as the jury at first stood four in favor of acquittal.
The jury was composed of four women and eight men as follows: Lempi Auvinen, Crystal Falls township; Lizzie Moore, Iron River; Walter Premo, Iron River; Theodore Waldron, Stambaugh; Byron Battye, Stambaugh township; Victor Eckola, Crystal Falls township; Pearl Shelgren, Stambaugh township; John Winquist, Hematite township; Adolph Erickson, Stambaugh township; Elizabeth Penberthy, Mastodon township; and Joseph Mallman, Crystal Falls.
MICHIGAN MARRIAGES 1868-1925 at familysearch.org says William Goodfellow age 36 born 1872 in Canada married Mary Larson age 35 born 1873 in Wisconsin. Event date July 9 1908 in Atkinson. His parents John Goodfellow & ? Wilson; her parents Roger Larson & Kate Dolen.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
