The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-12-13
4 xURDER CASE REVIVED.
Tho Discussion In New York Relative 10
Colt the Murderer Of Adams---Thc Story
Of the AIurtrr.

Of the ATurdrr.
The discussion relative 10 the hanging
OF John g. Colt in New York many
years ago has been revived with renewed
interest, and everybody who knew any
thing about the ease is reporting it for
the papers. A we'll known physician
writes to the Sun as follows
I knew Colt personally. He was not
successful in business. He was very
handsome man, very poor, very proud,
very ambitious. He owed money to
Adams, who frequently called upon him
for payment, and who, like the DR..
Parkmanmurdered by DR.. Webster-wns
importnnate at n time when payment
was au impossibiIity. In tho heat Of
Colts excitement, he struck Adams on
the head with IN ax, fracturing the skull
and causing immediate death.
At that time Colt occupied room in
the building at tho corner Of Broadway
and Chambers street, now Delmonico's.
His neighbor in the next room was
gentleman who taught tho art Of pen
manship in twelve lessons. Tho missing
Adams was the towns topic OF CONVERSE
ton for several days. at last the writing
master remembered that he had heard in
Colts apartment the sound OF thud,
rs Of body falling heavily upon tho
floor, and that he had seen Colt carrying
IN empty box into his Office and after
ward down the stairway to tho sidewalk,
whence it was carted away. The writing
master began to suspect that tho box
contained the body Of Adams. Hc
notified the detectivcs-the police de-
partment Of New York then included
only four or five oxperts-and tho de.
tectiyes advertised for the carman who
had carted away the box. He respond
ed with the information that the box
had been taken to the dock for shipment
to New Orleans in tho packet Montezu.
mn. The vessel was to have sailed with
tho morrow's tide. She was detained,
her whole cargo discharged, and in n
box in the hold was found q body identi.
fed rs that OF Adams.
Colt was tried, found guilty, and SELL
fenced to be hanged. Two or three days
previous to the day appointed for his
execution the sheriff informed the pub
lie that he had received 81 900 bill in
closed in m anonymous note, requesting
him to MD Colt to escape. A vast
amount of indignation was expended
upon this attempt to bribe n public
officer.
On tho morning Of Colts intended
execution the woman who had been his
mistress for three years was admitted to
his cell, accompanied by a clergyman.
Tho marriage ceremony was performed
in the cell OF the condemned man. Colt
then requested that ho might be left
alone for two hours in order to prepare
for death. The request was granted.
Attached to the tombs was lofty
wooden structure, about ono hundred
feet high, supporting fire alarm bell.
At tho top Of the tower was fire obser.
vatory, for the accommodation OF the
"look out" This official had invited
several friends to visit the tower in order
to see the execution. Tho visitors, as
was said, accidentally upset the burning
stove, and set fire to tho lofty structure.
Be this Ms it may, the tower burned with
fierce rapidity. In the prison there was
scene Of wild excitement, The scream
ing Of women and boys, the rush OF
frightened children, the clanking OF the
two score fro engines, the shouting OF
the tircmen, tho cries OF terror from
prisoners who feared that they might be
burned nlive within their cells, the
crash of falling timbers from the tower,
the yells OF the abble from the Five
Points-all this was not soon forgotten
by those who saw it.
During tho excitement Of the fire n
hcarso containing n coffin was driven
into the prison yard. The sheriff and
attending officials waited upon the con-
demned man to bring him forth to the
gallows. In tho cell was found nothing
but dead body, with q dirk knife
through the heart. An inquest was
held over the remains, and verdict Of
suicide returned. The henrse was
driven away. Colt was never secu or
heard Of more.
There were not few Of tic "know-
ing ones" who would look WISE whel-
ever the affair was mentioned, and ask
what pauper body had been brought
into the Tombs and carried away Us that
Of Colt. For my part I believe 1yhat l
read when 1 know that it is true. l
think that Colt killed himself.