The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-16
KILLED WITH AN AK
EDWARD CoLENs MURDERERED IN
HIS HOME IN MONTEITH.
ROBBERY FOLLOWED KILLING.
UNKNOWN ASSASSIN CRUSHED AN
OLD MANS SKULL

CoIens Was an AGED White Man and
Was Employed Fireman at
ExIey's Saw-MiII-Was Probably
sitting An His Doorway Friday
Night When Struck in the Head
and Killed Instant1y-Body Found
Yesterday Morning Where IT Fell.
House Had Been PIundered by the
Murderer and Colens' Money Was
Taken-Corone err Keller Held an In
quest, hut Jury Could FIX the
Crime on NO One-The County Of
Acers Believe That They Have a
slight Glue and the Murderer May
BE "A Negro Who Had Been Notice.
able Around the MiIl-COlens Was
Once a Mississippi River Engineer,
Although but Little is known of
His Past-supposed to Have Been
a Nntive of California and a Man
with a History.
Edward Colens a white man about s.
years of age, was brutality murdered and
his house robbed, at Montieth. sometime
Friday night. The discovery was made
yesterday morning and Coroner Keller
was at once notified.
Colens was employed as a fireman at
Txley's mill and lived alone. He was OF
quiet disposition and the negro en-
ployes appeared to think much of him.
The fireman was last seen about 10
o'clock Friday night and at that time
was cutting wood in front OF his home.
1t had been his habit to sit in his door
way for hours, after his nights exercise
with the ak. 1t is presumed that he was
sitting down when someone slipped up
and crushed his skull, with the ak that
me had used only a few minutes before.
Death must have been instantaneous and
the mangled head fell back on the floor
Throwing the bloody weapon back in
the yard the murderer stepped over the
body of his victim and the work of plum
der was begun Furniture was turned
over. and, undsturbed, the slayer of Co
lens searched the small house for treas
ure Just how much money he secured
could not be learned by the Coroner, but
the fireman is believed to have had quite
a snug sum hidden in the house.
Yesterday morning when Colens did not
appear at his post at the mill a messen-
ger was sent to his home. Then 1t was
that the discovery was made and the
alarm was given. Coroner Keller went
to the scene of the homicide and made a
hurried investigation, after which an IN
quest was held.
Several witnesses were examined, but
no one could be found who could throw
any light on the killing With the evil
dence before 1t there was but one thing
for the jury to do, and a verdict that
Colens came to his death from a wound,
inflicted by parties unknown to the jury,
was returned While there was no evil
dence to implicaate anyone 1t is known
that the coroner obtained information
which causes him TO suspect negro who
had been hanging around the mill
The man knew the habits of the fire.
man and was familiar with the house and
its surrounding. 1t is believed that he
stood within the shadow of the place,
while Colens was cutting the wood, and
waited until the white man had finished,
and taken his seat in the doorway. Co
lens was probably deep in thought-it
was believed at the mill that he was a
man with an interesting history-when
the negro grasped the ak and with a
powerful blow crushed the skull at its
base. Every sign indicated that there
had been no words before the fatal blow
was struck and that the sawmill fireman
been given no opportunity to offer any de-
Tense and the crash of the breaking skull,
as the weapon struck the head, was the
only sound made.
The murderer evidently lost no time IN
beginning his work of plumber, and the
first crime was followed by the second
with the same rapidity displayed by the
fiend in swinging the ak. He went about
his work silently, and those living within
a stones throw of the place little dream
ed, as they slept, that a crime was being
committed. The presence of the dead
caused the murderer no uneasness, and
not corner in the house escaped his
attention.
Papers found in the dead mans house
show that at one time he was chief en-
gineer on a steamer on the Mississippi
river. He had been employed at the
mill several months and was not very
communicative. On one occasion Colens
stated that he was a native of Califor-
mia, but he had wandered all over the
states and several foreign shores. He
was well educated and II had always
been mystery why he should have an
chored himself at an out-of-the-way saw
mill. II is not likely that the mystery
viii ever be solved. and the man proba-
bly, carried his secret with him to the
grave. As far as is known he was I'M
married. and a disappointment in love,
IN ms carrier Gays, may nave Deen the
cause of his voluntary exile.
He was by no means bad looking
man, although the lines OF age and worry
showed clearly on his face, and at times
he appeared 10 suffer much from melan-
choly. On such occasions he would spend
hours at time in his doorway. with his
head buried in his hands. He may have
been In mood OF that sort when struck
down by the assassin. AS far as Coroner
Keller could ascertain all evidence OF his
past life had been destroyed, and he had
determined that his history should die
with him. He was buried at Montieth.
and II Is not probable that his relativ
II indeed he has any, will ever hear OF
his tragic death.
County Detective Charlton will leave
this morning for Montieth. and will en-
deavor to unravel the mystery, ana OBJ
tain some positive clue upon which to
work. The county officer may spend sew.
eral days at the saw mill. in an effort to
locate the murderer and bring him 20
justice.