The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-11
THE TRAIL OF BLOOD.
ONE THOUSAND MILES ON A MUIR
DERER'S TRACK.
Capture of the Slaughterer of the God
win Family in Georgia-Pro-
liability of Lynching
Party Next.

COLUMBUS, Ca, Dec 11-Several keen |
scented bloodhounds, as they foil owed de |
vioGs course through this city to point |
half mile up the river, attracted the atten |
ton of the people Monday. A few moment |
later several horsemen were seen following, |
who gave evidence of their fatigue from
long chase. Suddenly the hounds came to q
stand, a colored woman, babe in arms, stood
terrified and unable to move. A little way
into the clump of bushes was seen coloreC
man, who was recognized by Sheriff Burkett
of Decatur county, and whom one of tht
horsemen said was Moses Keaton, the mur
derer of the Goodwin family in Mitchell
county Grasping shotgun, which he haG
stolen on the night of the murder, Keaton
was taking aim, when Sheriff Burkett pushed
the muzzle of British bull dog into his fact
and keaton sullenly surrendered.
The story of the chase is one of the most
exciting on record. On the morning oi
Wednesday, one week ago, Alexander God
win went to the house of his brother
Stephen Goodwin, a bachelor and wealthy
stock raiser. All was still inside, and, OF
opening the door, he found his brother lyine
dead on the bed in pool of blood his heaC
crushed and the brains oozng out Mrs
Gregory, the housekeeper, was lying OF
another bed in the same room, with dread
full fracture in the temple and otherwist
badly mangled. Dick Gregory, her son. was
found in an adjoining room. lying dead from
a similar wound There was no signs OF
robbery about the house. Mr.. Godwint
trousers were found on chair by his bed.
side, with his money in the pockets. His
gun was missing, and the horse and buggy
were also taken away. Intense excitement
followed the discovery. A local reward OF
$500 was at once offered kilograms were
sent to the governor urging the state to alsc
| offer reward.
| A vigorous pursuit was at once determined
upon. There was but one clew, and thai
| was to follow the buggy-wheel tracks, which
| led out alung the banks of the Flint river
| southwark. DR.. Faircloth, who had beeI
| out professionally during the night, declared
| he met buggy, and the occupants were
| Moses keaton and his wife and child. TIL,
| pursuing party pushed the chase through
the swamp and morass, sometimes having
sight Of the track, again losing it, and thu
! giving the criminal the advantage of time.
Upon reaching Decatur county Sheriff
Burliett joined in the pursuit, and it was de
/ SChhSI
keep the scent On the Georgia line ant
through Florida to jackson county the party
pushed Here in the region of the swami
lands all trace seemed lost, and two day
were spent In the endeavor to regain it, Hop
was almost abandoned. At last another trai
was struck due north. 1t was not long unit
it was discovered that it lay not more Cha
half a mile parallel with the downward triI
back through to Georgia and within IL
yards of the house where the tragedy ha
been committed, and still north of this unit
a farm house was reached, where it was di
covered the fugitives had sold the horse an
buggy and were pursuing their flight on foo
This trail was followed until the scene jus
outside of the city brought the officers int
possession of their prey.
On the return trip to Mitchell county wit
their prisoners Keaton fully confessed h
crime. He implicated several others, an
says robbery was the cause, as Goodwin a
ways keyt large sums of money on his pc
son. He used an ak and razor in the no
rible deed. Some noise outside gave ii
murderers the idea they would be caugh
when Keaton sought safety in flight, an
hence did not secure one cent of the boot
only the gun for protection and the conve
ance for flight Taking his wife with hill
he proceeded through to Florida, and, ho
ing better to avoid detection, decided to r
turn north and reach north Alabama, wh'
he would be secure. The chase was oy
400 miles in a stright line, and must ha
been nearer 1000, when the variations we
taken into account 1t is doubtful if he W
be allowed to reach trial, SO outraged q
the people at his crime.