New-York tribune., 1869-04-17
OLD STORIES RETOLD.
THE ADAMs-COLT MURDER.


finale still strongly impressed upon the public mind,
1t viii be interesting to recall famous murder Of
quarter Of century ago which bears remarkable
ssmblance to IL In many Of Its main features. The
startling character OF the crime the Of the defense
Of the trial. the deusve confession Of the murderer at
the eleventh hour and his suicide in his cell hour be-
fore he was 10 have been led execution srngy
like the incidents in the drama which has Just been TAX
ing place in Philadelphia amid scarcely equal popular
excitement.
Many old residents Of this city will remember the mem
orable "AdamsColt" murder this city which trans
pired in the year 1s4l. For many reasons this was
cne of the most extraordinary which ever occurred
The whole investigation and proceedings during the trial
excited comment and speculation than has anything
ever before or since that period Public curiosity and
sympahy throughout the country were aroused TO an In
tense degree The question was not as 10 who was the
perperaor Of the deed for that was soon asceraned
beyond doubt but to the actual amount OF guilt In
Cured by the homicide. What remained to be proved
was whether the premedtated one, or whether
u was the unfortunate result Of sudden and ungoyenable
passion 1t urged forcbly and with much apparent
truth by the prisoner and his counsel that he killed his
opponent In selfdefense, TO save his own fe The cir
cumstances Of the affair are as follows:
On the nth of September ls4l. Mr. Samuel Adams Of
the firm Of scatchard Adams, No. 80 Goldst, disap
peared In a most unaccountable Between and
O'Clock in the afternoon OF that day he visited the ONCE
Of The Missonary Herald In order to convey there
ppIsce Of business Of MI J. G. Colt situated in the
Of the granite building, corner OF chambers
who remarked, "Coit is going to leave the city"
Adams Immediately replied, Is he then III go and get
Tle Missionary Herald building Mr. Adams was not
again alive In the prime OF manhood and IN the full
was left horrible mystery. Advertisements were in
% s ns % & y as me
profound sensation throughout the city the principal
cIes Of the metropolis Mr. Adams was OF an excellent
family and most respectfully CONNECTED Orgnady oOra
to about eight years before his untimely end
and had worked for while as @
with Mr. scatehard, and under the name OF Adams S
book printers Upon the decease Of his partner he con-
tnued the business in his own name He married the
proved an unusually happy one their being
congonial UP to this time they had had no children
fr,hermofs sang in the choir Of that sacred ednce Mr.
Adams industrious and religious man, respected
friends to mourn his loss one Of his sisters married
r sackett Of the firm OF sackett Wlett jewelers. OF
this city At the time Of this catastrophe be was only IS
Several raj DAYS before Mr. Adams disappeared his
and stripped naked and put IN box and hls clothes
thrown IN . Pryy INT %ang hsr husbsnd s s by her
side said nothing about the occurrence The next night
however as aso the following one tna OTGgo
spirit she related the story to her mother who laughed
az coihcdence. and to- believers in second
sight was proof positive OF the truth Of their conviction
light which satisfied every one that Mr. Adams had been
fouy dealt with clue TO the discovery OF the murder
of Adsm the occupants Of the upper sto
OF the granite building corner OF Chambersst and
nary aud scufng In theroom Of Mr. JIG Colt The
building mentioned now known as Delmoncos restau-
rant gentleman named Wheeler, who had the adoin-
ing apartment to Colts suspectng something was wrong,
looked through the key-hoe and saw Colt washing the
Still later In the evening Colt was similarly occu-
pied. Having set n young man 30 watch Colts move
mens, wheeler ascertalhea tnat ne s.yeo al IL
hs room, during the whole OF which time ne was con-
stanty employed The following morning Colt was seen
70 go out and ea earnah 70 %no ne M Ws
afterward seeing the advertisement OF Adamss dlsap
pearance ascerane6 the fact that Adams had executed
printing for Colt TO considerable amount and was fur
termore in the habit OF often calling at Colts rooms
This confirming his suspicious that murder had been
perpetrated he communicated all the circumstances TO
Mayor Morris Another gentleman testified that on that
eyentful Friday night he together with some
also occupied an adjoining room TO colts heard noise
rs some one falling and ancied that IN the adjacent
apartment they were fencing with fos subsequently
there was a Geathlke silence. Thinking that some
might have been hurt the gentleman then Knocked sew
eral times at Colts door, but received no answer He
also paid no more attention TO the circumstance I'LL he
heard Of Adams's disappearance.
that Mr. Colt indebted TO Mr Adams to the amount
OF 600 for printing led TO the arrest OF the former Mayor
Morris himself, accompanied by several officers, pro
ceeded Thursday. Sept 30 to Colts rooms which, how
ever they found at tue moment There tnsy
scraped with broken glass and the end OF the handle
covered over Win INK Inc Walls oi 1e ne % d
Shortly after their arrival here Mr. Colt returned to bis
room MS lace turned 70 Vu anu % % hS, hue bs I
resistance 1t was some moments before he recovered
the Mayor he said that had made box to hold his
trunk OF large box, in which he kept his stationery
the pieces Of wood out Of the window into the street
denied having sent any box away from his room These
failing satisfy his interrogators, he was con-
yeyed TO the Tombs and securely locked up
Mr. ], c. Colt was OF most respectable parentage ana
connections native OF Hartford he 80 years old,
was OF extremely gentle aspect and demeanor. lie
was the grandson OF John Caldwell OF Hartford Conn,
for many years distinguished merchant OF that city
His father was Christopher COLT also merchant OF that
turing Company OF Hartford Elisha Colt his uncle,
Controller OF the State OF Connecticut His brother was
large establishment at No. l55 Broadway. Among his
connections were many OF the best people In Hartford
keeper and was the author of new system OF book
keeping, several editions OF which had appeared Al ths
of his work which was being printed by sr Adams. An
arrangement made between then whereby the latter
After the first edition printed considerable ad
from house IN philadelphia upon consignment
amount Adams was to have received as his remuneration
On the 18th OF that month IL seems that Adams was In
box up all the books completed. he would take them
TO Philadelphia himself Astounded by this intell
Adams said he would Immediately go aud Mr.. Colt
concerning the matter That was the last transaction in
While In prison Colt maintained at first stoca indf
ference expressing desire for nothing except that he
nature was eynced by his calling on the day OF his ar
rest at Mr.. Adanlss prnngofice and inquirng IL the
proprietor On being told lie not, he hastily
remarked, " on! ah. recoect have notice
that he was missing Mr.. Adams has done work for
for three years and he line man. and always treated
well. and hope nothing serious has befaflen him"
After his arrest chain OF Testimony wove itself
tightly around him TO leave hope Of escape from
conviction Disclosure after disclosure followed each
other in quick succession, TILL al with accord pro-
nOunced tho prisoner guilty. IL discovered that he
had been living fer time with young woman
named Caroline M Honshaw, who was enee!nEe by HIM
AT her residence was found carpetbag OF Colts, con-