The Sunday herald., 1886-11-28
THE DUKES CREEK MURDER.
Steve GOlliday Doesn't Know 10 Thii
Day That He Killed squire Buckley.
tAtlanta constitutional


When steve GOday came Into Blue Rock early
one morning, and called the Sheriff out Of his
house, that officer supposed that his visitor desired
to see him on some ordinary matter OF business.
81 have killed man down on Dukes Creek" said
Steve, sand thought would give myself up"
'You've had too many drains thia morning, steve"
''Not dram," was tho reply: '.Pm telling you the
The Sheriff took good look at young Golliday,
and saw that it was no Joking matter. lie changed
''Sieve," he said. 81 hope II was fair fight"
'No light AT all" answered steve. ~ Just slipped
up behind him and blew out his brains."
"Why, great Goddemighty, man, that's murder.
Wy at was was Squire Buckley
There was a long pause, during which the two
snow, see here" said the sheriff, after he had
collected his wits. "thls sort OF thing won't do.
Murder Is q serious business"
~ know it," said Steve, ''and that's why I'm here
to give myself up. FIN ready to go to jail right
swell, amt ready to take you,n protested the
other, $50 you had better tell me all"
"If You Will go out there with me-" suggested
Steve, ~ think could tell you. Somehow can't
'Good enough said tho Sheriff, cheerfully; "or
course III go with you. Wen slip out there quietly,
and keep this little matter to ourselves until we get
The two men walked OF ata rapid pace and were
soon beyond the village limits, and lost to sight In
The sheriff said very little on the way. lie was
| badly bothered. Squire Buckley had always borne
good reputation, and was man of some little
property. Golliday, while clever young fellow,
had been a little wild, and, since tho disappearance
Golay had lived the life OF hermit, and was sup
posed 10 have quite snug sum OF money boarded
up. Toward the close OF the war he mysterlousy
Disappeared money and all, and all Efforts TO trace
him failed. When his son returned from the Army hG
tried IN every way to ascertain his fathers fate, hut
I,he fate OF old man Golllday was the subject Of
the Sheriffs thoughts IN he followed his companion
through the bushes. But his speculations were sud
"There is what you wish TO see," said tho young
| man.
ent from what the Onioer 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 Sheriifs
gaze was not the corpse. II was an open grave, by
as q ws lay ~ ss sSss,S ,hS % man
| Steve, what does II all inean?"
| Young Golliday pointed to tho skeleton.
"lt Isl The remains Of ny ~ father" ne said "ile
When the aatOnishcd Sheriff had composed him
self enough to listen steve told him all about tht
affair. The young man noticed, after his return
from the war. that Buckley avoided him. In fact
the Squire seemed TO fear him. For long tim'
this was nnaccoln,ao!e. AZ last Gollldays curl
| quenty made visit to this lonely spot on Duke,
Greek. After several unsuccessful attempts u
bushes one morning, and was almost driven mad b.
| what he saw AMI heard buckley made his usua
pilgrimage 10 the spot, anu, Deevlug nltnself unOD
| served, fell down on his knees and prayed aloud
In his prayer he spoke OF the terrible temptation
| which lad led him TO murder old Golliday, an,
prayed for strength TO Keep his secret TO tho end
HIS language Indicated that lie was then kneeliDg ol
the grave Of his yictim.
~ could not stand IT," said steve. ~ walked nj
| behind him, without saying word, and blew OIL tn
| top OF his head. II was wrong, ] know, but
couldn't nepit.
| ~ don't see how you could" said the Sheriff.
| "Then,r continued Steve, ~ took piece OF
fence rail AMI dug into that little mound. dug am
| scratched away for an hour until came To tn
| skeleton. on one of the bony fingers found thi
| ANYWHERE
Wood Lord ~ calculated the Sheriff.
| SWELL" the young man said, dejectedly, I"
hardly knew what to do. was satisfied that ] ha'
killed my fathers murderer, but thought ha,
better go and deliver myself up TO you.n
| The gOOd-hearted oiilccr carried his prisoner Il
the Goiday cottage not far on and put HIM TO bed
II was not moment too early, for when the neares
doctor came he pronounced " a case OF brain fever
Long weeks aflerward when the patient rec0vere
he recollecied nothing OF the tragedy. Nor did an
one tell him.
Was there no inquestG Certainly one was held
but the good people of Blue Rock and Dukes Cree
were not In the habit of allowing the technlcalitle
OF the law 10 override their Ideas OF Justice. Whe
the Coroner's jury heard the Sherins dramatic RI
cital II took only hriei consultation To Induce III
Jurors to bring In verdict TO the effect that Buck
ley had come to his death by pistol shot lred b
steve Golliday IN sef-deenae. The self-defens
Idea had been suggested by the Sheriff, ana Ii wa
considered happy solution OF an einbarrassin
question.
farmers on Dukes Greek. occasionally he speaks q
hls' fathers disappearance anu Squire Buckley
suicide. Ills neghbOrs hunor his deluslon, and Il
VIII never hear the truth OF tho business.