The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-09-28
l A "REMINISCENCES. @sr5snr,'c.
THE MURDER. OF ADAMS. BIZ. coLY.t

! ~ THE MURDER. OF ADAMS. By CoLf.h
i The discovery ,of. the mysterious trunk. by
the baggage master at the Hudson River Rail
road depot containing the body of the sHnfortu-
!; nate Miss Bowlsby. brings to omind the murder
OF Adams by Colt, at Broadway and Chambers
street, many years ago. The guilty man un-
: dertook to conceal the crime by boxing up the
! remains Of Adams and having them shipped to
}, New Orleans by packet. Those whowere res
idents of the,city or neighborhood at the time
will readily recall the main features of the -af.
fair. The main object here is to relate an in
cident not known to many, including the dis
covery of the body of Adams by means of a
dream.
Colt had an Office at Broadway and Cham
bers streets in the building occupied subse-
quently as the Irving House, and now known
as DelmoncO's. Adams was a printer, and
had financial business with Colt, and was last
seen alive in his company. When Adams was
missed, suspicion pointed to Colt, whose office
was searched, and the fact discovered that
bloody encounter had there taken place. No
body. however, could be found on the premises.
Further investigation showed that box had
been taken from the house and shipped 10 one
of the New Orleans packets The police there
upon visited the vessel, and the captain aided
shifted. While this was 10 progress one of the
owners of the packet went aboard. The cap
tain took him aside, and said: ..q
+" MIR. -, there Is something remarkable
about this affair. There is no doubt that the
mysterious box is aboard our vessel, and / am
convinced in my own mind that the body of
Adams is in it."
The shipOwner was thunderstruck that the
captaia should seem to know so much about
the affair, and questioned him on this point
"Well, sir" proceeded the captain, " / will
tell you frankly that my suspicious are mainly
grounded on dream which l had last night,
and which had seriously impressed me before
the officers made known their business. But I
considered 1t prudent to withhold it from them,
at least for the present"
Well" impatienty replied the owner, man.
ifestng much anxiety on the subject, "let us
get at the bottom of this thing as quickly as
possible. What did you dream?"
last night" the Captain said, 81 slept on
board, and awoke this morning strangely I'M
pressed for / dreamed that box had been
brought aboard with some freight and slowed
away in the hold. In the box, dreamed, was
the body of murdered man. AS said before,
the thing impressed me very strangely when l
awoke, and when the officers came up and in
formed me of their suspicious. 1 could not at
IlTSC DtileNe my senses, Uut tIieI1 10 search
my vessel as much as they pleased, and | gave
orders to the men to assist in the work
At this point the mate came up and reported
that the box had been found and opened, and in
it was body believed to be that of the miss
ing man Adams.
1t was decided on the spot. between the own
er and the Captain, that no immediate mention
should be made of the dream, as the latter
would not for the world have his name associ-
ated in the papers with the circumstance. 1t
was several years before the strange dream
was spoken of, even by the friends of either.
The guilt of Colt was fixed. and he was con-
victed 6spite the formidable efforts made by
the defence.
The most eminent legal talent was engaged
for the prisoner; but the facts were too palpa-
bly, true to admit of tangible grounds for de-
fence. Colt was sentenced to be hanged at the
Tombs. The Governor was besought to ex-
tend his clemency; but even this failed, and the
fatal day arrived. The excitement had reach
ed point seldom witnessed in the metropolis,
and vast multitude assembled around the
rombs. 1t was well known that the rescue of
the prisoner was to be attempted at all hazards
by paid emissaries, and strong force of police
md military were on the ground. Within a
short time of the hour appointed for the hang
ng, the belfry or lookout on the top of the
prison took fire and was soon wrapped in flames.
Amid all the confusion the news spread that
Colt had committed suicide In his cell. Many
believe to this day that Colt actually escaped
n the excitement, and that the suicide was o
loax. ... a}.3 ~ ,se.~~sa