The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-31
A Double Tragedy.
yrom tbs Hartford Evening Prsss. hsr.A u

Yesterday sunday afternoon, about one
o'clock, Christopher q. Colsoo, fish dealer
well known 10 this city. deliberately muir.
dered his former wife, at the house Of his
brother, James CoIson, at 81 South Hudson
street. The particulars are these:
ColsoD has long been known a. fish
dealer, aud formerly carried On good bust
ness but drinking and gambling reduced
him to common loaier and drunkard, who
psddled fish around town 10 basket. He
was Of an ugly disposition, and when intoxi
Gated, ar was often the case, abused bis wife
aud children, 30 that she obtained divorce
Since the divorce, bis wife assumed her
maiden name Of Sarah Burns. keeping the
childrcn-two boys, aged Is and lat
the house Of her brother, Allen Burns, No
10 Hudson street, where she resided with
her mother and sister. Another 500, aged
Ia, is living in Massachusetts,. Colson has
repeatedly sworn revenge and threatened her
life since the divorce was obtained, which
seems TO have been the chief provocation TO
the murder, and it Is said be has been in
pursuit Of an opportunity for some time
past. II is said that Mrs Colson often
feared violence before the divorce
Saturday night Christopher q. Colson
stad o. n house OF his brother, James Col
son, bak 1, No. 81 South Hudson street !;
lie went away in the morning, but returned
to breakfast, and staid during the forenoon
Just before clock be was 10 conversation
with John s. Barker, bookbinder, in the
basement kitchen, when his former wife
came in TO look at some Of the back numbers
Of the New York Ledger. On seeing him
she started back, but soon came 10, passed
through the room and up stairs into the sit.
ting room, where Mrs. James Colson and
her husband, and Miss laura Wheeler, were
sitting. Barker asked Colson, jokingly,
"Who was ihat," lie replied, cooly and
quietly, She was once my vile and soon
followed her up stairs. james Colson aud
Mr.. Barker then withdrew, thinking they
might wish to converse together. His wife
was much agitated, and seemed to fear him i;
she said TO Miss Wheeler Don't leave
me want you stay with me"
A conversation cnsued. ColSon said: a
want you to speak to me" She replied {:
Il have got nothing TO say to you; I've said
all I'm going to; you've pulled up and left
me, and | thought twas about time 10 leave
you" He asked her il she had ever told the
children not to speak to him; and she re.
piled, never have; but you have said they
must not speak to me" They are father.
less 'he said. "Thcy are not motherless, 4"
she replied, " but they will be fathcrless, -
Colson then took her by the hand, and said
he wanted to talk with Lcr. She said:
What do you want OF my hand it's my
hand now, and | mean TO keep it, and
pulled her hand from him; he then took
hold Of her by the back, and she endeavored
to get away. lie followed her, and while
be had one arm around her neck, took out
sharp, two-edged fish knife with the other
hand and drew it twice across her throat,
and then threw the knife under tue table
She fell on the floor by the stove and died
in few minutes, her throat cut from car to
ear, the carotid artery severed. md wind.
pipe partially so.
In the general CONSERVATION which fol-
lowed, no attempt was made to arrest the
murderer. who went 10 the pantry and ate
what he wanted and left the house. He
proceeded to the house 70 Hudson street,
where his wife had been living Coson's
! UIOtuN UhH'l$ NUf UTtdu UuttFr
which he was eating, aud he asked for glass
Of water, which his eldest son gave him. lie
inquired Tor and seemed very anxious to see
his other boy.
Colson left here and went 20 Sears flo-
tel inquired II his son was there and called
for something to drink, remarkiug that he
would drink once more that be might a.
J u,l1 .fsapl .utat Ia, HI h.. - .,I I
not want it any more. In his liquor he
had as he now says, dropped large dose
Of opium, uuperceved, and drank it oil. No
attention was paid to these remarks, AS he
was in the habit Of talking wildly lie nc
counted Tor the blood on his hands by say
ing that he had been dressing fish From
here he proceeded up Ferry street a few
rods, when he was arrested by officers Car
roll and Tinhham The opium soon took
eject, and he was taken TO the Jail in u
helpless stupor.
At the inquest Colson was forced reiac.
family forward in view Of the dead body and
in reply to a question il the deceased was
his wife sad There's no doubt OF il
she's my vile; know what's been done,
aud done IL, lie was then remanded to
Jail, whore be is now ia close Confinement
AZ the examination at the police cour,
tho testimony clearly PROVED his guilt, and
he was rcmanled 10 prison.
The closing act OF the tragedy is thus
described
Christopher C.. Colson, the murderer, died
in his cell a, five minutes before two O'Clock
this Monjay) afternoon. Al one O'Clock
DR., Wilcox thought be was dong we'll A
few minutes before he died, Mr. q T.. Vii.
liaus called in TO see him the prisoner re
cogrirej him. and talked abon, various mat.
tiers, Mr.. Martin, the keeper. was also with
him, Colson asked for brandy though,
he ought 10 have some once an hour, 30 be
might taper oil" Mr.. Martin gave him
, some modcue lett by the physician. but he
, stlll asked for brandy Suddenly his breath
log became bard, his flesh turned Il a pur.
, phsh hue; Mr.. Martin get some brandy
bu, Colsen died almos, instantly with ner-