New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-12-18

precincts to lind some cleW to the perpe-
traitor.
The disappearance Of the printer Adj
ans had in the meantime been made the
occasion Of newspaper comment, and be-
fore shutdown Of the day on which the
discovery was made a CLEAN Of light was
thrown on the mystery. By the adj
vice of District Attorney James Il.
Whiting the Superintendent Of Carts adj
vertised for the cartman who took the
box to the ship. The man appeared and
told how he was ordered to take the box
from the Chambers street Office to Maiden
lane pier, and that Mr.. ] Ohm G. Colt gave
him the necessary directions and paid
him. Colt was Immediately arrested,
and locked in a cell in Murderers' Row
in the City Prison.
There the prisoner lived like a Prince,
the whereWith being furnished by his
wealthy relatives. The responsibility Of
his connections made him an immense
sensation, and his crime and the approach
ing trial were the engrossing topic of the
year.
He was defended by three Of the ablest
criminal lawyers Of that time, but he had
a formidable prosecutor in the person of
District Attorney Whiting. The line of
defense was plea of manslaughter in
self defense, but the jury, after an excit-
ing deliberation of five hours, returned
with verdict of murder in the first de-
gree" Strenuous exertions were made to
made to save him from the extreme
penalty Of his crime. The case was
carried from the local to the Supreme
Courts, and even to the Court of Appeals,
but all in vain. Money was spent by
thousands, but in spite OF every effort he
Of November, 1s49, over a year from the
day Of the murder.
Immediately after his first trial Colt
wrote out, in sty ish and artistic docu-
ment, a confession, giving the most
minute particulars Of his crime. Caroline
Henshaw, although not married to the
unfortunate Colt, was true to him. She
was q constant visitor to the cell where
he spent most of his time. It was the
doomed mans desire that he should
marry her before he was hanged, and,
consent having been obtained, the mar
| riage cermony was performed at noon on
ing been fixed at four o'clock. By eleven
o'clock the bride was at the cell, attired
in a green shawl, straw bonnet, claret-
colored cloak, trimmad with red cord,
| and carrying muff. She was escorted
thither by Colts brother Samuel, and
John Howard Payne, the author of
| "Home, Sweet Home.'
| Rev. Mr. Anthem performed the cere-
mony. There were present Robert En-
met, Justice Merritt, David Graham, the
Sheriff, Samuel Colt and John Howard
Payne; and it is said that Colt himself
was cheerful and even chatty upon this
his dismal wedding day. After it was
| over the bride and groom were allowed
to be alone together for one hour.
Mrs. Colt left ct two o'clock, leaving
her husband alone, but she could scarce
ly make her way through the crowds sur
rounding the Jail, SO great was the ex-
element. The gallows held dangling
rope in full view of a multitude, whom
the low walls allowed to satisfy their
| curiosity.
| It lacked but five minutes Of four
o'clock when the cry Of fire was raised in
the prison. The greatest connection i'm
mediately prevailed. It was found that
the cupola of the prison was all ablaze,
and to put it out the engines fastened to
the spot and got to work. 1t had scarce
| ly been got under control when the
Sheriff ordered that the execution pro-
coed, and asked Mr.. Anthem to notify the
! prisoner that Gal! was ready"
He opened the door to convey this mes
sage, but in momen more stage cred
back end gave the startling announce
ment that Colt was dead. The cell was
crowded in a twinkling, and there, dead
upon the bed, lay the man for whom the
rope was waiting for outside. His hands
were composedly crossed upon his breast,
and the CHASTITY cut across his throat
showed that the execution Of the prison
yard has been anticipated by the suicidal
| knife in the cell.
! Naturally the excitement by this re-
markable and fearful affair was great.
1t was the sole topic of the town.
| In another allusion to the subject a
paper of the day asked:
"Who gave him the knife? Persons
who were alone with him in the cell
! yesterday: Rev Mr.. Anthem, Dudley
Selden, Samuel Colt, Caroline Henshaw,
Sheriff Hart. In addition to the above,
| David Graham and Robert Emmett visited
him together, when no other persons
were present. Also John Howard Payne
and Lewis Gaylord Clark visited him
with Samuel Colt. Who gave him the
knife?''
There were at the time. and are now
many persons who believe that during
the excitement consequent to the burning
Of the Tombs cupola Colt was allowed to