Gilpin observer., 1905-12-14
BODIES IN A SHAFT
A Woman Living in Denver Who Claims to
Know all About the Disappearance Of
Williams Talks for Publication.
WAS KILLED TO CONCEAL A PREVIOUS CRIME

An artlcle appearing IN the Denver
Times OF last Saturday has been the
topic OF conversation among the resi-
dents since that time. The article re-
viewed the disappearance Of John Will
Jams, a young boy who had lived with
his mother in this city until the 18th of
August, 1904, when he was last seen or
heard of. The story published in the
Denver paper was furnished by woman.
so the article stated, whom at one time
lived here and was acquainted with the
facts leading up to the mysterious dis
appearance of Williams. She would not
divulge her name for the reason that at
one time she had led CRIMSON life and
since going to Denver had made her de-
but into good society presumably Capt.
tai hill and feared that the notoriety at
tendant upon the disclosure of her soiled
career would put an end to her further
mingling with the creme de la creme of
Denver aristocracy.
The disappearance of Young Williams
occurred shortly over year ago and the
search which followed doubtless is re-
membered by the readers. On the 18th
of August of last year, Williams in com
pany with Fred Goldsworthy Of Black
Hawk, went out to spend the evening in
hilarious merriment. They visited the
various resorts OF the city, including that
section of Spruce street which has long
since become famous for its fights, mur
ders, dynamiting and fires. They i'm
bibed freely in Intoxicating beverages
until a late hour and then both departed
for their homes. Goldsworthy left his
companion at the post office and con-
tinued on his way to Black Hawk. That
was the last he saw of Williams Where
Williams went after he and Goldsworthy
departed is not known. A couple of
days afterwards warrant was issued for
Goldsworthy's arrest, the parents of
Williams thinking he had Murdered the
young man. Sheriff Cody went to Den
yer, arrested Goldsworthy and brought
him back to this city. A preliminary
hearing was had before Justice Hooper
and as the evidence introduced was too
himsy to hold Goldsworthy, the case was
dismissed. Goldsworthy at the hearing
told straightforward story of what had
occurred on the evening that he and
Williams had been out until the time he
left him at the post office. While he es-
tablished his innocence before the court
yet the people were OF the belief he
kaew something Of the disappearance of
the missing boy. In the meantime
searching parties were organized and nu-
merous abandoned shafts OF the county
were inspected with the hope OF finding
the body OF Williams but to no success.
An old mine in Black Hawk was un-
watered but no body was revealed. The
search continued for about ten days and
was finally abandoned and nothing more
was thought of the supposed murder
until the sensational article appeared in
the Times Saturday evening.
According to the statements made by
the woman who furnished the informa-
tion to the paper, murder had been
com mitted and in order to hide the crime
Williams was put out OF the way for
| fear he would reveal what he knew
about it. 1t is supposed that the muir
der of Williams occurred on the Thurs
day evening after he left Goldsworthy,
the former having returned to the bawdy
house on the hill. The Times informant
claims that the body OF Williams was
thrown down an old shaft 200 feet deep,
containing about POO feet OF water,
where the body of the first man who
was murdered was placed
A w. Henderson. former resident OF
this city, now living in Denver, a brother.
in law OF the missing lad was interview
ed by the Times reporter and had the
following to say
Not long ago a man, whose name
will not mention, came to me and told
me a strange story of a woman who said
that she was with Williams the night he
left his home for the last time. From
what she said it seems that not only was
Jack killed and his body thrown into the
shaft Of one OF the mines, but another
man also. ! do not know Just how the
tragedy came about, but it seems that
the other man was killed first and then
to cover up the first crime second mur
! der was committed. Before Jack was
i killed one OF the men said that he knew
too much, and that the only safe way
was to put him where he could make no
trouble. The woman who told this story
has kept her knowledge OF the crime a