Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-11-27
TINE DUKES CREER MURDER
steve GolIiday Doesn't Know to This Day That
He Killed squire buckley.

|
| He KILLED squire buckley.
| From the Atlanta Constitution.
| When steve Golliday came into Blue Rock
| early one morning, and called the sheriff GU,
| of his house, that officer supposed that his
| visitor desired TO sec him on some ordinary
matter OF business He was quickly unde.
ceived.
| a. have killed a man down on Dukes
| Greek, :" said steve, and thought | would
| give myself up
"The mischief you say ~ exclaimed the
sheriff. " You've had too many drains this
| morning, Steve"
Not DRAM" was the 'epiy " lm tell.
ing you the truth"
The sheriff took a good tp0k at young Col
| liday, aud saw that 1t was no joking matter.
| tie changed his tone.
"Steve," he said, " / hope 1t was a fair
| fight"
No fight at ALL" answered Steve. Il
just slipped up behind hun and blew ou. his
brains"
Why, great GoddIemJghty, man, that's
| murder. Who was he ?'
Ii was Squire Buckley
There sas long pause during which the
| two men looked steadily al each other.
"Now, see here" said the sheriff, after he
| had collected his wits, "ths sort of thing
won't do. Murder is serious business"
know 1t, said Steve, " and that's why
I'm here TO give myself up. I'm ready to go
| 10 Jail right now"
" Well, / amt ready to take you," pro.
tested the other, so you had better tell me
all"
alt you will go out there with me-" sug-
gestcd Steve, :" think | could tell you.
Somehow | can't talk about it here
"GOod enough" said the sheriff, cheer
fully, " OF course III 20 with you. Wen
slip out there quietly, and keep this little
matter to ourselves until NO got back to
town"
The two men walked oil at rapid pace
and were soon beyond the village limits and
lost to sight in the woods.
The sheriff said very little on the way. lie
was badly bothered. Squire Buckley had al
ways borne a good reputation, aud was a
man OF some little property. Golliday, while
clever young fellow, had been little wild,
and, since the disappearance of his father,
had acted very strangely. Old man C'olli-
day had lived the life Of hermit, and was
supposed to have quite a snug SUN of money
boarded up. Toward the close of the war he
mysteriously disappeared, money and all,
and all efforts to trace him failed. When his
son returned from the army he tried in every
way 10 ascertain his fathers fate, but without
success.
The fate of old man Golliday was the sub
iect of the sheril's thoughts as he fOllowe d
his companions through the bushes. But bis
speculations were suddenly interrupted.
There is what you wish to see,' said The
young man.
1t was not q pleasant sight, and II was very
different from what the officer had expected
To see. The dead body OF Squire Buckley
was lying on the grass, face downward, and
| the red wound in the head spoke for itself
But what attracted the sheriff gaze was not
the corpse. IL was an open grave by the sid Q
| OF which lay the skeleton OF a man"
| al don't understand" said the sheriff.
| "My God Steye what does It all mean ?'
| Young Golliday pointed to the skeleton.
| lie was murdered and robbed by Buck
leyw
When the astonshed sheriff had composed
| himself enough to listen, Steve told him all
| about the affair. The young man noticed,
after his return from the war, that Buckley
| avoided him. In fact, the squire seemed 10
| fear him. For long time this was unac'
countable. At last GOlhday's curiosity was
| excited by discovering that buckley ire
| queDuy made a visit 10 this lonely spot on
| Dukes creek. After several unsuccessful
| attempts to follow the Old man, he concealed
| himself in the bushes one morning, and was
| almost driven mad by what he saw ana
heard. Buckley made his usual pilgrimage
| to the spot, and believing himself unop
| served, fell down on his knees and prayed
| aloud. In his prayer he spoke of the terrible
| temptation which had led him to murder old
| GOildRy, and prayed Tor strength 10 keep the
| secret to the end. His language indicated
| that he was then knee.lng on the grave OF his
| victim.
| 81 could not stand it," said Steve. "
| walked up behind him, without saying 9
| word, and blew OIL the top of his head. II
was wrong, | know, but couldn't help It .
| 81 don't see how you COULD said the
| sheriff.
Then" continued steve, /" | took a piece
of a ierce rail and dug into that little mound
| ! dug and scratched away for an hour unit
| ! came to the skeleton. On one OF the oonN
| fingers | found this ring, 1t was my father 3
| | would have known it anywhere"
"Good Lord ~ eisculaed the sheriff.
| "Well," the young man said, delectedly
81 hardly knew what 20 do. was satishet
| that i had killed my fathers murderer, bu
| thought had better go and deliver mysel
up to you"
| The good. hearted officer carried his pris
oner TO the GOlliday cottage not far OIL an'
| put him to bed. 1t was not moment to
early, Tor when the nearer doctor came b
| pronounced it "A case OF brain lever. Lon
weeks alterward when the patient recovere
he recollected nothing Of the tragedy. No
| did any one tell him.
Was there no inquest Certainly one wa
held. But the good people OF Rlue Roc
| and Dukes Greek wero not in the habit {
| allowing tho technicalites OF the law to Owe
| ride their ideas OF ustlce. When the corr
ner's jury heard tho sherill's dramatic r.
cital, IL took only brief consultation to II
| duce the jurors to bring in verdict to I'll
effect that Buckley had come to his death
pistol shot fired by Steve Holiiday In sci
defense. The seli.deiense idea had bee
suggested by the sheriff, ana 1t was cons
cred happy solution of an embarrassil
| question.
Steve Golliday Is now ono OF the most po
ular farmers on Dukes Creek. Occasional
he speaks of his fathers disappearance al
Squire Buckley's suicide. His neighbo
D humor his deluson, and he will never he
= | tho truth of the business.