Flint is well known for its modern violent crimes but Flint's history is filled with little known stories that read stranger than fiction. Gruesome murders, weird accidents, and violent deaths. Join us every Thursday as Joe Schipani details some of the odd but true deaths he found in Flint's archives.
The Hammer July 10th, 1920
William Proctor, a night watchman
for the Buick factory number 5, was just about to finish his shift on a Tuesday
morning in July 1920 when he was served with a bill of divorce.
William and Carrie Proctor never
had the perfect marriage.
The Proctors had adult children,
one living in South Carolina and the other two had lived in homes on the same
street. They were also the adopted parents of their two grandchildren, ages
thirteen and five.
They spent 40 years of their
marriage arguing. But this fight was different.
William discovered that his wife
had opened a bank account without his knowledge and was hiding money from him.
They fought for numerous days about this matter and William demanded she close
the account and return his money to him.
When William arrived home after
work he was angry. He knew that the divorce bill was coming, but the blow to his ego combined with being
served at work pushed him over the edge.
After a half hour of screaming at
each other William picked up his hammer and started hitting Carrie in the head
with it.
As she fell to the floor their
oldest adopted child was awoke by the noise and came into the room. When he saw
what had happened he let out a scream. William heard the scream and started
swinging the hammer at the child. Lucky for the boy he was small and quick and
avoided being struck by the hammer.
This made William suddenly realized
that his anger was out of control.
By this time the neighbors had
heard the screams and notified the police. William heard the sirens coming down
Nicholas Avenue. He knew his fate was sealed. He pulled a razor knife out of
his pocket and slit his throat from ear to ear.
By the time police arrived
William Proctor was dead. He had bled to death.
Carrie Proctor was still alive at
the time the police arrived. She was rushed to Hurley Hospital but died during
surgery.
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