Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-01-11
THE GOLDEN MURDER ASE.
| One of the Most Extraordinary HOmicides
| of the Age-Arrest, Trial and Conviction of
| the Assassin.

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 81 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 a happy grave for himself and wife.
In the latter part Of that summer
Young man named Stephen NJ. Ballou
appeared at the Colder homestead He
was the adopted son of sister of Mr..
Golden, resident in Kentucky, aad
of son and brother. Ballou, full of
insinuating ways, quickly 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 49,
600, of which $1,000 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
; amounted to nearly Sll 900 in the ag
gregate. Frequent home letters from
the absent adventures delighted the
hearts of the Golden family. The let
4 tiers of the son written at the different
stopping places where they halted t.
d sell goods, as Ballou rep. esented TO hi
l victim. announced that " Steve" haC
{ sold so many goods and made SO mucE
! money. Finally letters were writer
home by both announcing that they hat
sold all the goods and would soon re
turn. Young Golden announced tina
e he should leave for home at givel
e date with his full share of the profits
IS which had been very large; Ballou'
I, letter announced the same fact as t.
It young Golden, and added that he him
r self should be detained for some week
e later As time progressed, the day G
p expected arrival came, but their so
y failed to appear. Day after day passed
d Uneasiness ripened into alarm, when a
e last letter from Ballou, dated Octobe
e Is, 1870, announced the fact that Youn
r Golden had absconded with all tn
n money, which had been tempOrsril
81 intrusted to him few days before hi
d regular time of departure. This fearfu
lie news struck the unhappy parents like
1t thunderbolt After few weeks, whe
y the edge of their suffering was it'll
re blunted. Ballou arrived. His name
er was exquisitely tempered with dign
lie fed repression of his own sense {
OF wrong, barely allowed to make itsel
IL felt. and delicate exhibition of symps
re thy and tenderness for those whose SCI
d sbiiiiies had been so cruelty wruns
r He pressed his wooing of the amiabl
is Clara and married her. Within fe
to DAYS after the nuptial ceremony tn
oy smiling miscreant delicately limited
tn his father-in-law that he thought
IS, would be only right for the latter
er give him farm, since he had lost s
ne much by the rascality of his son. Tn
Id was agreed to bv the almost heartbrOke
Mr.. Golden, and he drove into town
have his lawyer prepare the deed OF gil
w. G. Ewing, of Quincy, District Alto
ney, on being consulted by Mr.. Golde
ne was struck by the train of circumstance
er, The thought flashed through his bra
an that young Golden had been ass ssi
en- ated, and that the whole course of b
as lou was a subtly conceived scheme
get possession of the old farmers pro
ng erty. He told his client his thought
ne who was stunned by such a suspicio
lid Though entirely incredulous he co
IN. sented to Colonel Ewing's scheme
:" inveigle Ballou to his Office on the pl
that they would finish the deed of tran
he fer. A presentiment seemed to ha
'od possessed the murderer that his Gu
ate ningly contrived plan was on the eve
To- discovery. 1t was only after seve
struggle that his suspicion succumb
10 his greed. Colonel Ewing subject
ey, him to quiet but searching Gro
OPP examination, and so confused and &C
CHI Trajectory were Ballou's answers that
ing was arrested on the charge of procuri
wo- money under false pretences. 1
wretch stood paralyzed with frig
i? Taking heart, though. from the nomil
cause of his arrest ne abjectly offer
the to give up all the notes which he h'
ooainst farmer Golden if he could