Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1885-01-15
Trailed by BlOOdhOunds.


Trailed by BlOOdhOunds.
The keen scent of bloodhounds as
they followed devious course through
this city and to apoint about half a
mile up the river, says Columbus,
Ga, dispatch to The NeW York. World,
attracted the attention of the people
yesterday. A few moments later several
horsemen following gave evidence of
fatigue from long chase. Suddenly
the hounds came to stand, and col
ored woman, babe in arms, stood terri
fled and unable to move. A little way
into clump of bushes was seen a col
ored man who was recognized by
Sheriff Burkett, of Decatur county, and
whom one of the horsemen said was
Moses Keaton, the murderer of the
Goodwin family, in Mitchell county.
Grasping the shotgun which he had
stolen on the night of the murder,
Keaton was taking aim, when Sheriff
Burkett pushed the muzzle 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 morn
ing of Wednesday, one week ago, Mr..
Alexander Goodwin went to the house
of his brother, Stephen Goodwin, who
was bachelor and wealthy stock
raiser. All was still inside, and on
opening the door he found his brother
lying dead on bis bed in pool 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 9TH
erwise 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 s
trousers were found on chair by the
bedside with money in the pockets.
His gun was missing, and his horse
and buggy were also 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 pursuit
was at once determined upon. There
was but one clew, and that was to fol-
low the buggy-wheel tracks. which
led out along the banks of the Flint
river southwark. DR.. Faircloth. who
had been out professionally during the
night, declared that he had met a
buggy, and that its occupants were
Moses Keaton, wife and child. The
pursuing party pushed the chase
through swamp and morass, some
times 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 the 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, al
traces seemed lost, and two days were
spent in an endeavor to regain it.
Hope was abandoned. At last another
trail was struck due north. 1t was
not long until it was discovered that il
lay not more than half mile parable
with the downward trip, back through
to Georgia, and within one hundred
yards of the house where the tragedy
had been committed, and still north o
this until a farm house was reached
where it was discovered that the fugi
tives had sold the horse and buggy anc
were pursuing their flight on foot
This trail was followed until the scene
just outside of this city brought th'
officers into possession OF their prey.