Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-10-20

Two men we're arrested in Franklin
county, Tenn, u few days ago, as the
mnr,leFers Of Elmofe III Horton.
The facts OF this rather extraordinary
case are. that Mr.. Horton, who lived
fourteen miles below Winchester, and
near the mountain, was shot from his
horse by some persons from concealed
place in the corner Of fence, Several
persons heard the shots, and the dead
body was found few minutes after
ward. Upon examination Il was found
that two men had been concealed in a
corner Of the fence, just where the road
made q sudden turn into n little branch,
and from where the horses tracks, and
the place where the body uES found, Il
was clear that he vas shot while the
horse was drinking. The cracks Of the
fence had all been stopped with weeds
except the one through which the gins
we're put This was just before sundowh
Friday evening. Horton was return
ing from town, aud Was within a
mule OF home, in thickly settled conn.
try. there being several houses in sight.
The eoroner's jury gave verdict that
the killing Was done by two unknown
persons.
The death of Mr.. Horton was tele-
grAphed 30 Col A. =. Colyar. of Nash
vile, who At once commenced TO make
inquiries, but found that no one had
left the settlement Taking two or
three reliable men with him, Colyar
went rapidly feom house to honse 20 hear
the story of every man and his family--in-
terrogating each separately-as 20 his
whereabouts ON the day OF the murder I;
and at scho0l.house where the chill
dren were ell examined separately. one
boy stated that boy named Bill Martin
told him that Monroe aud Hop Martin
were out on the mountain side that day
Friday last hunting sheep. This Bill
denied upon examination. Monroe was
was then first seen and his story heard
They agreed that they left the house OF
one OF them about one mile from where
the murder was committed, and that
they both went mp the mountain and
stayed together until they returned. But
one said they came back before sundowu,
and the other that they returned enc
hour after dark.
Without being formally arrested, these
men were kept until the next day, but
not allowed 20 talk to each other. Soon
in the morning. Col Colyar started with
one Of them TO show his trip through
the mountain, which be did, climbing
and clambering until he reached point
at the top OF the mountain between
three and four miles from home. then
returning by n different route. Imme-
diately afterward the other WAS taken and
directed to travel over the route which
they both agreed they had travelled to-
gether only last Friday evening, and he
reached the mountain by route at least
two miles distant from the point where
the other reacned il. The routes, going
and returning, were totally different, and
no man ever took walk with more trepi-
dation than did the last one, knowing
that the other had first been over the
ground. These two men we're born and
bred at the foot of the mountain and
know every path.
This was regarded as the strongest
sort of evidence, but on examining
their shoes il was found that they exact
ly conformed 10 the measures Their
feet fitted the tracks precisely. Both
81 these men lived on a farm adloin-
ing that Of Mr.. Horton, in sight OF
his house. had long been hostile TO him,
and had threatened his life.