Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-10-24
THE SEA CAPTAINS DREAM.
How coles Hidden Crime was Brought
10 Light.

The discovery recently OF the mysterious
Trunk containing the body OF the unfortunate
Miss Bowlsby brings to mind the murder Of
Adams by Colt, at Broadway and Chambers
street, New York, many years ago. The |
guilty man undertook to conceal the crime by =
boxing up the remains OF Adams and having
them shipped to New Orleans by packet
The main object here is to relate an incident
not known to many, including the discovery
of the body of Adams by means Of dream.
Colt had an office at Broadway and Cham
bers street. in the building now known as
Delmonico's. Adams was printer, and had
financial business with Colt, and was last
seen alive in his company. When Adams
was missed, suspicion pointed 10 Colt whose
office was searched, and the fact discovered
that bloody encounter had there taken
Mace, Nobody, however, could be found on
the premises. Further investigation showed
that box had been taken from the house
and shipped in one of the New Orleans pack |
cts. The police theTeup0n visited the vessel |
and the captain aided in the search by hay |
ing the cargo in the hold shifted. While this
was IN progress one OF the owners OF the
packet went aboard. The captain took him
aside, and said;
"Mr. -, there is something remarka-
BILE 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
captain 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 a dream which l had
last night and which had seriously impress
ed me before The officers made known their
business. But l considered it prudent to
Withhold II from them, at least for the pres
emit"
Last night" the captain said, 81 slept on
board, and awoke this morning strangely
impressed for / dreamed that box had been
brought aboard with some freight and stow
ed away in the hold. In the box, dreamed,
was the body OF murdered man. As said
before, the thing impresses me very strange
ly when / awoke, and when the officers came
up and informed me Of their suspicious
could not at first believe my sense, but tolt
them TO search my vessel as much as they
pleased, and gave orders to the men TO as
sist in the work"
At this point the mate came up and report
ed that the box had been found and opened
and in it was body believed TO be that o
the missing man Adams.
1t was decided on the spot, between th
owner and the captain, that no immediat
mention should be made OF the dream, a
ire latter would not for the world have hi
name associated in the papers with the Gil
eumstance. 1t was several years before III
strange dream was spoken Of, even by friend
of either.
The guilt Of Colt was fixed, and he Wa
convicted despite the formidable efforts mad
by the defence. But the facts were too pa
pably true TO admit of tangible grounds for
defence. Colt was sentenced to be hanged
the rombs. The Governor was besought
extend his olemency; but even this iaie'
and the fatal day arrived. The exciemel
had reached point seldom witnessed in Il
metropolis, and the vast multitude assemble
around the Tombs Ii was well known th
the rescue of the prisoner would be atemp
vd at all hazards by paid emissaries, and
strong force of police and military were {
the ground. Within q short time of the ho
appointed ter the hangng,th belfry or loo
out on the top OF the prison took fire al
was soon wrapped in flames. Amid all I
confusion the news soon spread that Ct
had committed suicide in his cell. Maj
believe to this day that Colt actually escap
in the excitement, and that the suicide W
hoax