Wichita eagle., 1890-02-14
THE MURDER OF GRANT.
Circumstance Surrounding the Recent
Crime at Edmond,

! ~~>~-@SA-NA
Special Correspondence to the Daily Eagle.
EDMOND, Ok, Feb. BIT has been with
feeling of pride and pleasure that the
people of Edmond point to the fact that
its citizens were the first to erect school
house; the first to build church in Okla
noma and the moral integrity of our peo-
pie was unquestionable. Until recently it
could be truthfully said that not single
| crime marred the record OF Edmond and
| its beautiful surroundings. Would we
could haye preserved that record IN
broken, but to our sorrow we are called on
| to record crime, the horrors OF which
have cast gloom over the entire com
| munity.
Early in the settlement of this country
there came an honorable young man from
| Canada by the name of Charles Grant.
He located three and one-half miles
northwest from Edmond. He was about
! 22years old and was respected By all who
knew him. About Christmas he disap-
| peared. For while nothing was thought
| of this. but when it became known that
| his place. together with his team and en-
tire household effects, were in the posses
| sion of one Ed Belden, who reported that
he had purchased all from Charley Grant
| for the petty sum or $500 and that the
young man had returned to his home in
Canada, grave suspicious were at once
| aroused. Among the many friends of
Charley Grant was Robert Galbreath, who
has served as marshal with credit. Bob
as he is faniliarly known, thought strange
Charley would leave without a parting
word to any one and telegraphed to the
relations of the missing man, and
found that neither his aunt In
Wichita nor his father, in Canada, knew
of his whereabouts. This confirmed his
suspicion and he at once began thorough
investigation. Under various pretexts he
visited the neighborhood of Charley
Grants home, and every thread of evil
dence indicated that he had been muir
dered for his property, and that Ed. Bel
den and his uncle, Charles Holly, were
responsible for the horrible crime
Mr.. Galbreath determined to make one
more investigation before having any ar
rests made, SO on last Sunday Galbreath
once more resorted to his favorite business,
that Of horse hunting. AS he approached
the house of Holly he found his move
ments were closely watched by Mrs. Holly.
On nearing her he inquired once more
about the lost horses, and asked if the men
folks were about.
She said yes. Mr.. Galbreath asked her
to call them out. She went into the house. /
shutting the door, and several minutes
elapsed before 1t was again opened by
Holly, who seemed displeased with Mr.. |
Galbreath's presence, and roughly asked !
what he wanted. The usual inquiry about |
the horses was made. All this time Holly |
hoH ic 9c
plainly to be seen he had a pistol in each. |
MIR. Galbreath adroitly turned the con- |
versation TO the value of claims. At this |
point Ed Belden came out. He was not |
long in admitting that he had bought
Charley Grants claim; had paid $50 down; |
was to pay the balance soon; that Grant |
had tried to act badly in the matter, |
trying to take advantage of him. !
and that he had left for home. Here MIR. |
Galbreath said: well, that's just like |
him. | expected nothing better of him."
This remark was well taken by the men, /
but the woman showed great uneasiness. |
At this turn Holly claimed that his |
neighbor was SCORER, and that he being |
aware that Mr. Galbreath did some land
business. wished him TO fud some one TO
contest said neIghbOr, promising to fur
nish sufficient proof Here Mr.. Galbreath |
promised TO bring parties to contest IT he |
would convince them that there WAS suffi- /
Clcub SFOunO lOF COHteSl AL tHlS was |
agreed to and Holly was to receive half |
that was made.
AT this point the woman's uneasiness |
became very manifest and she called Ed |
Belden into the house. He returned in
stantly and tried to interrupt the conversa-
ton. Mr. Galbreath saw that he could |
gain nothing by prolonging the conversa-
tion and rode off, promising to come out
with the contesting party that evening.
He went to Il neighbor, asking him if he
knew if Grant was a citizen of the United |
States and if ne had not skipped because
he was not. The man replied he did Dot
know, but that they were having some
trouble about the REIMBURSEMENT.
BY this time MIR. Gaibreath was fully con-
WINGED his suspicious Were sufficiently we'll |
founded to procure a warrant for the ar
rests, He went to Guthrie. swore ont a
warrant before Commissioner Robert
son, procured the assistance of Marshals |
Payne and Overton and Hunt of this
place and arrested Ed Belden, Charles
Holly and wife.
W hile the prisoners were being taken to
Guthrie by Marshals Payne and Overton
Mr.. Galbreath wired the parents OF Char
ley Grant of the probable murder and the
arrest Of the supposed murderers. On |
Monday morning he organized n search
ing party and after a three hours search
found the remains of Charles w. Grant
buried under "a manure pile beside the sta
bic Upon examining the remains it was
found he had been shot, the bullet enter
ing the right side and coming out on the
left side of his back.
Word has been received from the father
and brother from Brockvilie, Canada, that
they are on their way to Edmond.