The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-25
MARSHALL GRAIN HANGED.
EXIT or ANOTHER or THE WILLIAM
son COUNTY AsShSsINs.
An Illinois Vendetta that hna Already Cost
seven Lives Numbering Men ut 80 Much
Hcnd-Sccnes Around the ScanoId.

An Illinois vendetta that hns Already Cost
seven Lives Numbering Men ut 80 Much
Hcnd-Sccnes Around the ScanoId.
MARION, ILL.,, Jan, 2l.-The williamson
county vendetta, whose climax Of atrocity was
reached last summer, has been for a long time
the chief horror of the state. six families
have figured in 1.-THE Hendersons, Sisneys, and
hissells, on one side tho Bulliners, Grains, and
hinchclns, on the otner. Thus far six persons
have suffered death In the vendetta and to-day
seventh went TO his long account at the hands
Of the Sheriff.
II lie said by some that the seduction Of a
young woman by John Bulliuer was the cause
OF the long and bitter feud; while Others assert
that 1t arose from a difficulty between Capt.
| George w. Sisney and David Bullner, Jr., in
| which one was wounded with a spade and the
| other with bullet The Bulliners are Tennes-
eeehns, and the IIendersons are Kentuckians.
The Buliners settled in Williamson county In
| 1853 They were enterprising, thrifty, and
| wealthy and engaged LARGELY In raising cotton.
| At the close Of the their gin house. a very
| large one, was fred; and then began the trouble
which has thus far sent men out OF the
world. They became involved In quarrels with
| the HenderSons, men Of largo stature, brave,
fighters. Joined the Buliners. aud Sisney Id snti-
| he'd himself with the opposition.
TuR FIRST VICTIM
was old George Bulhncr, who was ambush ed
Dec. IL, 1873, and shot dead, while on his way To
N1rbondulc. The next was David, n son OF old
George. He was going home from church with
his brother and Mrs. Stancil, on SUNDAY nj ght.
| March n. 1874, when tho trio were fired upon by
two men behind fence. David was instantly
| killed and Mrs. Stancu seriously wounded. Two
men. Pleasant and Russell, were arrested on sus-
picion OF having committed the murder, but
| they were released. A few days after the re-
lease Of Pleasant and Russell, that p. Mag IL.
1874. old James W. Henderson was shot In his
held. and before dying he decl red that John
Bulliner. TON Bulliner, ami jim Norris were the
| assassins. Jim Norris was lever arrested. John
| Bulliner stood trial, proved albi, and was
| acquitted.
GeoHe W. sisuey was waylaid al dayhreak
about the middle of June. Just after the acquit-
| tai OF John Bu,llner, hut their caps being damp,
| the men 10 ambush could not discharge their
ward
he fourth murder was on the 9Th of October.
| 1874. near Fredonia- DR.. Vincent Hinchclir, ona
| OF the bultiner partisans, was returning from a
visit To = patient. When within two hundred
Yards OF his house he and hts horse were killed
by shots fired from behind a fence.
| 1t was now time for death In the Henderson
faction. Several attempts were made by the
| Bulllners To accomplish the taking on OF one Of
| their foemen. but wis nor until Juiv ~, 1874
| that they succeeded. George W. Sisney was
| sitting In bis parlur at Carhondale when shot
| was hred through the window and he dropped
| dead.
THE MURDER OF WILLIAM SPENCE.
Three DAYS after Sispey's death. william
| Spence, a wealthy merch liant and prominent eth.
| zen OF Carnondale, was called down into his
| store nv TWO men. VINO pretended they wished
| to make purchase. While tying ns shoes he
| wac shot dead. His body was found the next
| morning nv persons ON their way 20 church, and
| nfty-stve buckshut wounds were found upon
| II. Two outlets had entered his BRAN. Four
| weeks were allowed To elapsc, ana NJ that late
| hour Il. Frank Low, formerly CITY Marshal ~
| Maroon. tegan to investigate tho crime. On the
| eth Of September lie arrested at Giro. one
| gave Information that luculuuted John Bulhner,
| sam, Jep. BLACK bah. and Yellow Bll Grain At
Gainesville, Allen Baker at Du QuoIn. and Mar
All Rr faHl en- At linn fna
| Arb all IN the snort space Of two weeks.
Musick declared that John Bulliner had hired
Marshal Grain for $l60 to kill Sisney, aud that
spence was killed Tor an old crudge.
| On the i;h ~ October lN1i, IT," trial 81 j Ohm
! BulhneT and Allen Baker, fJt being abettOrs aud
accessories TO the killing 81 si-ney, was begun
| before the Circuit Court at Murpn,shnru. In this
| case Marshal Cram and : ,m Musick we're used
as states evidence. bulliner ana B'ker were
! found guilty and sentenced To - wears each IN
State Prison. Sam Cram was examined and dts
charged. Oct Bl 'cK Bill ana Jep cram. hav-
| ing taktna cnlnge Of venue To AexInder coun-
| ". are to &c tried next week Yellow Bi Grain
| WAS admitted 70 bail sam Musick II still IN
| custody.
During The trial OF Bullner and BAKER. Marshall
| WIS caught and securely lodged IN jail. lie was
| removed t. Marion ~ October. aud ON the 2lth
OF that month was Airaipned for the shooting OF
| william spence. 10 this Charge he pleaded
su'ty, and IN ne following day was sentenced
| To be hanged to dav.
| Alter his conviction and sentence he divided
| his time about equally m trying to get his hudy
out of the ~, and 10 prepare MA soul tor
heaven. Gu the 18th Of November he was pap
tzed nv a Ca'npoete minister, aud ON the 2tl
Of December lie eat through the top OF his cell
anu toe ROOT of the 1til anu was
ALMOST At LIBERTY,
when he caught aud again confined. this
time With heavy irons on wrist and ankle, and a
heavy "a ri az his door Just week ugo he
cell exactly opposite. lie got Mus,ck to step 70
his door. and then tried to explode a cartridge
which he mad enclosed in u tin cylinder like a
pistol barrel IL d he succeeded In exploding
toe cartridge, tn RI would h We been more than
the u-u u lack Of music IN the Marion al. How
he got the cartfidle IS one of those tnln-s That
| no fellow cau tnd out. nut nothing Is To De won
| dered nj IN this queer section.
This morning at least 200 strangers crowded
the streets Of the city, ana at II O'Clock the
militia gathered for patrol and guard duty
| around the jail. Grain had uas-cd - comfort
| able night and had eaten a heatty breakfast. Al
the morning he WAS in conversation with rel l.
| tiyes anu TRENDS, and at noon, after taking
leave OF his urosher and his wife, ne was dressed
| IN q white suit with his baptisnal gown over H.,
| and brought out into the hall wnere stood the
gailows Near il was toe collin witch WIS soon
| Ia receive bis LUdv. lie shuddered he
glanced AT IT, uut walked with "a hrm step To the
| open window, and in strong voice addressed
the crowd below IN the these words;
GRAINS DYING STATEMENT.
,GESrhEMET must maxi statement N regard to
IT, am guilty Of king tue i've men. Ny pm snmen,
wiz Judge anu prosper this county. Good nv t. all.
He then reid poem Of twenty four stnnzas
which he had CON posed for the orcasinn- Print
ed copies Of II bad been in circulation all the
morning. ana not man. woman, or enid IN
Marion was to tie found without one. The fol-
! lowing are specimen stanZils, which copy with
| exactness from the original manuscript:
when arrested then
| BY FrIns Lowe you no INN wei
Then tor . reward he dId iOOk
Whiah he would get II dld tell
Then for witness was sent
| gairsi Two men you al no
To joliet allen ort not u went
John buliIer thought or togo
To the Marion Jail tooS
Ana tnelr We stay Tor while
Then Tor my trial dld not look
Then an attdavit did Mo
Tho god christ In my
Ana life or death forever
THIS may he mine the sinful greed
That through H. conquest never
Iuill not then ~ crccds make toast
which M NAV fashion
Nor let my SOU he torn anu tost
By fierce pocmc passion
Enou "a that this faih maintain
which god within ne ieac, es
| Which conqu 70 set through christ and palm.
| The life eiernal reaches.
| When he had finished reading he bowed IN
| the people, walked steadily to the west end Of
| the hail, and took hIS stand upnn the drop. The
| ministers who mad attended him came forward
| one addressed few words OF admonition To
| the small gathering, hymn was sung, IN which
| the doomed man joined with spirit, tho death
| warrant was read, and the hcmpen instrum ent