Already there is a clue to the identity of the body found near Mount Vernon, on the old Jackson road, on the 1st inst. Linus C. Coolidge, formerly of Lebanon, Ohio, and we believe for some years a steamboat captain, left Denver on the 5th day of September last, with a load of freight mainly for South Clear Creek, since which time he has not been seen, although he expected to be gone but a few days. In his load he took one barrel of vinegar for Golden City, which was not delivered, and the merchant here of whom it was bought had to duplicate the bill. When Coolidge left Denver, he was accompanied by a man named Pense, who returned five days after, and told Mr. Garnhart--with whom Coolidge had left his trunk, clothing, &c.,--that he--Coolidge--had altered his mind, and instead of going to Clear Creek, had gone to California Gulch, and probably would not be heard from for some time. A day or two after, Pense started suddenly for the states, on the plea that his brother was sick.
    Since finding the body, the same vinegar barrel shipped by Mr. Coolidge has been found near the same place. The keys found on the body will be here in a day or two, when, if they are found to fit the locks of Coolidge's baggage, there will no longer be a doubt of his identity.
    It now seems almost certain that Coolidge was murdered between this and Golden City, which accounts for the vinegar barrel not reaching its destination. The murderer--then concealing the body in the wagon--proceeded by the Jackson Hill road, which is now very rarely traveled, to the spot indicated, where he concealed the body and the barrel, and probably left the country with the team and other property. And here we must say that suspicion points strongly to the man Pense.
    Gov. Steele informs us that the body could never have been found but by the merest accident. He was tracking a deer, when he was startled by seeing the fingers of a man's hand protruding from the snow, and returning home procured some of his neighbors and proceeded to make the investigations before published.

Source:

Unknown, "The Mystery Unraveling," Weekly Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado, Wednesday, 9 January, 1861, page 2.