Birmingham state herald., 1897-05-16
{THE CONVECTION RAPE CASE Governor Johnston Orders Dun- . son Put Under Arrest
 AND INVESTIGATION HELD
 By the Grand Jury In Order That Justice May Be Done.
THE SHERIFF WILL BE ATTACHED
fer the Same Fate For Doreliction of Dutv-Too Rasty Claims Made
 For the Reward.

Montgomery, Ala, May 15.-(Speoial)- The sensation of the Dunson rape case in Covington county has been revived.
 Dunson Is in jail at Andalusia and his victim will be before the grand jury on Monday.
 Sheriff Hart will be impeached for his share in the previous proceedings and the justice of the peace concerned in the pre- vious discharge may also be impeached.
 It will be remembered that Miss Min nie Martin was a school teacher at Lau- rel Hill, Fla. -
 Sometime In last December she went on visit to her aunt in Columbus, Ga.
 Dunson was a livery stable keeper at Searight in Crenshaw county, and from him Miss Martin engaged conveyance to bring her from Laurel Hill across CoVingtCn county to Searight, where she was to take the train for Montgomery. Dunson went himself to Laurel Hill as driver of the conveyance and brought the young lady to Searight
 On her arrival she told the story of the most shameful outrage that ever shocked the people of Alabama. Dunson had taken supply of whisky with him. The drive was to be lonely one across forty miles of country and Miss Martins
 
 any travelling at night. Mrs. Berry had a friend on the route where Dunson agreed he would stop over night. He did not stop with his friend, but drove on rapidly and at lonely place in the night stopped and compelled the young woman to submit to his lusts. She knew his daughter Marry ard appealed to him by his love of his own daughter to spare ]. ! ) heri The story aroused great indignation Hod Martin went to Columbus and was there examined by physician and found to be badly in jured.
 The governor offered reward of $4O0 a for the arrest of Dunson and promptly sss wrote the sheriffs of Covington and Cren- z-shaw counties that he would hold them to strict accountability if they did not do their full duty in bringing Dunson to trial The governor heard rumors from time TO time about Dunson being about Searight and in Texas and Florida. Finally he received definite information that Dunson was at DeFuniak Springs, Fla, where he was arranging with the stepfather of Miss Martin to compromise the case. That und r duress and threats she had signed a paper a aroefns not to prosecute him or appear as a witness 10 ner or her s.tepfa ther. Also, that Dun son was to immedis ely return to Sea right, SUIT: nder himself and get the $40o reward for his own capture.
 The governor reC6lVeQ CHlS one day and the next a deputy sheriff of CoVinguon county named Haygood put In his appearance al. the governors office about noon armed with the receipts of the sheriff at Andalusia and the certificate of the probate judge, and claimed the reward Baygood's story was hat he and another deputy named Spicer had - captured Dunson the night before near Searight had travelled across the coun,rY to Andalusia, put Dunson Tn Jail, came naa fs1x Searight, caught the morning train and was in Montgomery before noon for the reward. Thle governor told Haygood he would investigate the matter, and Lhe deputy returned without the money. The claim has not been since renewed.
 The goverror at once wrote the sheriff of Covington. J. F. Hart, charging him as to the safe keeping of Dunson. No reply was made. The sheriff practically per mttcd Dunson to go at large. He was not put in jail, walked the streets under nontnnl guard and even to go to his home in Crenshaw county.
 The justice of the peace at Andalusia promptly set the time for trial, giving only a few days. The citizens employed an attorney, who plead for time to get the witnesses present. The justice re- fused any postp1nement. and there were orr, witnesses present for the prosecution, the only evidence being the paper signed by Miss Martin in Florida Dunson woS discharged, though the offense of which he stood accused was punishable by death.
 The governor was greatly incensed by the whole proceedings and the conduct of the sheriff and the justice of the peace, but kept his ooursel ard ait the same tt:ns energetfcally worked to see that justice be done
 Communication was had with Miss Martin, who had gone to Columbus, Ga. to the home of her uncle. A. M. Kirk patrick, who Is en excellent citizen and an engineer or conductor on the Column bus and Western railroad
 The governor next arranged with So- licitor Parks and Mir Kirkpa trick that am other warrant should be taken out for Dunson and that Miss Martin should ap- pear before the grand jury which meets at pol Andalusia next Monday. Mir. Parks was fully authorized to employ all the agen- cies necessary to bring Dunson to full and. flair trial with the witnesses present % and no chance to escape through snap Judgment
 ( After procuring the warrant, two dep- uties, J. F.. Greene and Harry Adams, > were employed to arrest Dunson and 2 they went to Searight last Thursday. They went to Dunson's stable and while negotiating for a team got the drop on Dunson and effected his arrest without kgiying him time to get out his arms. He had his hand on his pistol and only gave Nup when he saw two determined men at the other end of two revolvers leveled directly at him.
 Court meets at Andalusia Monday and the prosecution will be vigorous and well prepared.
 The governor has giv5n Solicitor Parks written instructions to institute impeach- ment proceedings against Sheriff Hart, of Coxington county, and it is probable thatrthe justice of ths peace who was so probipt in trying Dunson and discharg- s1ns lhimtbefore, will also be mpeached. e(saaIhe governor is also taking steps and vii do all in his power to have every one P P ceaafcerIsed in the attempt to buy off Miss IN a rtfnspur ished for combining a felony skl4e is G. erminea to leave no stone un- iAturned To let the offenders in this shock l xina. .tragedy know that whilst thsy may ssce tjtsSsfor time justice will overtake !