Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-10-07

magistrate with Justice Taylor OF the III
per Police, aided by officers A. M.
Smith and Walker, examined the prem
SEES; and after taking the testimony
Mr.. Wheeler and his assistant, conclude
to arrest Colt, who was arrested by office
Smith accordingly on Friday, and take
before the Mayor. On being interroga
ed, he said he was not 10 his room on ii
night of the 18th inst, and that he did n,
put any box out of his room and send
away the next day, though it was prove
that he did. He was then committed |
prison. The mayor then advertised fo
lha carman VINO took the box from ,h
store, and Mr.. Grodfey, the superintcr
dant of carts, diligently employed himse
until he found him. and brought him be
fore the mayor. There he stated that h
had conveyed box from Mr.. Colts roor
and put j, on board the ship Kalamazoo
according to directions, for which Mr.. Col
had paid him.
The Mayor then sent officers Smith ant
Walker on board the ship and bad he
detained, as she was about TO sail; an,
yesterday having the matches opened, thu
Mayor and Justice Taylor, with the off
GERS, repaired on board the vessel, where
the box marked as stated, was found il
her hold and after time got on, an,
brought on deck. There i, was opened
and the body of man supposed to be Mr.
Adams found, with only the shirt on, part.
ly covered with salt and chloride of lime
with cloths wrapped round ia co:t and
other clothes packed around the body,
and the whole enveloped in an old awning.
It was theE closed and conveyed to the
dead house in the Park. There the Cor.
oner, attended by Drs. Gilman and ks
sam, and others appeared and examined
the body, which was greatly decomposed
and presented frightful spectacle. A
rope was round the neck extending round
and under the knees, which were dra NJ
up to the breast--the whole Of the bone o
the forehead almost was crushed and driv.
en- in upon the brain. There was frac.
ton of both the right and left parieta
bones, portions Of which were driven in
and went across the right side Of the chin,
which penetrated the stock on his neck.
The stock was also cut open in front
and fast only behind. The physicians
ascribed his death to these wounds, and
the testimony was laid before the Jury
who assembled. The testimony as re-
CARDS the Identification of the body, cloth
ing, &C.. we were not allowed to hear, bu,
the verdict was in accordance with the
above facts, impu.ing the killing. as they
believed, TO j. c. Colt. He was brought
out of prison, and looked pale and bag
gard, remaining silent, and his counsel
Messrs. Robert Emmett and J. A. Morreil,
sent for, and afterwards was remanded TO
prison.
Justice Taylor also on Saturday sue.
ceeded in recovering the watch Of Mr..
Adams, which was found in Colts trunk
Mt his boarding house in Monroe st. near
Market. Great praise is due to the May.
or and Justice Taylor, as also to officers
A. N. c. and Walker, for their activity
in bringing 10 denoucment this terrible
deed Of blood and death.
A coroner's inquest was held upon the
body which resulted in identifying the
body of the murdered man, and showing
that he must have come to his death by
violent blows upon the skull. Various
other particulars were testified to by wit.
nesses, fixing tho act most unequivocally
upon Colt. II is remarkable that Mrs. Ad.
ans from the moment Of her husbands
disappearance has always been strongly
impressed with the belief that her husband
was murdered. Some days ago she hat
a dream in which she imagined she saw
the body of her husband dismembered ant
packed in a box
Both the murdered man and his muir
derer are members fDr. Springs church
This horrible murder has caused grea
excitement in New York.
FURTHER PARTICULARs.-ExA
lion OF THE PRISONER.
The late dreadful murder, perpetraiel
us it was in the middle OF the day, in thu
heart OF our city, and in one Of its mos
public thorough. fares, continues TO be thu
subject of conversation among all CLASSES
of the community. |! is rarely that ",
have the painful duty to record crim'
parallel in enormity 10 this. no, so mucI
perhaps of the act itself but Of the COO
and calculating elaboration which he
marked the subsequent circumstances, il
order to conceal the deed.
The fact of Mr.. Adams having Gale,
or Colt the Friday the murder was com
mitted, is established almost conclusivel
by Mr.. Wells, who, 1t appears, had re
ceived orders from Col, to ship quaint
ty Of his books, which Adams had print
ed, to Philadelphia, and Wells called o.
Adams between two and three o'clock i
the afternoon Of that day, TO know if
was right to ship them on account ofCol'
Adams said it was all right, as he was I
receive The proceeds; but being told b.
Wells that Colt claimed the proceeds
Adams replied, "This must not be; tn
books are mine Colt is still owing me 10
them; will go and see him about IT..
He probably then Immediately started
and was seen no more until bis mangle'
remains we're discovered on Sunday.
John C. Colt, the supposed murderer
is young man OF gentlemany appear
ancc and address, about B feet 0 inche
in height, with dark brown curling hal,
and whiskers meeting under the chin
His countenance is exceedingly prepos
sessing, and bespenks anything but tina
rerocity Of character which has charac
II