Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-01
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF JOHN c. COLT.

In September of 1S41 the entire
 country was stirred by the coldblooded
 killing of Samuel Adams, a highly
 respected printer of New York city.
 No such deep and widespread excite
 ment had for many years attended any
 other of the numerous murders com mttted for pecuniary fnotives. The
 deed was done by John c. Colt, the author of the system of bookkeeping
 and penmanship bearing his name,
 and brother of the we'll known inven-
 tor of the revolver.
 The reason for this murder was as
 uncalled for and upon as small a prov ocation as was the murder of Dr.
 Parkman, the millionaire of Boston, by Prof. Webster of Harvard uuiver- sIty. Colt had for some time owed
 Adams bill for printing which he was unprepared to pay. The final call made by Adams at Colts room on roadway for settlement of the ac- count resulted in tragedy.
 For some days the mysterious ab- sence of MT Adams was the subject of universal comment in the newspaper press. The discovery of the murder was made through the instrumentality of MT. Wheeler. who coupled a room adjoining that of Mir. Colt. About 4 o'clock on the day of MT. Adams dis appearance MT. Wheeler thought he heard an unusual noise in Colts room and was induced to go to the door and rap.
 Not receiving any answer, Wheeler looked through the keyhole and saw two hats upon a table and Colt kneel- ing upon the floor, as if scrubbing 1t. After waiting a little while MT. Wheeler peeped into the keyhole again
 and saw Colt still engaged in the same operation. This excited his suspicion l and he caused a person to watch at 1 the door all night. In the morning Colt was seen to take a box about four feet long and two high down. stairs. The box was directed to some
 body in St. Louis. via New Orleans.
 MT. Wheeler gave information of these facts to the mayor. who immediately instituted search for the box. It was found after some difficulty on board of the ship Kalamazoo. and in it the l body of Mr. Adams, wrapped up in
 sailcloth and sprinkled with salt and | chloride of lime.
 Colt was at once arrested and an indictment for wiliful and deliberate 1 murder found against him. His trial | resulted in his conviction, and. not withstanding the efforts of numerous and powerful friends and the lavish 1 use of money in his behalf the fatal day arrived when he was to pay the extreme penalty of the law for his crime. At the trial he continued to
 harshly of the press. which he accused of being in scheme to hound him to 1 his death.
 There were many picturesque things in connection with the trial and the death of Colt. At II o'clock on the | Dr. Anthon visited his cell in com paily with Colts brother for the pur- | pose of marrying the murderer to his mistress, Caroline Henshaw. The
 ceremony was performed, Colt mani | festing a deep interest in their child. He also handed a package containing 1 $500 for it's benefit to Dr. Anthon, who proffered to become sponsor for it. | Following the ceremony, two of Colts former friends, John Howard
 Payne and Lewis Gaylord Clarke, wis., | tied him. After call from the sher- l if and a visit and prayer from Dr. Anthon, Colt asked to be alone until 1 the last moment This was about { | o'clock. His cell was closed and he 1 was left alone until about twenty min- i utes of 3. when some friends of the | sheriff experimenting that an attempt ] at suicide might be made, desired | Deputy Sheriff Hillyer to go to Colts | cell door and request to wish him | good-by. Colt at the time was pacing l to and fro in the cell.
 '. From this time on he was not in- 1 terrupted until five minutes to 4. al ! which time Sheriffs Hart and Wester- | welt. dressed in uniform. proceeded tC l his cell On the keeper opening the
 door and going within there lay Coll on his back. stretched out at full length on the bed. quite dead. 4 claspknife, like a., small dirk knife | with a broken handle was sticking 1T l his heart. He had stabbed himseli | above the fifth rib on the left side l His temples were yet warm. His vest | was open and blood had flowed freely His body lay as straight on the bet as if laid out for funeral by others. l Most strange to say. just at this mo. ment the large cupola of the prisor was discovered to be on fire, and
 burned furiousiy.