Bridgeton pioneer., 1902-09-11
You will have to draw your
conclusions" replied the lawyer.


great weight. 1t is onsiuered by
everyone that unless the state IS attor-
ney was positively certain of his 10
sltlon ne would never make such
statement as he gave to the news
papers. Fully depending upon his in
formation as unassailable, the Prose-
outor gives to the public what is en-
tlrely consistent, and sets at rest all
Idle gossip and wild rumors.
[from Daily Pioneer, Tuesday Sept 81
John s. Holmes and Miss Catharine
Shute, the victims of the Bowentown
tragedy, were shot and killed in the
hallway of the homestead and their
dead bodies were dragged out to the
barn and there oremated in the fire
that was started by Job Murray
Williams.
From information that is unim-
peachable these facts are learned by
the Pioneer" and will be proven in
Court by the State authorities.
The general impression has pre-
vailed that Williams in some way en-
tlced the old folks in the barn and
there killed them and destroyed their
bodies, but this is far from the fact.
The actual story of the horrible
tragedy is even more remarkable than
was at first supposed. The murder
was the result of the robbery, and
the fire was the result of the murder.
When Charles Holmes left the farm
of his father on the fateful night, Job
Williams allowed John s. Holmes to
enter the barn and put away the
short rope halter which he had pre-
viously carried out to his son. The
old gentleman went from the barn
and sat for time in his accustomed
rocking chair in the kitchen, while
Miss Shute was cheerily working
about the kitchen with some house.
hold duties.
Job Williams entered the house
after he had finished his accustomed
chores and went up stairs and dressed.
1t was the night before his wedding.
There was to be rehearsal of the
ceremony that evening, and he had
but two dollars in cash and no suit of
clothing for the important event. He
had resolved on robbing Mr.. Holmes
OF the money he knew to be in the
purse in the desk drawer in the room
on the first floor. He stealthily came
down from his own quarters and en-
tered the private apartment of the old
farmer. He secured admission to the
desk drawer and obtained the pocket
book. A slight noise attracted the
attention of John S. Holmes and the
old farmer came hurrying through
the hallway. He. noticed Job Will
iams' burly form standing in front of
him and demanded to know what he
was doing.
Williams was cornered State
prison stood before him. He was
caught in the act. Instantly he felt
that murder was his only hope and he
whipped out the revolver he nearly
always carried and sent bullet crash
ing into the brain of Mr.. Holmes.
The fatal wound was made in the
forehead and the old man dropped like
a log directly where he stood, falling
upon his back.
The sound of the shooting attracted
the attention of Miss Shute and she
came rushing through the hall,
screaming. Another pistol shot, and
a bullet crashed in the brain of the
lady, and she fell beside the silent
form of Mr.. Holmes. Death in her
case was not instantaneous and she
fiounced around a little and then was
still.
About that time the big, burly MUIR
derer heard sounds of people coming
along the road, and he hurried out of
tie house and went out to the front
entrance where he met the colored
picnic party and talked with John
Stanton, and of him borrowed Gig
arctic.
When the party went on Williams
hurried back to the house and pre-
pared to cover up the traces of his
crime. He found that there had been
little bleeding, and he determined to
get the bodies to the barn and there
destroy them by flames.
He first dragged the lifeless body of
old Mr.. Holmes from the house, across
the yard and in the side double doors
Of the barn and laid it in the passage
way in front of the horses. Returning
he secured the body of Miss Shute and
dragged that in the same way over to
the barn and laid it beside the old
gentleman
All of the doors of the barn were
then securely locked upon the inside