The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-12-09
MISCELLANY.
A PHRENOLOGIST"S STORY.
From the New York Sun.1

The publication Of IAN Extraordinary
Story from Paris" in the Sun, copied
from the Figaro, Of October 20, concern
ing Colt tho murderer OF Adams, reminds
me of an episode never before published.
In tho fall Of l843, had phrenolosi-
cal Office in the granite building, Broad.
way, corner Of Chambers street. John
G. Colt, the murderer of Adams, the
printer, had an office on the floor below
mine, where he taught arithmetic and the
English language to foreigners. I'm.
mediately adjoining his Office was Vince
]er's Writing Academy, which was sepa-
rated only by folding doors.
One day, while in my Office, having
Just returned from lccturing tour in
Connecticut, stranger called and asked
me to sell him one Of my packing-cases
that stood outside near the DECOR.
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 it's principles. He
requested me to tell him the leading
traits Of his character. He took a scat
in the chair. and proceeded to examine
his head. So l abstractly remarked, II
judge you are trying to get out of some
scrape." l told him that his organs oil
fear, commonly called cautiousness,
secretiveness and constructivcness, were
much warmer than the other organs, or
parts Of his brain. lie sprang to his
feet and paced to and fro, looking at the
floor and every corner Of my Office. He
then stopped suddenly, and taking UP
the skull Of pirate whose organ of des-
Effectiveness stood out like the big end of
an egg, he asked me what organ that was.
l replied that malproportion was an evil
which punished others and brought pun.
ishment upon themselves.
laws perfecting offspring aud education.
He became quieter, sat down again, and
proceeded to finish the examination OF
his head. told him he had a
sanguincous, passionate temperament,
with large self esteem, love Of approba.
tion. and destructiveDess, which greatly
dominated over mis- cautiousncss and MGR.
cifulness, or benevolence; that should any
one offend his pride he would be apt, at
tho impulse Of the moment to strike him
a 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 his
brother was Colonel Colt, the inventor Of
the revolver. BY his card, which he
handed, l noticed that he had m office in
the same building. He said that I not
only proved to him the truth of phrenolo.
gy, but that it was one Of the most useful
sciences for the perfection of humanity,
and ho was determined to devote himself
to the PRONUNCIATION of that science. He
asked me to teach him phrenology, that
he would compensate me, and feel Obliged
to me for it.. told him would be glad
to do 80 not only for his sake, but for
the cause Of phrenology. He said he had
to 60 out Of town few weeks; that upon
his return he would call upon me
for instruction. As he called at nv
office to purchase one Of the packing-cascs
l had outside Of my door, but which I
declined to sell, he left, and I thought no
more about the matter.
About two weeks afterwards there was
a rulnor that murder had been COM
United in the building. Being busy with
my own Affairs it never occurred to me
that the man whose head I had ex.
amined was the one who committed the
murder. In the meantime moved nv
office in the basement Of the building,
and the affair passed out of my mind
entirely.
When the trial was published in
pamphlet form bought it, thinking that
perhaps, the skull of the murderer would
come into my possession, for was then
Warden Of the New York chronological
Society: Judge of my surprise when
found that the murderer was the man
who called to purchase box of me, and
whose head examined.
COT had work on arithmetic printed
by Adams, whom no promised to pay
some money within specified time.
Adams called to collect tho money. but
Colt failed to accomplish what he prom.
ised. This led to the difficulty between
them. Adams, whose skull I Afterwards
examined, had very small selt.esteem.