Detroit Free Press , February 9, 1899 I'm sure that Thomas Evans's troubles began long before a stint at the Detroit House of Corrections but as he was about to be released in February of 1899 his wife filed suit against him for non-support of his family. Detroit Free Press , February 14, 1899 Adding to the charges were accusations of taking liberties with his stepdaughters Nellie and Minnie Johnson the year previous and threatened them with death if they went to authorities. He was bound over soon thereafter. Detroit Free Press , May 19, 1899 Between then and May 18 he was acquitted of assault on the girls and they were sent to the Coldwater State School for abandoned and orphaned children and Evans went about life as usual in Meads Mill. Detroit Free Press , May 26, 1899 Except that the citizens of that small village a mile south of Northville were unhappy with the circumstances and shame that had been brought upon the town and chose to rid themselves of Evans by lynching ...