At the August special term, 1875, the county commissioners offered a reward of $1000 for each of the murderers of David Bulliner, James Henderson, Vincent Hinchcliff and William Spencer. On the 09 of Aug the Governor issued a proclamation offering $400 reward for the arrest and conviction of each criminal referred to, and also the murderers of George W Sisney and George Bulliner. On the 22 of Aug the Jackson Co Court offered $400 reward for the murderers of Sisney and Bulliner. Effective measures were now being devised by good citizens, among whom James H Duncan and Benjamin F Lowe should be mentioned. The latter acted in the capacity of a detective, in which he was very successful. He went to Cario where he, "trapped" Samuel Music and brought him to Marion on 10 Sep, and lodged him in jail. Here Music made a confession of the killing of Sisney and Spence, and implicated William J Crain, "Black Jack" Crain, Noah W Crain, Samuel R Crain, Marshall Craine, John BUlliner and Allen Baker. Writs were then issued for the arrest of these parties, and a posse of 20 men and the sheriff went to Crainville. William J Crain (Big Jep), Noah W Crain, Sameul R Crain, "Black Bill" Crain and John Bulliner were all arrested and brought to Marion, and placed under guard. Lowe then went to DuQuoin, and arrested Allen Baker, and brought him also to Marion the next morning. In a few days the prisoners were all put in jail. Music accused Bulliner, Baker and Samuel R Crain, with the murder of Sisney in Jackson Co, and on the 15th, Sheriff Kimball came over and took them to that county where they were tried; Samuel R Crain was released for want of evidence, and the others committed to jail.
A special term of the Wmson Co court was convened, and the State's attorney was authorized to employ counsel to assist him. Hon WJ Allen and Judge AD Duff were employed. This produced a revolution in the public sentiment. On 16 Sep the prisoners, except Music, were examined and committed to jail. Mr Lowe then went to Arkansas, where he found and arrested Marshall Crain, and brought him to Jackson Co, where he was lodged in jail. On the 19 Sep the Governor sent the sheriff of Wmson Co 100 rifles by express.. Two companies of militia were then formed, one at Marion and the other at Carbondale.. The officers of the Marion compnay were Capt JV Grider and Lts William Hendrickson and WJ Pully. The officers of the Carbondale compnay were Capt JW Landruma nd Lts William Dowell and Wilshire Bundy. John Bulliner and Allen Baker were tried at the Oct term of the Jackson Circuit Court, and sentenced to 25 years in the penitentiary.
At the Oct session of the Wmson Circuit Court, Music, "Big Jep, "Black Bill", "Yaller Bill", and Marshall were all indicted for the murder of Spence. Music's case was continued; Noah W Crain alias "Yaller Bill" was admitted to bail on motion; William J Crain alias "Big Jep" and William J Crain alias "Black Bill" prayed for a change of venue, and their case was sent to Alexander Co. The indictment against "Yaller Bill" was nolled at the APril term, 1876. On Tuesday, 19 Oct 1875, Marshall T Crain was arraigned and plead not guilty. He had no attorney, and the court appointed WW Clemens to defend him. The prisoner then withdrew his plea of not guilty, over the objection of his attorney, and plead guilty to the crime of murder as charged, and threw himself upon the mercy of the Court. The Court then fully ezplained to the prisoner all his rights, and had the indictment read again, and then asked him again if he was guilty, and he again plead guilty; whereupon the court ordered the plea of guilty to be entered of record, and the case was continued until Thursday, when it was called, and a number of witnesses examined, and the guilt of the prisoner proved beyond all doubt. Judge Monroe C Crawford then made some extended remarks concerning his great responsiblity, and the importance of vindicating the law, and after warning the prisoner to make his peace with God, he said, "The sentence of the Court is that the defendant be hanged by the neck until he is dead, within the walls of the prison, in the town of Marion, county of Wmson and State of ILL, on the 21 Jan 1876 between the hours of 10 o'clock in the morning and 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. May God have mercy upon you."