, 1879-03-29
wero sleeping tho sleep Of Innocence, totally
unaware OF tho commission OF the crime That
made them orphana.

made them orphana.
TITnEH AXES
were found IN tho house, hut rs 'hero wero no
stgns Of blood upon tlcm, Il WAS clearly owl
dent Tint they lad mt been used In tho per
pptrntton Of tho foul decd. Tic news Of tho
double murder spread rapidly, all,l stops were
Immediately tnkcn to strure tho arrest OF Tho
guilty person or persons. Suspicion was direct
ed toward Knox Martin, colorcd, who had
worked for WhttfmicT. anl WIN Ind been dis
charged oil account of d misunderstanding,
which resulted in subsequent threats on thg
past Of Martha 10 the clIoct that he would get
even with l!s former employer. About o'ctock
On the morning tho bodies wcro found, Martin
crossed Clces' Ferry, anl his strange manner
attracted the attention Of tho ferrymnn. who
observed particularly that he wore blacls silk
hat aid mn Wercoat. On the 10th Of
January. George Berry, negro who was also
suspeeted q be!ng concernc,' a. the murder, mot
Maftln In Nashville, hntl told him that u was
reuortetl tint ho tAlarsfn) had killed Mr. and
Mrs. Whlttimtcr, aid that he was guilty.
MARTIN THEN AoENowLEpaEp HIS QUILT,
nn.l Berry departed In scnrch ot officers to mr.
rest thu murderer. 0(llccr Fletcher, urtall
Pccblcs, J. lsloonstcin, atd Berry went to tho
hcrlantl alley. where Martin, tho slayer, was
discovered. Upon scolnE the Nunrtcttc, Martin
tried to cscnpc, a,ul was ls,rsued by fecblcs,
VIM iscd ut 1iini. Thu bullet sped Wide Vt its
mark, nit! wont through tho artn Of n coeurcsi
girl stnn,lng near. Martin Wns captured mud
conveyed to thu Police Station, being followed
to that place by largo crOwd, who freely Ill
dulgetl in threats Of lSnchng. lie vas after
ward removed to the JUL, u order that hc might
reaching Tue jail, he nlado full confession, say
i,l, HAT lle had had dispute with Wiltttlnier
III regard to wages claimed to bo due hlll, aill
That
4 coLoRgn WITCH
told him that Whlttimirr would kill him. Ilo
thcrcupon resolved to murder Whtttfmier, nlMl
January, and struck 1fhltt!tntcr on the head
and face With wngon-spokc.. Mrs. Whtttttnier
was awakened by tte sound Of tic blows, Ana
the rniflan then turned hts attention to ltr- Ilc
then left thu building, taklng . hat, cont, ser.
eral articles Of jcwelry, md fifty cents. llo
slept n1l night under a stack Of hay On the
premises, and, crossing thn ferry IN thu following
morning. ca1no tu Nashville. where llc rcn,alnc1
until taken In custody. Public fcellng run Elght
n1,l grave fears wero entertained that he would
be lynellcd. Gov. Marks mud Sheriff Prica tonk
PROMPT etcps to prevent big being mobbcu. lio
was removed to Gnllatln, where he rc1nn!l.cd un-
til tho 9Th Of January. lfc WIS tlen brought
pleaded "not cutltv," Ills trial was set fer nc
10Th Of February, u.tl W. 4. Tl0mn, X. Z.
White and W. n. Hart assigned rs counsel to
defend lIlnl.
TIE TRIAL
mud arrangements consumed three days. the
e@urt.room being ;icnscly , crowded a!l the time.
Of moro than Ordinary ability, and ono Of tue
best criminal lawyers In thu city, conducted tla
defense, and made extraordinary efforts In be-
halt Of his client, bus witiinut SUCCESS tho jury
rendering verdict OF guilty Of murder iii thu
frat 1nrrnr. j.