The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-16
A DIABOLICAL DRAMA.
The Closing Scenes in the William
son County Vendetta Plot.
AN oDIoUs ORDER.

OBSERVANCE OF THE COMPACT - THE
KILLING OF CAPT. sIsNEY-PAYMENT OF
BLOOD MoNEY-EFToRTs TO WIN A CON-
observation-disclosures FOR THR DEFENSE.
The Cairo correspondent of the Springfield
Register gives the closing chapter in the
Williamson county vendetta case: After
killing Spence the three Crains-Jep, Bill
and Marshall-left the store where the crime
was committed, and walked together dis
lance of a quarter OF a mile or more. The
conversation was in reference to what should
be done Ia the event that any of the party
was arrested. Black Bill said he be-
longed to the Ku-Klux. Big Jep asked If he
COULDN'T be initiated. Bill replied that be
could, and that it would be a good thing, If
we were taken, to belong to the order. AT
| the end of about quarter OF a mile from
the store, witness parted from the others,
went lone and to bed. In his cross-exam-
inatiou, which was rigid and lengthy,
Musick detailed bis personal history, from
the time he was ten years of age up to the
| time be was arrested, last August, but as 1t
was an evensless life, shiitless and thrift
less. the story will scarcely bear rehearsal.
he WAS IN THE REBEL SERVICE,
as a member of Col. Adam Johnson's 18th
kentucky cavalry. He fought at Fort Dom
elson; got out of the army in 1868, and re-
turned to Jefferson county. From this time
until the year 1878, be drifted hither and
thither, working awhile and losfing awhile,
and leading what may safely be termed
purposeless and dissipased life. In the year
1874 be commenced working at Mr.. Lam
drums mill, near Evansville, and it was here
tsht he became acquainted with the Grains,
through whom he became implicated
he was testifyiDg. Witness lived
near Marshall Grain and became
intimate with him. He (Marshail) first
asked witness ito go in with him in these
crimes" in July. Witness and Marshall at
tended the Fourth of July celebration In
Murphysboro together; and one night dur
ing our absence some one shot into Mar
shali's house, fairly Kidding the bed upon
which he usually slept. When we returned
and he had found out what had been done
he came TO me again and told me he was
going to have his revenge. He believed
John Ssney to be the man who shot into
his house, and he again asked me if /
would help him out should he get into
trouble. 1t was his purpose, he said,
TO KILL, NOT TO STEAL.
I told him would help him out. 1 had
been drinking. The witness was here
asked il he would have sworn to lie, and
thus made good his promise. He replied:
"If was as drunk as i was when made
the promise, think would have done So"
From this point the witness continued sub
stantially as follows: Marshall told John
Bulliner that (the witness) now belonged
to the gang, and would swear us out of
trouble. Bulliner replied that If went
back on them, the next man killed would
be Sam Musick. Issw Bulliner pay Marshall
fifteen dollars, and heard him say he would
pay him the balance when he sold his
wheat. The fifteen dollars was part of the
$3.50 that was to be paid for killing Capt.
SisneY. was at Carbondale the day of the
killing, and saw Marshall in Boards lum.
Der yard. He said he had come to town to
kill Sisney. He gave me his boots and coat.
His boots hurt his feet. / saw him next day.
He told John Bulliner how be had killed
Sisney. He had waited around so long that
be was about to give up the Job, when ODE
s anley visited Sisney's house, and he Mar
shslD then got the chance he had been wait
ing for, ana used it. Allen Baker said that
thereason be didn't take
HAND IN THE KILLING OF sIsNEY
was because it rained. The witness was now
questioned at great length upon his testi-
mony relating to the killing OF Spence, but
without drawing out any facts which have
not slready communicated to you. Refer
ring to his escape from the county and his
subsequent arrest, Musick testified SUBJ
SthnbldilN ds lOAlONSs nO lIT0l0Ndub
and urimportsnt details: On Tuesday after
the killing of Spnece, left the country be-
cause 1 was afraid OF the parties with whom
was acting. / mean the parties concerned
in the murder of Spence and
sisney. Marshall Grain came near
killed Spence. We couldn't find bottle of
whisky that had hidden, and be took that
as an intimstion that intended to betray
him. l proceeded thence to Cairo, and from
there across the Mississippi river to Green
fields landing, where l stayed with Mr..
Brewer, my brother-in-law. Four or five
weeks afterwards / was In Cairo, and while
near the postoffice was arrested by Con-
stable Frank Lowe, of Marion, and deputy
sheriff OF Alexander county. In an effort to
draw me into confession, on next day, Lowe
said that the man who would tell all about
the Williamson county troubles would be
set up, selling goods; and that the principal
witness against me was Marshall Grain.
When 1 was in the Marion Jail one man
told me to have no fears;
WOULD GO CLEAR.
When the same man went down stairs, / put
my ear to the floor and heard him say: "By
G-dI he'll go to the peniteptiary for the
balance of his lifetime" Others told me to
have no fear Of hanging; that the governor
would reprieve me. 1 told these parties
drunk in bed. But finally told Mr.. Lam
drum the truth of the whole matter; and,
since then, have never denied being con-
cerned in the Spence murder, or told any
story about the affair different from that
which told Mr.. Landrum. 1 have tetsi-
fed three times, and as nearly as could
| L always told the "true story"
And this, with what has already been laid
before your readers, Is the sum and SUBJ
stance of Samuel Musick's testimony. The
testimony given by the other witnesses for
the prosecution was corroborative of that
! given by Musick. Mr.. Lsndrum swoIe that
he saw the weeds broken at the point and
in the manner described by Musick. An
other witness swore to the finding
Spence's pocketbook at the point on the
silrosd where il was, according to Musick,
thrown by Marshall Grain
ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER,
and Mrs. Wsggoner, who keeps board
house In Evansville, testified that Jep