The Dawson journal., 1884-09-25
A C0NYER'S CRANK.
he DeSecrates Il Cemetery and Promis-
cuOuSly Applies the Torch.

Oo1VuLtAdT IOrnlnS. OQ
last Friday night some one enter
ed the "Rockdale Cemetery" and
demolished several monuments.
breaking them off and removing
them from their accustomed place.
The excitement ran high Saturday
and every effort was made to get
some clue as to who the parpetra-
tor was, but no discovery was
made.
About 9 o'clock Saturday night
the Methodist church was discoy-
to be on fire, the alarm was sound
ed and every effort was made to
extlnguish the flames and failed.
1t required the combined efforts
Of the entire town to save the resi-
dences of Mr.. NJ. W. Ewings and
&. Thorn, adjoining to the church
lot. Our mayor then put out ten or
twelve extra watchmen. We had
no more fires until Sunday morn
ing about II o'clock. While SER
vices were being held at the Baptist
church, the fire alarm was again
sounded, and it was discovered
that the residence of Mr.. James
d. Winburn had been fired. This
was extinguished, as it was discov-
covered in time to save not only
Mr.. Winburn's residence but the
entire town, as it is in the most
thickly settled portion of our
town, and if the fire had gotten
under way the entire business por-
tion Of the city would have been
lost, together with many resi-
dences. An hour later Johnson 81
Co.'S ginnery was discovered to be
on fire, and was extinguished.
We had no more alarms until San
day night about 8 o'clock, when
three or four houses in the south
ern part Of town were set on fire.
The fires last night enabled our
people to get on track Of the fend
who did the work, and about $50
o'clock Thomas Marston was dis
covered by about fifteen young
men, who were pursuing him, put
ting the torch to the barn of Mr..
B. G. Wallace. They fired on him
and he ran, and was pursued and
lost. Later he was found hid in the
weeds near the Christian church.
Heran again and was shot down
and captured. He has several
painful wounds ds-one pistol shot in
the bowels, also one in the temple,
one in the side and three in the
breast. He has a load of bird shot
in the right arm aud side, and sew
eral shots in his head. Drs, Stewart
and Rosser attended him, and say
that his wounds are not necessari-
ly dangerous but are
very painful. He is now in
charge of Sheriff Mitchell. Mars
ton admits firing the church, and
other houses and says he did the
mischief at the cemetery. He is
thought by some to be crazy. He
says the Lord was with him and
assisted him in the work. Mars
ton is a son Of Mr.. JOS, T. Marston,
a carpenter, who has lived here for
many years, and enjoyed the re-
spect of the entire community,
is nineteen on twenty years Of age,
about six feet tall, and very strong.
He has never been considered We
ry bright, yet no one thought him
crazy. He would assist in put
tinn cut the fires he had kindlad, !
and would talk about catching and
hanging the man who did it.
The Methodist met this morning
and appointed committees to So
licit subscriptions to build them
another house Of worship. They
propose building a fine church.
The house burned costs $4,000.
LATER.-The commitment trial
of Thomas Marston, the incendia-
ry, has been postponed until he
either gets better or dies. His
is somewhat worse. The
wound in his stomach may prove
fatal. He is kept under strong
guard at the court house.
DR.. w. NJ. Pitts:
Dear Sir; Pitts Carminative
sells well. [ use it in my own
family and it gives satisfaction.