Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-12-04
A PSYCHOLOGISTS STORY.
Incidents of the Famous Colt Murder Case
In New York May Years Ago.

lished relating to Colt, the murderer OF
Adams, in New York, and calling to
mind the old time tragedy. A well
known phrenologist writes to the Sun
some interesting details of the affair
which, in its day, created so great SEN
sation and which has still attached to it
no slight interest. The writer says /:
One day while in my Office in New York
stranger called and asked me to sell
him one of my packing cases that stood
outside near the door. Noticing large
collection of skulls in my Office, he said
he was not believer in phrenology,
but would like me to give him some
proof of its principles. He requested
me to tell him the leading traits of his
character. he took seat in the chair
and proceeded to examine his head.
Placing my fingers on his head to de-
termine the size of his organs, 1 per-
ceived great difference in the relative
heat of the different portions of his
head. So 1 abstractly remarked :" [
judge you are trying to get out of some
scrape." His features assumed an
alarming expression, and he asked I;
"Why do you say sol" I told him that
his organs of fear, commonly called eau
tiousness,g secretiveness, and construc-
tivoness, were much warmer. than the
other organs, or parts of his brain. He
sprang to his feet and paced to and fro,
looking at the floor and at every corner
of my Office. He then stopped sudden
ly, and taking up the skull of pirate
whose organ of destructiveness stood
out like the big end of an egg, he asked
me what organ that was. / told himthe
character of the man. He said: "If
that man acted from organization, how
could he be heldresponsible hereafter 2
replied that malproportion was an evil
which punished others and brought pun,
ishment upon themselves.
This led to further conversation. He
became quieter, sat down again, and ]
proceeded to finish the examination of his
head. l told him he had a sanguineous,
passionate temperament, with large sell
est EN-, love of appreciation, and de-
structiveness, which greatly dominated
over his cautiousness aud mercifulness,
or benevolence; that should any one
offend his pride, he would be apt, at the
impulse of the moment, to strike him 8
death blow. / advised him to use his
large frmness to conquer his passion
He. told me that all his family inherited
similar traits of character, and that hit
brother was Col. Colt, the inventor o.
the revolver. By his card, which he
handed me, I noticed he had an Office il
the same building. ....
About two weeks afterward there wal
O rumor that murder had been com
mitted in the building. Being bus,
with my own affairs, it never occurred
to me that the man whose head I ba(
examined was the one who committed
the murder. In the meantime I movot
my Office into the basement of the build
ing, and the affair passed out of m,
mind entirely. 'Erfr Z YEfI
When the trial was published il
pamphlet form I bought it, thinkin,
that, perhaps, the skull of the murdere
would come into my possession, for
was then warden of the New Yorl
chronological Society. Judge of m.
surprise when | found that the murdere
was the man who had called to purchas
box Of me, and whose head examined
Colt had work on al ithmetic printe,
by Adams, whom he promised to pa,
some money within specified time
Adams called to collect the money, bu
Colt failed to accomplish what he prom
Used. This led to the difficulty betwee
them. Adams, whose skull I afterwar
examined, had very small self-esteen
large acquisitiveness, and fear or cat
tiousness-the very opposite to that c
Colt tho murderer. Such an organize
ton never could appreciate or symps
thize with Colt. Failing to pay hin
Colt apologized for being compelled t
disappoint him. Adams, in reply, mad
some uncomplimentary remarks ths
} CALLED Colt to the very quick, Feelin
his pride wounded, he seized q hatche
: and threw it OF Adams head and brok
his skull. The, body fell against tn
folding door that separated Colts an
Wheeler's offices. Colt, fearing thi
Adams might groan, struck him anothe
blow on the head, breaking the skull j
completely. Adams was missed scare
was made afeer him, and his FRIEND
finally traced him to Colts office. Upo
! inquiry at Wheeler's, it was ascertaine
that fall was heard in Colts offic,
and box was shipped by him to SON
r place out of town. The cartman W.
; advertised for and found. He had car
E ed tn box to vessel bound for I'll
+ South. The box was recovered, and til
body in it identified as that of the mis-
. ing man, Adams. Colt was tried, COZ
!. victed, and sentenced to be hanged.
q Every effort was afterward made 4
!. procure Colts pardon of the governo
;, 1t was rumored that the Tombs,
! which Colt was confined, had been g
4 on fire, and during the excitement des
a body rom the almshouse was smuggle
o into his cell. The report made public
d the time was that Colt had committt
# suicide But it was generally suspectt
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