the confession of John Caldwell Colt
John Caldwell Colt (March 1, 1810 – November 18, 1842),the brother of Samuel Colt of Colt firearm fame, was an American fur trader, bookkeeper, law clerk, and teacher.
In 1842 Colt was convicted of the murder of a printer named Samuel Adams, to whom Colt owed money over the publication of a bookkeeping textbook. Colt killed Adams with a hatchet the previous year in what he claimed was self-defense, but he had afterwards covered up the crime by disposing of the body. When the body was discovered, Colt was the first suspect. The trial became a sensation in the New York press, because of his family connections, the manner of disposal, and Colt's somewhat arrogant demeanor in the courtroom. Colt was found guilty and sentenced to hang in 1842, but committed suicide on the morning of his execution.
Jeffersonian Republican. (Stroudsburg, Pa.), 09 Feb. 1842.
Jeffersonian Republican. (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, February 09, 1842, Image 1 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress
John Caldwell Colt (March 1, 1810 – November 18, 1842),the brother of Samuel Colt of Colt firearm fame, was an American fur trader, bookkeeper, law clerk, and teacher.
In 1842 Colt was convicted of the murder of a printer named Samuel Adams, to whom Colt owed money over the publication of a bookkeeping textbook. Colt killed Adams with a hatchet the previous year in what he claimed was self-defense, but he had afterwards covered up the crime by disposing of the body. When the body was discovered, Colt was the first suspect. The trial became a sensation in the New York press, because of his family connections, the manner of disposal, and Colt's somewhat arrogant demeanor in the courtroom. Colt was found guilty and sentenced to hang in 1842, but committed suicide on the morning of his execution.
Jeffersonian Republican. (Stroudsburg, Pa.), 09 Feb. 1842.
Jeffersonian Republican. (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, February 09, 1842, Image 1 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress
