Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-12

A MOUNTAIN OF CRIME.-The details of
a series of startling crimes which had their
inception in Quincy, ILL.,, have come to light
and constitute a chapter of more persistent
and successful villainy, than is presented
in Prof De Miles seemingly improbable
story of the "Cryptogram, though in its
general outlines similar one. In that
place wealthy farmer named Golden liv-
ed with his wife and two children, James
and Clara, aged % and 10 years respective
ly, and up to the year 1869 they were Il
model Of what happy family should he.
At that time an adopted son Of n sister of
Mr.. Golden from Kentucky, named Balou,
came to occupy place in the family circle
and by very fascinating manners judicious-
ly exercised won all the family TO an i'm
picit trust in and ardent affection for him,
especially the young lady, who fell deeply
ia love with him as he pretended to do
with her and cordial consent TO their mar
riage was granted by the parents. During
this time Ballou limited at extensive specu-
lations, and when he had worked The inter-
est of his simple patrons up to the required
point he unlolded their nature. He said
that he had purchased a stock of goods in
st. Louis, worth $4,000, of which $1,000
worth remained unpaid for, and If his UNI
clio would only buy ont this interest-tor
his cousin, Jim Golden, it would be of
great benefit to both sides. The tempting
bait was closed WITH and Ballou received
money and convertible paper which a
mounted to Sll 900, and the two departed.
| Frequent letters came from the young men,
those of the son telling of the good fortune
they were having and the profits they were
mutually making. Finally there was
long break in the correspondence; and then
n letter came from Ballou, saying that
Young Golden had absconded with all the
money, which had been temporarily intrus-
ted to him few days before his regular
time of departure. The news was fear
full blow to the family, but when the shock
| had had time to soften Ballou arrived. lie
seemed to have forgiven his deiaulting
partner, aud was full of sympathy for the
afflicted parents. Meanwhile he pressed
his claim upon Clara and in few days
they were married While the honey
moon was being enjoyed, the new son-in-
law delicatcly limited to Mr.. Golden that 1t
woald be only right for the latter to give
him a farm, since he had suffered so much
by the rascality of his son. This also was
acceded 10, like every previous demand.
w. q. Ewing ofQuincy, the family lawyer,
was consulted to draw up deed of gin,
when he was struck by the train ofcrcum-
stances and his suspicious were so strongly
aroused that he communicated them to his
client. Though entirely incrcdulous, Mr..
Golden consented to bringing Balou to
his Office, when, by skilful cross question:
ing, the guilty wretch became so confused
and made such strange answers that he
was arrested at first for fraud, but finally
evidence came thick enough to warrant his
detention for murder. The examinations
and investigations continued through some
months, until last May, when news came
from Mckinney Tex, that young Golden's
body had been discovered in dense chap
arral the flesh all eaten from the bones
with the exception of one foot, and there
was no clothing but a shirt and one stock
ing. The remainder of his wardrobe had
been stripped from him by his economical
murderer and some of 1t used at his nup-
tials with the dead mans sister. requi-
sition was made for the body of Ballou by
the governor of Texas, and he has at last
been CONDEMNED to the gallows. The wife
of Ballou who was but a fortnight bride
when the blow fell, overa year ago, has ev-
err since been gibbering maniac, nor has
she seen her husband since he was induced
to 20 to the lawyers Office.