The Madisonian

THE LATE MURDER IN NEW YORK.

Further Particulars.—Examination of the Prisoner.—The late dreadful murder, perpetrated as it was in the middle of the day, in the heart of our city, and in one of its most public thoroughfares, continues to be the subject of conversation among all classes of the community. It is rarely that we have the painful duty to record a crime parallel in enormity to this not so much perhaps of the act itself but of the cool and calculating deliberation which has marked the subsequent circumstances, in order to conceal the deed.

The fact of Mr. Adams having called on Colt the Friday the murder was committed, is established almost conclusively by a Mr. Wells, who, it appears, had received orders from Colt to ship a quantity of his books, which Adams had printed, to Philadelphia, and Wells called on Adams between two and three o'clock in the afternoon of that day, to know if it was right to ship them on account of Colt. Adams said it was all right, as he was to receive the proceeds; but being told by Wells that Colt claimed the proceeds Adams replied, "This must not be; the books are mine; Colt is still owing me for them; I will go and see him about it." He probably then immediately started, and was seen no more until his mangled remains were discovered on Sunday.

John C. Colt, the supposed murderer, is a young man of gentlemanly appearance and address, about five feet 9 inches in height, with dark brown curling hair and whiskers meeting under the chin. His countenance is exceedingly prepossessing, and bespeaks anything but that ferocity of character which has characterized this dreadful deed. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and is said to be descended from one of the most respectable families of that State. He is a grandson of the Hon. John Caldwell of Hartford, and son of Christopher Colt of the same place. His brother is well known in this city as the inventor of a patent rifle, and a pistol of peculiar construction.

The prisoner is himself a man of excellent acquirements, and his system of book-keeping is highly commended. For the printing of this he was indebted to Adams, which debt was doubtless the cause of his untimely and cruel death.

The prisoner still maintains the same indifference to his situation, that he has evinced ever since his arrest. Indeed the deep and well laid plan to destroy the evidences of his guilt, and his coolness and self-possession in carrying them out, exhibit a firmness of nerve most extraordinary. It is evident that he was engaged in trying to erase the stains of blood, and packing the body in the box, from the afternoon of Friday until Saturday morning, when he was heard driving the nails. He accompanied the carman to the ship, and subsequently applied at the office of the shippers and procured a bill of lading.

Another instance of his coolness is given. On Thursday evening, a week after he had committed the murder, Colt called at the store of Mr. Adams, and inquired of the foreman if Mr. Adams was at home. He was told that he was not, when he hastily remarked, "Oh, I remember, I have seen an advertisement that he was missing. I hope nothing has happened to him. He has worked for me some time. He was a fine man, and always treated me well."

When conveyed to the upper police (where he has been confined since his arrest) on Sunday night, he thanked Justice Taylor for the manner in which he had conducted the affair, and for sparing as much as possible the feelings of his relatives and friends—but he remarked, "I don't think they treat me well with regard to my meals, they don't bring my dinner on a clean plate, but on one that has been used before."

Such is his apparent indifference to his dreadful situation.

He is disposed to be very communicative. Indeed, Justice Taylor has found it necessary to check him repeatedly. That the murder was premeditated, few if any believe. Colt is an exceedingly irritable, high spirited young man, and doubtless the circumstances which exasperated the other and goaded him mad ness, and in a moment he seized the hatchet and inflicted the fatal blow, and afterward battered the face in the dreadful manner that has been described, until every lineament of the countenance was totally destroyed.

It is said that the watch found in the trunk of the woman kept by Colt, and identified as having been in the possession of Adams, was in fact Colt's property, but deposited with him as collateral security for the debt.

The female in whose possession the watch was found is not the wife of Colt, as even her own relatives, who are very respectable, supposed. She had been kept by him for some time, and is now within a few months of her confinement. She was discharged it appears after her examination—but we presume is now in custody, as she will become a material witness in the case.

Justice Taylor is still pursuing his inquiries, and has succeeded in finding at the residence of this woman a carpet bag, containing among other things a quantity of papers smeared with blood, as if they had been used to wipe the hands. A shirt was also found, nearly new, and of a size to fit the prisoner; the wristband of which is stained with blood, and the collar torn open, as if violently done in taking off the garment.

Colt has been in close confinement in one of the cells beneath the upper police office, and is kept in irons, and every means taken to prevent his committing self-destruction, a result he evidently contemplates. His great wish is to be shaved, and he has made frequent and urgent requests to be allowed a razor for that purpose, which, of course, has been refused him.

The Examination.—At three o'clock yesterday, pursuant to the requirements of the statute, the prisoner was brought out for examination. His counsel (Messrs. Emmet and Morril) having previously had consultation with him, they were afterward joined by Dudley Selden, Esq.

The prisoner made a strong effort to maintain his firmness, and succeeded to a miracle, though the effort was clearly visible. His face was of a ghastly paleness; his eyes deeply sunk in his head, and fearfully wild in their expression. The few hours since the verdict of the inquest has been rendered, had evidently been those of intense suffering, of deep mental anguish. He, however, walked firmly to the bar, and assumed a composure which, it was clear, was not natural.

Justice—"Where were you born?"

Prisoner—"I was born in Hartford, Connecticut."

Justice—"How old are you?"

Prisoner—"I am thirty years of age."

Justice—"Where do you reside?"

Prisoner—"In the city of New York."

Justice—"Of what profession or trade are you?"

Prisoner—"A teacher of book-keeping."

Justice—"Are you a married man?"

Prisoner—"I decline, under the advice of counsel, answering that or any other question."

Justice "Have you anything to say in relation to the charge which is made against you?"

Prisoner—"I am innocent of the charge."

The prisoner declined answering any more questions, and the paper containing this examination was handed to him to sign, but he refused to do so, and was remanded to his cell. In the course of the afternoon he was removed to the city prison, there to await his trial.

It was the intention of the district attorney to lay the papers before the grand jury empanelled yesterday in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, though it is not at all probable that the case will be tried at the present term.

We have been requested to say, in connection with this affair, that the captain of the Kalamazoo has co-operated in every way with the Justice and officers, in making the necessary search; both he and the mate afforded them every facility, and would willingly have relanded the whole of the freight, if necessary to the discovery.—N. Y. Express.