Year: 1871

Two men were arrested in Franklin county, Tenn, 8 few days ago, as the murderers of Elmore H. Horton.

 The facts of this rather extraordinary case are, that Mr. Horton, who lived fourteen miles below Winchester, and near the mountain, was shot from his horse by some persons from concealed place in the corner of 8 fence Several persons heard the shots, and the dead body was found a few minutes after ward. Upon examination 1t was found | that two men had been concealed in 8 corner of the fence, just where. the road made sudden turn into little branch, and from where the horses tracks, and the place where the body was found, it was clear that he was shot while the horse was drinking. The cracks of the fence had all been stopped with weeds except the one through which the guns were put. This was just before sundown Friday evening. Horton was return mile of home, in thickly settled coun- try, there being several houses in sight.

 The coroner's jury gave verdict that the killing was done by two unknown persons.

 The death of MT. Horton was tele- graphed to Col. A. S. Colyar, of Nash vile, who at once commenced. to make inquiries, but found that no one had three reliable men with him, Colyar went rapidly from house to house to hear the story of every man and his family-in- terrogating each separately-as to his whereabouts on the day of the murder ; and at school-house where the chil- dren were all examined separately, one boy stated that a boy named Bill Martin told him that Monroe and Hop Martin were out on the mountain side that day Friday last) hunting sheep. This Bill ] denied upon examination. Monroe was was tken first seen and his story heard. They agreed that they left the house of one of them about one mile from where the murder was committed, and that they both went up the mountain and stayed together until they returned. But one said they came back before sundown, and the other that they returned one hour after dark.

 Without being formally arrested, these men were kept until the next day, but not allowed to talk to each other. Soon in the morning, Col. Colyar started with one of them to show his trip through the mountain, which he did, climbing and clambering until he reached point at the top of the mountain between three and four miles from home, then returning by different route. Imme diately afterward the other was taken anc directed to travel over the route which } they both agreed they had travelled to gether only last Friday evening, and ht reached the mountain by route at leas } two miles distant from the point where , the other reached it. The routes, going and returning, were totally different, ant no man ever took walk with more trepi dation than did the last one, knowing that the other had first been over th' ground. These two men were born ant bred at the foot of the mountain ane know every path.

 This was regarded as the stronges 7 sort of evidence, but on examining ] their shoes it was found that they exact ly conformed to the measures. Theil feet fitted the tracks precisely. Botl } of these men lived on farm adjoin ing that of MT. Horton, in sight O his house, had long been hostile to him and had threatened his life.