The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-01-12
THF GOLDEN MURDER CASE.
One Of the Most Extraordinary HOn'icides
Of the Age-Arrest, Trial and Conviction Of
the As

The annals OF crime contain few more
terrible tales of cunningly devised, care.
fully executed, and impudently con
cealed murders than that which lately
excited the Indignation of the good
folks Of Quincy, H., and few instances
could be adduced of a more dramatic
ally startling denouement.
In 1869, Mr.. Golden was happy and
prosperous farmer, living near Quincy.
His son James and daughter Clara, re-
spectively 27 and 10 years OF age, good
and dutiful children, were the beloved
props Of his declining years, and prom
ised to soothe the downward way of life
to happy grave for himself and wife.
In the latter part of that summer a
young man named Stephen M. Ballou
appeared at the Golden homestead. He
was the adopted son of sister of Mr..
Golden, resident in Kentucky, and
warm hearts installed him in the place
of a son and brother. Ballou, full of
insinuating ways, quietly made the
supplemented family trust him i'm.
plicitly, and to one of the Goldens did
the fascinating stranger soon endear
himself by feelings infinitely more ten
der than those Of mere friendship.
The beautiful Clara Golden, unsophisti
Gated in character as she was lovely in
person, had but recently returned from
school. The stories of Ballou were to
her like the rhythm of the Homeric
epic. "Desdemona did seriously her
ear incline," and parents and brother
looked approvingly on the growing at
tachment. Ballou threw out from time
to time mysterious and exciting hints
of a grand speculation. The benevo.
lence of his heart was such that he
wished that his dear uncle and cousin
might share in the profits of the adven-
ture at which he had glowingly limited.
The interest of his victims having
ripened he unfolded his plan. He
represented that he had purchased a
stock of goods in st. Louis worth $751;
900, of which $4,000 worth remained
unpaid for. If Uncle John would only
buy out this interest for Jim Golden, it
would be of great advantage to both
sides, and the plan was hardly arranged
before it was executed. Ballou received
several thousands of dollars in cash and
notes for the balance secured by mort
gage on the farm. The day of depar-
ture arrived, the travellers departed with
the blessings of the good old man rever-
emily invoked on their heads; and the
shy, fond caress of the beautiful sister
and fiancee sweetly lingering on their
lips. So generous was the treatment of
farmer Golden that he had also pur-
chased several fine horses for trading on
the route. The cash and convertible
means placed in the hands of Ballou
to nearly $1,000 in the ag-
gregate. Frequent home letters from
the absent adventures delighted the
hearts of the Golden family. The let
tiers of the son written at the different
stopping places where they halted to
sell goods, as Ballou rep. esented TO his
victim, announced that "Steve" had
sold so many goods and made SO much
Finally letters were written
home by both announcing that they had
sold all the goods and would soon re-
turn. Young Golden announced that
he should leave for home at given
date with his full share of the profits,
which had been very large; Ballou's
letter announced the same fact as to
young Golden, and added that he him
self should be detained for some weeks
later. AS time progressed, the day Of
expected arrival came, but their son
failed to appear. Day after day passed.
Uneasiness ripened into alarm, when at
asst letter from Ballou, dated October
Is, 1870, announced the fact that young
Golden had absconded with all the
which had been temporarily
ntrusted to him few days before his
regular time of departure. This fearful
news struck the unhappy parents like
After few weeks, when
;he edge of their suffering was little
Ballou arrived. His manner
vas exquisitely tempered with digni-
led repression Of his own sense of
wrong, barely allowed to make itself
ielt, and q delicate exhibition of sympa-
Thy and tenderness for those whose sem
'ibilities had been so cruelty wrung.
He pressed his wooing of the amiable
Clara and married her. Within few
lays after the nuptial ceremony the
smiling miscreant delicately limited to
lis father-in-law that he thought it |
would be only right for the latter to
rive him farm, since he had lost so |
much by the rascality of his son. This
vas agreed to by the almost heartbroken
Mr.. Golden, and he drove into town to
lave his lawyer prepare the deed of gift.
". G.. Ewing, of Quincy, District Attor-
ley, on being consulted by Mr.. Golden,
vas struck by the train of circumstances.
The thought flashed through his brain
hat young Golden had been ass ssin-
ted, and that the whole course of Bal.
on was subtly conceived scheme to
,et possession Of the old farmers prop
rty. lie told his client his thoughts,
Who was stunned by such a suspicion.
Though entirely incredulous he con-
ented to Colonel Ewings scheme to
nveigle Ballou to his office on the plea
hat they would finish the deed of trans
err. A presentiment seemed to have
possessed the murderer that his cum
lingly contrived plan was on the eve of
discovery. 1t was only after severe
truggle that his suspicion succumbed
o his greed. Colonel Ewing subjected
i'm to quiet. but searching cross
and SO confused and con-
radictory were Ballou's answers that he
gas arrested on the charge of procuring
money under false pretences. The