Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-12-25

Through Two States into the
Swamps of Florida and Back TO the
Scene of the Tragedy, Where He is
att Last Captured.
New York World.
The keen scent of bloodhounds as
they followed Obvious course through
this city and to point about mile
up the river, says a Columbus, Ga,
dispatch to the World. attracted the
attention of the people yesterday. A
few moments later several horsemen
following gave evidence Of fatigue
from a long chase. Suddenly the
hounds came to stand, and a colored
woman, babe in arms, stood terrified
and unable to move. A little way
into clump of bushes was seen a
colored man aabe was recognized by
Sheriff Burkett, of Decatur county,
and whom one of tRe horsemen said
was Moses Keaton, the murderer of
the Goodwin family N Mitchell coun-
ty. Grasping the shotgun which he
had stolen on the night of the murder.
Keaton was taking aim, when Sheriff
Burkett pushed the muzzles of Brit
ish bulldog into his face and Keaton
sullenly surrendered
The story Of the chase is one of the
most exciting on record. On the
morning of Wednesday, one week ago,
Mr.. Alexander Goodwin went to the
house of his brother, Stephen Goodwin,
who was a bachelor and a wealthy
stock raiser. All was still inside, and
Oh opening the door he found his
bno& o., 1r;,oa. I ~ II ~, h;e bod ~ . VOL
of blood, with his head crushed and
his brains oozing out, Mrs Gregory,
his housekeeper, was lying on another
bed in the same room, with dreadful
fracture in her temple, and was other
wise badly mangled. Dick Gregory,
her son, was found in an adjoining
room, lying dead from a similar
wound. There were no signs of rob
berry about the house. Mr. Goodwin
trousers were found on char by his
bedside with money in the pockets.
His gun was missing, and his horse
and buggy were also found to be taken
away
Intense excitement followed the dis
covery. A local reward of $500 was
at once offered kilograms were sent
to the governor urging that the state
also offer reward. A vigorous pur-
suit was at once determined upon.
There was but one clew, and that was
to follow the buggy-wheel tracks,
which led out along the banks of the
Flint river southwark. DR., Faircloth,
who had been out professionally dur
ing the night, declared that he had
met a buggy, and that it's occupants
were Moses Keatou, his wife, and
child. The pursuing party pushed the
chase through swamp and morass.
sometimes having sight of the track,
again losing it, and thus giving the
criminal the advantage of time.
Upon reaching Decatur county,
Sheriff Burkett joined in the pursuit,
and it was decided to bring in tie aid
of dogs to better keep the scent. On
the Georgia line and through Florida
to Jackson county the party pushed
Here, in a region of swamp lands, all
traces seemed lost, and two days were
spent in an endeavor to regain it.
Hope was almost aban doned At last
another trail was struck due north. It
was discovered that it lay not more
than half a mile parallel with the
downward trip, back thrc ugh 10
Georgia, and within one hundred
yards of the house where the TRACED;
had been committed, and still north
of this until a farm house was reached,
where it was discovered that the fug1-
tives had sold the horse and buggy,
ard were pursuing their flight on
foot. This trail was followed until
the scene just outside of this city
brought the officers into possession of
their prey.
On the return trip to Mitchell coun-
ty with the prisoners, Keaton fully
confessed the crime. He implicated
several others, and says that robbery
was the cause, as Goodwin always kept
large sums of money on his person.
He used an ak and razor In the hor-
rible deed. A noise outside gave the
murderers the idea that they wou
be caught, when Keaton sought safety
in flight, and hence d not secure
one cent of the booty, only the gun
for protection and the conveyance
for flight. Taking his wife with him
he proceeded through to Florida, and,
hoping the better to avoid detection,
decided to return north and reach
north Alabama, when he would be
secure. The chase was four hundred
miles in straight line, and must have
been nearer one thousand when the
variations are taken into account 1t
is doubtful if he will be allowed to
reach trial, so outraged are the peo-
pie at his crime.