DEATH OF TWO CONVICTS AT JACKSON.

Jackson, Mich., April 5. - (Special.) - Christopher Johnson, colored, died at the prison this morning from an abscess and during the inquest over his remains CHARLES SHERIFF, another convict, expired from spinal meningitis. Christopher Johnson was sent to the prison in 1895 from Detroit on a sentence of fifteen years for burglary. Charles Sheriff was sent from Barry county in 1896 on a sentence of five years for larceny.

THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Detroit, Mich., Thurs., Apr. 6, 1899, Pg. 2, Col. 4, Art 1 (Death of Two Convicts at Jackson.)

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According to a family story passed down to me from my gr-aunt, Esther (Cronk) Satterlee, CHARLEY SHERIFF was sent to Jackson Prison for being a horse thief. He tried to sell this stolen horse to my gr-grandfather, William Cronk, who was his half-uncle. As a result, it was William's testimony that sent Charley to prison. As the time drew close for his release, my gr-grandmother, Ella (Lewis) Cronk, was sick with worry. Charley had sworn revenge on William Cronk. Just before his release, Charley got sick and died. Charley's death certificate does state he died at the State Prison in Jackson, so there must be some truth to this story. Until recently that was the only knowledge I had regarding the character of this young man. On 15 January 2017, Ellen Martin Herrmann sent me an article about Charles Sheriff being 'Tar and Feathered' back in New York State. Further research showed a "pattern of behavior" leading up to his being sent to Jackson Prison in 1896 for larceny. ~~Mike Cronk, 16 January 2017

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CHARLES SHERIFF and Jerry Cooper, two of Vermontville's precocious youngsters, are in the county jail, charged with entering and robbing the store of Geo. Lamb, of that place, some time ago. Sheriff has had his examination and been bound over to the circuit. Cooper was arrested Wednesday and has not yet had his examination. - [Charlotte Republican.

THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Detroit, Mich., Sun., Mar. 31, 1889, Pg. 23, Col. 6, Item 11 (State Items.)

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TAR AND FEATHERS.

A GENEROUS COAT APPLIED TO A GARLAND MISDOER.

Correspondence of the Democrat and Chronicle.

Brockport, Nov. 3.- Considerable excitement and interest was displayed at Brockport last evening, when it became noised about that a man had been tarred and feathered at Garland, a small country place two miles and a half northeast of this place. The act was committed, it seems, on the night of October 19th, but the matter was hushed up, and no one in Brockport was aware that any such act had been perpetrated. The first intimation that such a thing had been done was when Officers Fagan and Guenther arrived in Brockport Thursday evening with four prisoners, James Bates, Martin Amidon, William Connell and John Muhaney, who were charged with being implicated in the affair, and who were arrested on warrants sworn out before Justice T. S. Dean, of Brockport, on complaint of TRUMAN ADAMS, grandfather of Charles Sheriff, the victim of the affray, charging them with assault in the second degree. Five others are also charged with being parties to the assault and. for whom warrants have been issued. Burt Earley, one of the number, came to Brockport today and surrendered himself to Officer Fagan. All who were arrested were arraigned before Justice T. S. Dean, where they gave bonds for their appearance before the justice on the 10th day of November.

CHARLES SHERIFF, the victim of the assault, is a young man about 23 years of age, and for the last two years has been living with his parents in Detroit, Mich. He had a bad record in his early days and finally went to Michigan, but returned a few months ago. He thought his misdeeds had been forgotten, but they had not. A number of persons had distinct recollections of him and agreed to pay him off, and accordingly on the night of the date mentioned above went to his house and gave him a generous coat of tar and feathers. He has not been seen since, and it is supposed he has gone back to Michigan, where his parents live.

The examination of those implicated will be held before Justice T, S. Dean at Brockport November 10th.

ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, Rochester, New York,
Sat., Nov. 4, 1893, Pg. 4, Col. 4, Art. 6 (Tar and Feathers.)

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--On Friday last, Albert Early, William Connell, James Bates, Martin Amidon and John Mahoney, whom it will be remembered, were arrested a short time ago for assault in the second degree, in tar and feathering a young man at Clarkson by the name of CHARLES SHERIFF, appeared before Justice T.S. Dean at Brockport. A motion for their discharge was made by their attorney, George P. Decker, of Rochester, on the ground that the complainant, TRUMAN ADAMS, of Garland, failed to put in an appearance. The motion was granted, and all five were discharged, Isaac Hill, another one, who was arrested on the same charge, was taken before Justice Dean last Saturday, and was permitted to plead guilty of assault in the third degree. A fine of $25 was imposed by the justice, which was paid, and the prisoner was discharged, warrants are out for four others, who are accused of being implicated in the assault, but no further efforts will be made to prosecute them.

ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, Rochester, New York, Tue., Nov. 14, 1893, Pg. 4, Col. 2, Item 5 (Western New York News - Monroe)

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Hastings, Mich., September 14. - (Special.)
CHARLES SHERIFF, for larceny, his third offense, was sentenced to five years.

THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Detroit, Mich., Tues., Sept. 15, 1896, Pg. 3, Col. 1, Item 2 (Detail from larger article 'Life Imprisonment.')