St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-19
THE DUKES CREEK MURDER.
Steve GOIliday Doesn't Know to
This Day That He Killed squire
II Inv

sheriff out of the house, that officer sup
posed that his visitor desired to see him on
some ordinary matter of business. He was
quickly undeceved.
Il have killed man down on Dukes
Creek" said Steve, land L thought l
would give myself up"
1.-The mischief you sayl' exclaimed the
sheriff. You've had too many drains this
morning. Steve"
Not dram," was the reply; ''I'm tell
ing you the truth"
The sheriff took look at young Coli
day, and saw that it was no joking matter.
He changed his tone.
Steve" said he, 81 hope it was a lair
fight"
mo fight at ALL" answered Steve, 81
| just slipped up behind him and blew out
his BRAINS"
"Why, great Goddlemighty, man, that's
murder. Who was hep"
sit was Squire Buckley"
There was long pause, during which
the two men looked steadily at each other.
Now, see here" said the sheriff, after
he had collected his wits, ''this sort of
thing won't do. Murder is a serious bust
ness"
Il know it." said Steve, land that's why
| III lClC w give u Ill lCdO1 "
go to jail right nOw."
well, | amt ready to take you," pro-
tested the other; $50 you had better tell
me ALL"
IF you will go out there with me-" sug-
gested Steve. Il think l could tell you.
Somehow | can't talk about it here"
Good enough said the sheriff, cheer
fully. "Of course I'll go with you. Well
slip out there quietly, and keep this little
matter to ourselves until we get back to
town"
The two men walked off 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.
He was badly bothered. Squire Buckley
had always borne good reputation, and
was a man of some little property. Coli
day. while clever young fellow. had been
a little wild, and since the disappearance of
his father had acted very strangely. Old
man Golliday had lived the life of hermit,
and was supposed to have quite snug sum
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 to ascertain his fathers
fate. but without success.
The fate of old man Golliday was the
subject of the sheriff's thoughts as he fol-
lowed his companion through the bushes.
But his SpeculatiOns were suddenly inter
rupted,
There is what you wish to see," said the
young man.
1t was not pleasant sight, and it was
very different from what the officer had eX-
pected to see. The dead body of Squire
Buckley was lying on the grass. face down
ward, and the red wound in the head spoke
for itself. But what attracted the sheriff S
gaze was not the corpse. 1t was an open
grave by the side of which lay the skeleton
| of a man.
Il don't understand" said the sheriff
''My God! Steve. what does it all mean?''
Young Goliday pointed to the skeleton.
1T is the remains of my father" he said,
He was murdered and robbed by Buck
leyr'
When the astonished 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
to fear him. For long time this was I'M
accountable. At last GOllIday's curiosity
was excited by discovering that Buckley
frequently made visit to this lonely spot
on Dukes Creek. After several unSucceSs-
ful attempS to follow the old man, he con-
cealed himself in the bushes one morning.
and was almost driven mad by what he saw
and heard. Buckley made his usual pill
grinage to the spot and, believing himself
unobServed, fell down Oh his knees and
prayed aloud. In his prayer he spoke of
the terrible temptation which had led him
to murder old GOllday, and prayed for
strength to keep his secret to the end. His
language indicated that he was then kneel-
ing on the grave of his victim.
Il could not stand it," said Steve 81
walked up behind him without saying a
word and blew off the top of his head. 1t
was wrong, l know, but L couldn't help
it."
Il don't see how you could" said the
sheriff.
Then" continued Steve, II took a
piece of a fence rail and dug into that little
mound. l dug and scratched away for an
hour until l came to the skeleton. On one
of the bony fingers l found this ring. 1t
was my fathers. l would have known it
anywhere"
Good LOrd!" calculated the sheriff.
''Well." the young man said, dejectedlY.
Il hardly know what to do. l was salts
| u6u lLdJ l. ndu hlllCu NY loIllVl .
but thought had better go and deliver
myself up to you"
The good hearted officer carried his pris-
oner to the Golliday cottage, not far off, and
put him to bed. 1t was not moment too
early, for when the nearest doctor came, he
pronounced it a case of brain fever. Long
weeks afterward, when the patient recOv-
cred, he recollected nothing of the tragedy.
| Nor did anV one tell him.
Was there no inquest? Certainly one
was held. but the good people of Blue
Rock and Dukes Greek were not in the
habit of allowing the technicalities of the
law to override their ideas of justice.
When the coroner's jury heard the sheriff's
dramatic recital. it took only brief con-
sultaton to induce the jurors to bring in a
verdict to the effect that Buckley had come
to his death by pistol shot fired by Steve
Golliday in self-defense. The self-defense
idea had been suggested by the sheriff. and
it was considered happy solution of an
embarrassing question.
Steve Golliday is now one of the most
popular farmers on Dukes Creek. Oc-
casionally he speaks Of his fathers disap-
pearance and Squire Buckeyes suicide.
His neighbors humor his deIusiOn, and he
will never hear the truth of the business.