The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-03-22
From the Chicago Press.

On the evening of the 3lst of December
last. two travellers alighted the st. Charles
stage at Hannibal, Missouri, and registered
their names at the Monroe House as Jules
IDuCollier and William Hull. They had in
their possession large russell colored hand
trunk and two large leather trunks, one of
which was covered with canvas. DuCollier
had a common double-barreled shot e,ln.-
Hull had new rifle.
On New Years morning they both started
out hunting and returned in the evening. On
the following morning DuCoilier, at the ear.
nest solicitation of Hull, again accompanied
him out hunting. About dusk Hull returned
alone. The landlord and several citizens who
were present, inquired of Hull what had be-
] come of his friend. He replied that DuCoi-
lier had met a friend Ga Frenchinan) and had
gone to STAY with him for a few days. Du-
ring the evening Hull exhibited several gold
watches and other .jewelry in the Office of the
Monroe House, and on the Sd hired a con-
veyance to Quincy, Illinois, taking with him
part Of the baggage.
At Quin y he put up at the Hess House,,
and on the following Cay drove out about l6
miles to visit an uncle Of his who resides
there. On the 18th, Hull returned to Quincy
and there sold a silver watch to the proprie-
tor of the Kentucky House, and in the after
noon he took the cars for the North.
The canvas covered trunk that was left by
Hull at the Monroe House in Hannibal re-
manned there until the 10th of January
when owing to the non-appearance of Du
Collier, suspicion began to arise in the mind
of the landlord and some of the boardcrs,
and the trunk was opened and found to coE-
tain DuCollier's clothing and bills of jewelry,
watches, &C., all in DuCollier's name, and
the belief began to gain ground that Hull
had murdered DuCollier and then taken his
property. 7.fa---f
A search was Immediately commenced for
Collier, which continued the 18th ard 9th
of January, but without success. On the
18th, farmer from tho interior, who hap
pencd to be at Hannibal on business, and
hearing the story of tie two men going out
hunting on the Cd, and only one of them re-
turning, stated, that on that day lie (the far
mer) was returning home from Hannibal,
when he observed two men, answering the
description of Hull and DuCollier, enter a
hollow in the woods about two miles and
half from the city. He paid but little atten-
ton as he supposed they were hunting
That shortly after they entered the wood he
heard the report of a gun, and soon after
wards saw one of the men come out eff the
woods and 60 towards Hannibal.
Upon hearing this party Immediately
started for the place described. The hollow
was entered and the body of DuColler was
found partially on the face and ball hole
through the brain, showing the unfortunate
man had been shot from behind. The prob
ability is that Hull had been following him,
as the track was not wide enough to allow
of two abreast, and watching his opportuni-
lty, had deliberately murdered his unsuspec-
ting friend.
The ball appeared to he such as is used in
reyolvers, and it was now recollected that
Hull had revolver with him while at Ham
nibal. A Coron RS inquest was held, and a
verdict of wilful murder against Hull, but
the murderer had fed, and DuCollier's pa
pers showed that he must have taken with
him about 81, 2O0 in money and about the
same amount in jewelry.
The authorities of Hannibal, finding that
Hull had probably taken the route to this
city, Immediately dispatched Messrs. Shoots
& Osborne, accompanied by the clerk of the
Monroe House, to endeavor to secure the vii
lain, and to engage the services of Pinkerton
& Co., of the Northwestern Police Agency,
we'll known as the Detectives of the West
The case once in the hands Of Pinkerton
& Co., they run the various routes over that
would lie likely to be taken by tie fleeing
murderer, in coming to or leaving Chicago.
1t was ascertained that the name of Hull
was registered at the Sherman House on the
morning of the 18th January, and upon in
Quiring, it was ascertained that this person
had in his possession large hand valisc cor
responding with the one Hull carried with
him from Hannibal, and that upon his going
= ~, 1,,>
handed this valise to the clerk, remarkine
that it was valuable. Hull, Immediately
after eating breakfast, paid his bill and left.
The city was searched in every conceivable
place and manner to find if Hull had not re-
moved to some more private boarding house.
but without avail. The bird had flown, and
, for a time it appeared as if Justice was
likely to lose its victim, but the untir.ng de-
tectives kept at work.
Apprising the authorities Of Hannibal that
it was necessary to suppress as much as
possible all publications regarding the muir
der, or finding the body, CT that any efforts
were being made to arrest the murderer
, P. & Co., silently but actively went to work
to cndeayor to trail tie fugitive. They at
length struck his track at Delaware. Ohio
. where Hull arrived on the 10Th Of January
+ on visit to his parents, but ere this was
t learnt, Hull had agnin vanished. Here
a however, it was ascertaned that llull's re.
/ putation was bad that he had always beer
h wild, reckless young man, and that he was
: suspected of belonging to a gang of horse
s thieves. His conduct whilst at Delaware
: was of mysterious and suspicious nature
and suspicion had been strongly excited
$ against Lin. Tie people knew not of wha
: he had been guilty, but his actions clearly
n showed the workings of a guilty mind.
o Leaving the matter in shrewG and reliable
d hands at Delaware, to attend to Hull, SHOULD
:, he return, the detectives once more sped on
IS in their search, and aftcra time traced HUI
n to Coolville, Athens County, Ohio, where ht
! had gone after leaving Delaware. There he
# exhibited ijewelry, watches, and plenty 0
r money, stad few days visiting some rcla
e tons, and again left fol. parts unknown, ant
e had been gone over week before p. & Co
d struck his track at that place. Nothin
daunted however, the detectives, like tn
It avensing angel, again took the field. 1t i
IT. needless for us to recount their yariou
N lodges, their little CLEANS of sunlight an
/ long spells of darkness suffice it to sa
IS the telegraph OH the 18th of Februar
W brought dispatch to P. & Co., from Chas
" Sweetser, Esq, Of Delaware, with whom
+ P. & Co. had intrusted their business a
h that point that Hull had returned to ysi
70 his parents, and was at that moment arrest
% ed. A requisition was immediately sent f.
% from Missouri, and upon its arrival Hull wi
\ be taken to Hannibal for trial, where W