The New York herald., 1876-01-22
THE FATAL LEAP.
Execution Of Marshall Grain in South
ern Illinois.
4 HORRIBLE VENDETTA
Justice Takes Her First InStalment of VGn-
gcanCG for Many Crimes.

MERTON, Ill., JAN q, 1876.
Marshall Grain, the young man who suffered the
full penalty Of the law to-day one OF the chief
actors vendetta that aroused the attention OF the
Governor and nearly all the citizens ofthe State, owing
its deadly character and the mystery surrounding it,
Six human beings fell victims to the feud each being
killed by ambushed assassins.
During the years through which the blood of these
crimes is scattered the feud of two families-rhe
history OF which is too long TO be detaed-had be-
come that of several neghborhoods, ranged two
opposite sides. Sisney, the victim Of the crime for
which Grain was hung, had been active in the
detta and II cannot be said that his fate was not
merited. But Cram was the first victim whom the
law effectively clutched, and his doom was that Of
death Many who have stained their hands in blood
in this feud have been punished
Toward the close of 1874 while ssney and youth
named Hindman sitting in the formers house,
playing a game Of domnoes near window, with tho
curtain down. two men in moccasined feet took aim
at their shadows and fired. Ssney's arm was shat
tered and Hindman's body resembled a sieve Both
recovered and Ssney, to escape the clutches of his
inveterate enemies removed to Carbondale, in jack
son county, adjoining Williamson.
BUT sIsNEY WAS DOOMED,
and for his death Marshall Grain died the scafold to-
day. The house occupied by Ssney at the time of the
tragedy is a story Frame with roof extending
long porch, reaching from the bottoms OF tho
top windows Three windows and door are in the
the parIor two OF the windows giving light the
room. Sisney, after the second attempt his life
usually retired earynever being outside of his house
after dark on the 2sth Of last July storm, violent in
its character had passed over Carbondale ceasng in
the evening. The atmosphere was dark and heavy,
and rain drpped from houses and trees, and the alleys
and streets were extremely muddy. delayed train
on the Illinois Central Railroad brought named
Stanley who visited the house Of Ssney, after eight
O'Clock and found Sisney in bed. The visitor was de-
termned to see Sisney although he seemed to know
that it would be difficult to get that gentleman from his
l.oA Aoho ,kAr xv1c harm nnn nnn
lady finally brought her father into the paror. He
seated himself in armchair preliminary con-
versaton ensped, when the window curtain was sud
denly agtated Sisney said TO Stanley, 'some person
is on the porch" Stanley raised OF the
tain, peered out through wire screen, and replied,
''No there" at the same moment dropping the
CURTAIN A loud report followed anda
LARGE AS MANS HAND
plainly visible in the breast of the captain.
The two counties became aroused, and large
rewards offered Search was made for
Grain and Lowe was detailed Tor this very mpor-
tant and perilous undertaking. At first the trail
visible but by degrees 1t was asceraned that the
assassin had gone westward, across the Mississippi
River, heavily armed Then commenced a pursuit
through Missouri the St Francis River through
Cache swamp and on to Black River TO small Arkan
town called Pocahontas. Grain was found in
house asleep exhausted from his long flight rife
and shotgun stood near his couch, and pistol was
his person. When aroused from his slumbers he did
not attempt an escape. He said that he had travelled
500 miles on foot On the way back whiskey was
given him. and he revealed the fact that he had assisted
in the murdersBaker being the of ssney and
Music that of Spence He later confessed that he had
killed Captain George W. sisney for the of $500
John Bullner being the man who employed him 10
commit the crime; that Music was his accomplce and
that the latter had murdered Spence. He placed
in the Murphysboro jackson County, Jail, and by
strategy made hi escape but was soon recaptured.
From Murphysboro he taken to Marion
and lodged in jail In that town he
was arraigned for trial and acknowledged his
guilt throwing himself on the mercy of the Court.
Judge Crawford sentenced him to be hanged in Marion
the 2lst day OF January, 1870 Being remanded to
Jail he commenced series Of prayers getting up
gious enthusiasm and wrote letters with the industry
of Joyce OF crooked poison fame. While he pray
ing and singing and giving advice to the youth Of
America he managed to cut a hole through the jail,
and only discovered in time TO stop successful
flight
EXECUTION.
Marshall T. Grain executed at this place at
O'Clock to-day. When brought from his cell he walked
to a window and addressed 5000 persons
sembed saying that 1t was duty he owed to God and
man TO confess that his soul was blood stained. His
voice was clear and firm denoting emotion what
ever. After his address he read poem he had pre-
pared for the OCCASION and then walked TO the trap
few minutes before II sprung he said, 81 am the
murderer Of William Spence and George W. Ssney.
have nothing more to say"
There no bravado in his manner, but display Of
that was startling.