The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-16
THE ADAMS. COLT TRAGEDY.
governor Stewards Second "Irresistible
Conflict


governor Stewards Second "Irresistible
Conflict.''
THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The late Governor Seward had a second 'irre-
sisiible connict" little known to the general pub
Ec-a CONFLICT which was held between the plead
sngs of his sympathetic heart, the demands OF mex
erable justice and the stern behests OF relentless
law of which, as Chief Magistrate, he was the final
dispenser. ] allude to
THE ADAMs-CoLr TRAGEDY,
IN which he enacted so prominent, and TO him,
DO painful . part. 1t gave rise-as is wen known
and remembered-to an excitement which has
never been surpassed in this community. The
eventful history OF the aair is of too recent date
and too well known to need especial recall. The
life, character and occupation OF the murderer
and his victim the accomplishment OF the deed
and its attempted concealment; the missing OF
the body and Its ultimate discovery; the trial OF
Colt and the unwearied exertions OF his brother
Samuel and his legal counsel to save at least his
hie, and his marriage and last hours at the Tombs,
these are matters OF record, which have been re-
Gently partially recalled.
Imay as well remark here, that, in common with
very many others at that time, held from the
FIRST that the verdict and sentence Of the murderer
arose more from the
TERRIBLE CoNCEALMENT OF TUE TERRIBLE CRIME
I,
after the fatal blow, he had rushed into the
hall In Delmonico's building and SAID las he after
wards 60 out to seek his brother and to say to
him, had he fortunately found him on that awful
might II have had struggle with the
printer Adams-I struck hm-and have killed
him !" the verdict OF the jury would not have been
deliberate 'murder in the first degree" thus
Gaping the revolving accessories Of the conceal
ment OF the remains and sailing and sending then
The empanelling of the jury and their "previous
Impressions" settled this question most emphati-
Cally. For a long time John Q. Colt could not be
but as the day drew near and the combined EFFORTS
OF his untirng counsel ardent relatives and faith
Jul friends were without avail. he began to
RECOGNIZE THE INEvIrABLE,
and he prepared himself for death. On the eve
before the d, day liked ior his execution he was
and the Rev. DR.. Anthem, by whom, in order to
legitimatize their chile, they were married, there
being present at the time
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE,
Rev. DR.. Anthem, Samuel Cslt, the prisoners
brother, then the great struggling inventor; Mr..
the newly made husband and wife were left to-
gether for an hour Colt the doomed, then ex-
pressed desire to take farewell OF his friends, and
at two O'Clock requested that he might be left
alone for the remainder OF his time. His request
ceremony the only occupants of John c. Colts cell
we're himself, his brother Samuel, the Rev. Dr. An
Home" and myself am the only survivor of all
those who were present had never seen the lady
70 whom her new husband had been at least
'PAITTFUL UNTO DEATH"
and ! had never seen him but once before, when
upon his trial, and had never spoken to him. But
his brother had no doubt informed him that, in
common with hundreds OF others, had taken a
warm interest in his case, and had exerted all the
influence which or my family could command in
his behalf. l had only recently visited, with his
brother Samuel. ana at his urgent request, a near
relative OF his, Governor Pennington, Of New
Jersey, to ask from him letter to my friend,
Governor Seward, requesting him to make care
1ul examination OF the explanatory and palatng
facts about to be laid before him.
To his afflicted brothers. great SURPRISE and evil
IDENTITY sad disappointment their request was de-
MED by Governor Pennington as beng an act
fainly consider an intrusion on the part of Cover
nor Seward. had also previously been to Albany
with committee, including Mr.. John Duer, Mr..
Dudley Seden, one Of the counsel, and DR.. Kearney
Rogers, bearing
A PLASTER OF PARIS CAST OF ADAMS HEAD.
and the hammer mark on the skull, to show that
there must have been a face to lace contact when
inc fatal blow was struck, and that premedita.
ted deathblow from behind, which caused the yer.
dict OF delberatelmurder in the first Degree" was
For doomed man, so near his certain death,
never saw person SO little agtated. He was
standing in the middle OF his CELL holding in his
pointing to wooden box OF white sugar standing
on the iron water pipe said:-
''sAM, WON'T YOU PASS THE sUGARpn
He helped himself to teaspoOnful without the
tremor OF a muscle; but all this was only sup
pressed, intense emotion, as was evident from
The appearance and action OF his eyes; they
were almost as red as blood, and moved
TREMENDOUSLY and rapidly from side TO side, like
the pink eyes Of the AlbinO. He wore
morning gown and had loose woollen scarf about
6is neck, which subsequently 1ancied might have
afterwards, he stabbed himself to the heart.
He remarked, with great emotion. as lie kissed
rs all farewell, that he was only
LEAVING THE WORLD A LITTLE BEFORE US,
and that he hoped he should meet US all in q better
one one hereafter. carriage awaited US; we set
in St Marks place. and drove directly.
by Samuel's direction, to the workshop OF
his then modest Invention, then in the upper
otory OF the south tower OF the New York Univer-
sity, where We found that Samuel Colt had already
arrived: immediately began to write, at his dc
taton, to his brother, Judge James b. Colt of st.
Louis, when suddenly a hackman rushed up stairs
and into the room, eXclaimng,
"MR. COLT, YOUR BROTHER HAS KILLED HIMSELF,
and the Tombs are on 6re!'
'1hank God thank Godr' said his brother He
mad been sitting debating to me, with his round
crowned, broad rimmed hat drawn over his brow,
his hands held over his face and the tears
falling fast between his fingers but, starting
by step-ladder, through window, upon the
chapel roof and saw the names and dark smoke
licking up the sides OF the high tower which then
The following letter from Judge Colt. Of St. Louis,
was IN reply to one which had written to him at
death by his own hand
To L. GAYLORD CLARK, ESQ - ''''' D''' . 1914
q November sincerely do thank vou for your
a d ss"1 az sapps to DO
oo 'uIu inuccu mas been the late OF poor John Two
years ago his prospects brilliant sun now he
Sleeps, Whcre none. none deny him rcpose. Hard
Anoeeo mas been has fate do not believe in destiny;
There's a divinity that sha pes our ends,
Rough new them how WILL
WOuu again express thanks o and believe IN
ever your much Obliged and most obsdiSni servant
JAMES Is. COLT.
The influence OF the committee OF eminent sur
,3eons and lawyers with the cast OF the
muIoereu mans head the petitions
which, as Judge Blatchord can well tes-
uy, poured in upon Mr.. Seward, one after
another, from the highest sources, had no effect
upon MT Seward. His mind had been made up
Mter long struggle with his heart, and the "irre-
II true." L. GAYLORD CLARK.