The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-25


ginning to be excited in my search. The
boat had been washed down and rinsed ;
but the fatal mark had not been obliter-
ated. The water that gathered in the
bottom, standing in little pools, had a
crimson tinge, and there were one or two
dark spots which had not been washed of.
So far as my own mind was concerned,
had no doubt. Since first entertained
an opinion of the criminality of Stoker,
every thing had turned out just as l had
looked for lit; and, when / had left the
boat, I had about come to the conclusion
to make my next movement in my official
capacity. When I had reached the inn,
StOker had returned, and dinner was a.
most ready. The host eyed me sharply,
but I kept nay countenance. 1t did me
good to have him eye me in that fashion,
for knew that he feared me. Did not
know why very wells In short, every
event from that time forth, gave weight
to the testimony I had already collected.
After dinner Stoker asked how long I
intended to stop with him. had intend
ed to stop over night, and meet Watson
in the morning; but my plan was changed.
The wretch showed me more plainly than
before that he mistrusted me, and ! feared
that something might turn up to injure
my cause If delayed too long. So I told
him I was not going to stop at ALL had
a long road to travel, and was in hur-
~. Whether he was pleased with this or
not, II couldl not determine. I paid for
dinner for myself and horse, and got away
as quickly as possible, and rode post haste
to Huntsville.
Watson opened his eyes with astonish-
ment when told him what had discover
ed; but he did not oppose my belief. The
whole, az opened it to him in regular &C.
queuce, struck directly to his un aerstand-
ing; and he only wondered that he had
not thought of something of that kind be-
fore. he was ready to act with mo, and
our plans were soon laid. He went out
and engaged threestout men to accompany
US, two of whom were cOnstables, and az
ter tea the whole party set forth on our
way to jackson.
We reached the inn little after dark.
Watson and one OF the constables went to
the stable and secured John Boone, while
I went into the house and arrested La
man Stoker. The latter, as I minated,
was powerful fellow, and came very near
giving us trouble; but q blow from the butt
of one of my heavy pistols reduced his
strength somewhat, and after that he was
easily secured.
Then We commenced 10 search the house.
We hunted high and low, and we had plen-
ty of interested people to help as. Parti-
ton walls were torn down, and floors
ripped up. We found the property of
the murdered man in secret locker and
in a tank of water, away in one corner of
the cellar, we found lot of bloody bed
clothes. We had evidence enough and
the prisoners were carried to the county
Jail that very night.
On the next day John Boone was dying.
He had been sick with consumption for q
long time, and during his struggle with
Watson on the night before his strength
had completely failed him. When he
knew he could not live, he declared he
would make clean breast of it. l am
inclined to think, however, that be hoped
his confession might benefit him somewhat
in case he should by any possible means
recover.
This confession was just what I had ex-
pected. He and Lamar Stoker had COM
mitted the murders-had done the killing
in the house, and the conveyed the bod
les, by way OF the creek, to the road in
the swamp, and where the murdered men
had horses they had been taken out of the
stable by back way, saddled and bridled
and turned loose in the road. The whole
plan had been saroitly contrived, and far
too long had been successfully executed.
John Boone died within three hours
after his confession was made, but Lamar
Stoker lived until his breath was stopped
by the rope Of the hangman.