Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-28
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the Jail. and begged Williams to tell her
where her boy was. if he was living or
dead.
'.Oh, john she said. "where i my
boy! Think what mother have been TO
YOU, and tell me. if You have spark OF
human feeling in your heart, tell me where
my boy is''
But that fiend in human form only turned
up his nose and told her she had Il detec-
tive employed 10 90 and find him, he had
nothing to tell that her husband had I'M
prisoned him on false charge now She
had better 60 and look for her boy till she
found him.
The detective started the next day, and
traced them to St. Louis, and from there
on through Missouri. and clear on into
Texas about one hundred miles. Although
it had been a year since they passed along
yet everywhere they had stopped the blue
suit and brass buttons We're commented
on and remembered. 1t was i'll very
thinly settled, timbered country that he
lost the trace. There was river, and on
this side about one mile from the river
was cabin, and the woman said that a
covered wagon passed by about that time
OF the year, with man dressed in blue
jeans suit with bright buttons, walking
behind the wagon, and a dark looking
man drove the ponies. Then man about
half mile across the river told of seeing
covered wagon pass very early in the
morning with only one man in it. that he
saw, but there might have been more.
The officer followed another hundred
miles. but could find no one who ever saw
man dressed in blue jeans after he
crossed the river But he passed on to
the small town where Williams sold his
goods, and found he had permanent store
there, and had had four years it was in
charge of clerk, who stated he had been
in Williams employ four years that he
knew nothing of his movements when
not there that he remembered the goods
being brought, but there was no one with
him. but there was an extra trunk Of
clothing; that a portion of them was
sold; Williams kept out the best white
shirts and pair of fine boots he said
that the clothing had recently been given
him bya deceased friend.
The detective turned out and went back
to where Harry was last seen. and getting
in the few mel ehbors. he told them his
mission. and asked their aid in unearth-
ing Harry Colby; he had disappeared
near that place, and he was convinced
that he had been murdered by Williams,
although Williams bore good name
wherever he had been known; but still
those letters that had been sent backward
and forward looked mighty suspicious.
So the officers with these mems help,
commenced searching for indications of
grave, and at last, about half mile from
the road, in as lonely spot us could he
found, the ground was sunken in it was
round indenture, not oblong. like "A
grave, so they commenced digging. and
it was not long before bright button was
exposed, and very gently they removed
the dirt, and there they found all that was
left of Harry Colby. lie was identified by
his blue suit which was remarkably well
preserved, and by a peculiar tooth.
| shall always believe the guiding hand
of Providence led poor Harry to have that
blue suit made up for that journey, for he
could not bear the thought of wearing it
before, so that his appearance might be
traced and be brought to light; for so
many were immigrating about that time.
and all so much alike. that he would never
been remembered had not the uncommon
Dtut JtdIlS, Will It's DllgUl nlItttllS. IU'tll
noticed and commented on and remcm-
bered.
shall never forget that coming home,
for we all were hoping against hope that
he might be somewhere; and then it was
so hard to think Williams would make
way with him. True, he was under arrest
for forgery, and those letters coming from
Missouri were suspicious; but he had al
ways borne such good name, was raised
among us, belonged to the church and all
that so we could not bring ourselves to
believe he could murder the son of the man
who had done so much for him, for he
knew how much Harry was loved and
idolized at home. Beside, he had come
back and married his only sister. Why,
sir, it was unbelievable that a man could
be so wicked
But when all that was left of poor Harry
had been brought home, and the bullet
found in his side, then we knew Williams
had done it-had coolly and deliberately
planned and executed the awful deed for
the paltry sum invested in those goods.
and because he always hated Harry he
was Jealous Of the love bestowed on him
by his parents and Cora; and beside. if
lldilt was cut vi illt way, ne anu ora
would inherit all of Mr.. Colby's vast
wealth.
Well, it is useless to 90 into details of
the trial he was convicted, and sentenced
to be hung. After he was sentenced. he
confessed that he had planned the murder
before starting that he carried the spade
all the way to dig his grave, or rather the
hole he was found in; that the deed was
done while Harry was preparing their
breakfast, when he took up the spade and
said he would hunt certain kind of root.
In a few minutes he shouted for Harry to
come there-he believed he had discovered
gold mine. Harry. all unsuSpcious.
leaned over the hole that Williams had
made, searching for signs of the bright
metal, when Williams shot him through
the side he aimed at his heart. hut the
bullet glanced off. He lived few min
utes but his last words werr.-
''Oh, John, know YOU did not do il in
tentlonally Tell mother am not
afraid to die
Poor fellow He had no idea he had
been coolly and foully murdered by one
who should have been Il protector and
friend.
Williams had intended to ret the old
man, with his wife, started on the road to