Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-06
A CRIMINAL MONSTER.

Arrest and Confession of John Paine,
the HOrse.Taief 900 Murderer aud
House Burner-A Terrible Array OF
Crime.
John Hooser, alias John Pointer, alias
John Paine, was arrested last week for the
murder of Geo. Everett, in Obion county,
and after a preliminary examination, was
placed in the jail at Troy. The Hickman
Courier thus refers TO bis guilt, and relates
his confession;
The guilt of the prisoner was soapparent
that it was with the greatest difficulty the
ufiicerra and counsel could restrain the citizens
from inAicting instant and summary pun
lshment upon the offender Besides a pref
Nv well authenticated report Of the prisoner
having made full and complete confess
sion Of his guilt 10 associate prisoners while
In Jail and to other parties, served still
further TO enrage the people. Better coun-
sci prevailed, however, and the prisoner is
now safely lodged in Jail. The confession
which we believe 10 be true in substance,
runs in this manner: The prisoners
real name Is John Paine. He was
born in BelleYille, Illinois, and is
now thirty years Of age. He served du-
ring the whole of the late war in the
Confederate army belonging to Naughn's
regiment, 18th Tennessee, and at the close
Of the war settled near Smyrna, Middle
Tennessee. IL was at this place, we believe,
he was married 10 Young lady named
Miss Smith, who is said to be Of very good
family, and commenced the honorable pur-
suit Of farming. He soon became involved
in horse stealing scrape in which his
wife's uncle lost several head, and for
which be was compelled TO leave that To-
calty. He next settled at Jacksonport,
Arkansas whe.e he was soon followed by
his wife and little child, and again engaged
in farming. This time, he says, he was
blessed with a most promising prospect,
bat yielding to his evil inclination to spec
ulate in other peoples horse flesh, he was
again compelled to fly the country. In his
fight from Jacbsonport, he sought refuge
in Memphis, where he landed with some
$500 in cash in his pocket Here he fell
into association with sharper if not bigger
knaves than himself, who robbed him Of
the last cent Of his ill-gojten gains. Thus
moneyless and friendleas, he started on his
last and fatal trip through Tennessee. Near
Jackson, Madison county he says he stole
the large fine horse upon which he was cap
ured, and the description Of which lead TO
20 strongly to his arrest and Identification.
From Jackson, rnmor says, he proceeded
10 Humboldt, Tenn, where in an effort 10
rob Hills railroad saloon, he killed the bar
tender named Loole, while asleepin his bed,
hycleayinghis skull in twain with Ratchet
His confession brings him next 10 the burn
ing of Mr.. Sloan's barn in this county. He
saws he was out Of money-desperate,
and determined to make raise, and that
his mind was wrought to any efIort-blood
fire, anything TO accomplish his purpose
lie fired at the dog in Sloan's yard in order
10 intimidate the old man, and accompa-
MED the demand for fifty dollars with the
threat of burning his house 10 Brighten him
into compliance. Failing in his purpose, he
fired and burned the sbarn and contents,
from a wicked ambition to excite terror
aud alarm, and perhaps, thereby to be-
wilder and confuse any trace towards de-
lection. The next day, bright and early, he
was in Hickman, and we believe engaged
in shipping some things by river. Upon
the suspicion of one OF the Sloans, officer
Geo. Wilbur prepared 10 arrest him-but
Mr.. Wilbur, not feeling sufficiently war
ranted in the act, did not close in upon him
very tightly-the prisoner broke, and sue
ceeded in making his escape. He retired
about one and half miles from the town,
where he secreted himself and horse in the
woods until near night A little while
before night he santered out upon the high
way, and proceeded down the Troy road.
About seven miles from town he overlook
the poor, Inflated, old man, Everett, pre-
pairing to camp for the night. He engaged
in conversation with him; asked him
whore he had been, the price Of Hour,
and other questions. All Of which
Mr.. Everett answered respectfully aud
kindly. The prisoner thought be under
stood from Mr. Everett's conversation that
he had about 500 in money, and there
fore resolved TO return 10 his camp that
night and rob him. He proceeded 10 a
creek not far from where the old man was
camping, and again concealed himself and
horse, where he remained until moon-up.
He then returned 10 the camp where he
committed the foul, atrocious murder with
which he is charged His first object was
not 10 Kill the old man, but to rob him OF
his money afterwards he became persuaded
from his Judgment Of the man that he
wonld meet with stubborn resistance should
he awake, and he resolved upon killing
him in his sleep He raised the cover OF
the wagon, with pistol cooked in hand, and
gazed in upon the Oldham sleeping soundly
and innocently, the calm and quiet couute-
nance rejecting the image of Immortality
his heart failed him-and he turned in
voluntarily from the wagon-the act I'M
performed. For FIVE successive times he
returned 10 the old man wagon and raised
the curtain before he could work his
courage TO the fatal act. The fifth time he
placed his pistol to old man Everetts head
-fred-and the soul Of George Everett
unsummoned and unwaned, bid farewell
TO the scenes of this world. He then
robbed the old man Of his money knife,
and socks. and commenced his fight, upon
which he was arrested as above stated.
We hear rumors connecting him with
the burning Of Lewis house last spring
and various other crimes, but 1t is not
sufficiently definite TO state.