Mohave County miner., 1884-12-14
family, in Mitchell county

family, in Mitchell county. Grasp
ing a shotgun, which he had stolen
on the night Of the murder, keaton
was taking aim, when Sheriff Burkett
pushed the muzzle Of British bull
dog revolver in his face. and Keaton
suddenly surrendered.
The story OF the chase is one OF
the most exciting on record. On the
morning OF Wednesday one week
ago, Alex Goodwin went to the house
OF bis brother, Stephen Goodwin, a
bachelor and wealthy stock raiser.
All was still inside, and on opening
the door he found his brother lying
dead on the bed in a pool Of blood,
with his head crushed and the brain
oozing out. Mrs. Gregory, the house
keeper, was lying On another bed in
the same, room, with dreadful frac
ture IN the temple and otherwise
badly mangled. Dick Gregory, her
son, was found in an adjoining room,
lying dead from a similar wound.
There were no signs Of robbery in
the house. Godwin's trowsers were
found oD a chair by his bedside, with
money in his pockets. His gun was
missing and his 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 also to offer reward. A Wig
orous pursuit was at once determin-
ed on. There was but one clue and
that was to follow the buggy wheel
tracks, which led out along the banks
OF Flint river, southvard. DIR. Fair,
cloth, who had been out profession,
| ally during the night, declared he
met the buggy and its occupants
were Moses keston, his wife and
child.
The pursuing party pushed the
chase through swamp and morass
sometimes having sight of a track
again losing it and thus giving th,
criminal the advantage Of time
Upon reaching Decatur county Sher
; III Burkett joined in the pursuit anc
. it was decided TO bring in the aid o
| dogs to better keep the scent. On tb'
Georgia line and through Florida Il
Jackson county the party pushed
Here, in the region Of swamp lands
5 all trace seemed lost, and two day
we're spent in the endeavor to regaiy
it. Hope was almost abandoned. A
length another trail was struck due
north, and it was not long before i
was discovered that 1t lay not more
than half mile from and parable
to the downward trip, back through
to Georgia and within 100 yards o.
the house where the tragedy wa:
committed, and still north OF thii
until the farmhouse was reached
where the discovered fugItiyes sold
! the horse and buggy and pursued
their fight on foot.
This trail was followed until the
scene just outside Of this city brought
the officers into possession OF theii
prey. On the return trip to Mitchell
county with their prisoners, keatoI
fully confessed his crime. He i'm
pl,cated several others and says that
robbery was the cause, as Goodwin al
ways kept large sums of money OIL
his person. Keaton used On axe and
razor IN his horrible deed. A noise
outside gave the murderers the ides
they would be caught, when Keator
sought safety It fight, and hence
did not secure cent Of booty, only
the gun for protection and the con-
vsyaEce for fight. Taking his wife
: with him, he proceeded through tt
Florida aud hoping to avoid detec
ton decided TO return north and
reach North Alabama, when b,
would be secure. The chase was oyel
; 400 miles in a straight line and mus
: have been nearer 1000 when the var
iations are taken into account. 1t i,
doubtful il he will be allowed Il
reach trial, so incensed are the peo
pie at his crime.
o,x,,, av srrp s.,rY