Marshall Crain

28 Jul 1875

After someone shot his house, Marshall Crain got a gun and hide it in an old house near Mrs Snider, about 2 miles east of Carbondale, then went to talk to Allen Baker. Then went to Carbondale, where George Sisney now lived on the NE corner of the square (E Main St).  Sisney was in bed, so Marshall waited in the dark and rain.  Overton Stanley happened to come over at 9pm.  While George and Mr Stanley were talking, Marshall shot George in the chest through the window. His wife and daughter, Martha Jane at home. George was buried 30 Jul 1875 at his old homestead in Wmson Co.  After shooting George, Marshall Crain went to his mother in law's house about 9 miles from Carbondale. Col DH Brush of Carbondale offered a reward for the killer.  Sam Music was also in Carbondale at the time with Capt Landrum. Music told them that Marshall had told him he would kill George Sisney.  According to Music, he, Marshall and Allen Baker all met but Allen backed out. Then they met John Bulliner.  Music was told if he talked, he would die next.  William J "Big Jep" Crain went to Marion and wanted to join the militia and be the captain, but then withdrew. He went back to Crainville were he, Marshall and Music went to play cards at 4pm at Marshall's old house.  Wm "Big Jep" said Wm Spence was next and had Music get a gun from Wm J "Black Bill" Crain (his cousin) and to find John Bulliner.  Music refused to do this but did say he would get a gun from John Ditmore in Crainville.  Wm J "Black Bill" Crain lived 4 miles south of Crainville.  So Wm J "Big Jep" wound up meeting him in Mrs Hampton's field about 3 miles south of Crainville.  Marshall and Music then met in the woods at Noah W "Yaller Bill" Crain's, then went back to Mrs Hampton's field to met Wm J "Black Bill: and Wm J "Big Jep" Crain.  The four of them parted and later met at Marshall's house which was south of Wm Spence's store. 31 Jul 1875 Marshall shot William Spence in his store.  Wm was single age 40. After the murder they went along the RR tracks to "Big" Terry Crain's, then went home.

Aug 1875

01 Aug Allen Baker was at the Crab Orchard Bridge in Jackson Co, when he was shot at.  Music had gotten drunk and met up with Carrol Wagoner and his wife from Crainville.  He rode back to town with them and told Carrol's wife some things.  The following Monday, Music, Marshall Crain and Noah W "Yaller Bill" Crain met in Crainville near Landrum's mill.  They got Marshall to take his wife to her mothers and he went to Missouri. Samuel Crain went to Bird's Point, MO and Music went to Carbondale. A $1000 reward was raised for the murderers of David Bulliner, James Henderson, Vincent Hinchcliff and William Spence.  The Governor offered $400 for the murderers of George W Sisney and George Bulliner. Mrs C Wagoner told her brother James H Duncan who the murderers were. he got Benjamin F Lowe to help in the arrests

Arrested: Samuel Music 10 Sep 1875 in Cairo; William J "Big Jep" Crain, William J "Black Bill" Crain, Noah W "Yaller Bill" Crain and Samuel R Crain all on 11 Sep 1875 in Crainville; Marshall Crain had fled to MO; John Bulliner 11 Sep 1875; and Allen Baker 21 Sep 1875 in DuQuoin

16 Sep 1875 WW Clemens and JB Calvert, 2 of the Jacks and 2 Craigs swore Wm J "Black Bill" was 8 miles away when the murders happened. Wm J "Big Jep" has 12 witnesses, both committed to jail.  Marshall Crains' mother in law was a Mrs Rich, who said her sister lived in Butler Co, MO and she was married to a Ben Lewis.  Lowe went to Makanda in Jackson Co to the Smith's relatives of the Crain's, Marshall had went to St Louis, MO.  He left there and went to his Uncle Thomas Crain n Boone Co, AR but went back to Butler Co, MO and left his wife with a Dr Adams.  Marshall was arrested near Corning, AR and on the 28 Sep 1875 was back in Cairo, IL

Next they raised a militia in Marion and one in Carterville.  In Marion, JV Grider was Capt, William Hendrickson 1st Lt, WJ Pully 2nd Lt.  In Carterville, Landrum was Capt, Wm Dowell 1st Lt, Wilshire Bandy 2nd Lt.  John Bulliner and Allen Baker indicted in Jackson Co, Il in Oct 1875, Marshall Crain talked against them. Marshall later writes a letter to Allen & John asking them to help him and stating he will help them.  Marshall lists the following people as witnesses for him: 2 Mr Jack, Mr Samuel,  Mr Thetford, John Rich, a Jeff, Noah "Yaller Bill" Crain, Wesley and Sarah Rich for the night George Sisney was murdered.  He also listed Cal Craig, Anderson Tedford and James Craig for the day when Wm Spencer was killed.

12 Oct 1875 a verdict of guilty was returned for murder of George Sisney.  Allen Baker had been with his father the night George Sisney was murdered, his father lived 2 miles east of Carbondale.  Allen and his wife lived with a Mrs Hill at the time.  He had bought powder at Prudy's Mill for the crime.  He was 33 years old.  He had killed a man in Pine Bluff, AR during the Civil War. John Bulliner was sent to prison, his old mother was living a half mile north of the Bulliner Homestead in a small cottage.  Samuel Music, Wm J "Big Jep" Crain, Wm J "Black Bill" Crain, Noah W "Yaller Bill" Crain and Marshall Crain were all indicted for the murder of William Spence in Crainville. Music's trial was continued at this time.  Noah Crain was out on bail and his case was nolled in Apr 1876.  Both of the Wm J Crain's had their cases moved to Alexander County.

19 Oct 1875 Marshall Crain was arraigned and pled not guilty to the charges.  He then changed to guilty and wanted a jury.  His attorney was WW Clemmens, the judge was MC Crawford.  He was sentenced to be hanged 21 Jan 1876.  Calvin Craig, Robert Craig, Monroe and John Jack were indicted for perjury for giving an alibi for Wm J "Black Bill" Crain.  The sheriff, Noah E Norris,  in the mater was a cousin to the Crains. 

25 Oct 1875 Marshall T Crain wrote to his cousin Jesse Ragsdale in MO.  Marshall was married and age 27.  His wife was Rhoda Rich and they married 04 Mar 1874. Marshall said John Bulliner had given Jonas G Ellett and Martin Dyal $300 to kill James Henderson.

27 Oct 1875 George W Sisney Jr went to Marion and spoke with Marshall Crain.  On the 21 Dec 1875, Marshall tried to escape from jail.

25 Dec 1875 James H Duncan, William Davis nd JV Grider arrested James Norris at Mr Poteete's, 5 miles SW of Marion

31 Dec 1875 The 2 William J Crain's were moved to Cairo in Alexander County, they both received 20 yrs.  Narcissa Waggoner, age 30, owned a boarding house were she heard various statements in the murders.  She was the d/o George Duncan and the wife of Carroll.  There were 100 witnesses at the trials.

21 Jan 1876, Marshall T Crain was hanged in Marion. Witnesses to the hanging were John B Edrington, JL Kelley, Brice Holand, Dr SH Bundy, Dr John O'Hara and Sheriff Norris.  His brother Warren took his body for burial at Hampton Cemetery

18 Feb 1876 Both of the William J Crains were taken to Joliet. 

In Apr 1876, James Norris age 25, had worked for the Bulliner's and had gotten into a fight with Thomas Russell and David Pleasant (back in 1873).  (He had been arrested in an attempt to kill George Sisney back in 1874 but the case was dropped when Sisney was actually murdered). At this time he was indicted for the murder of James Henderson and sentenced to 18 years, sent to Joliet 22 April.  His lawyer had gone to McNairy Co, TN and got 15 witnesses for him.  Most of the county thought that David Bulliner Sr in TN has run the events in the vendetta.

Samuel Music was involved in most of the vendetta and turned as a witness for the state.  He was born in 1842 Jefferson Co, IL.  His mother had died in 1852 and he had 3 sisters and 4 brothers.  He moved to Union Co, KY in 1854.  He and 2 brothers were in the 13th KY Cav CSA.  In 1863, his father came back to ILL. Samuel also came back and was arrested as a POW being sent to Camp Chase, where he stayed until 1865. After his release he moved to Centralia, Il, then to Carbondale.  In 1872 he married Mary A Griffon.  In Aug 1874, he wound up in Crainville working for Mr Landrum. For his involvement in the murders he recieved 14 years

Some after comments on the Vendetta.  In Apr 1876 Samuel R Crain was indicted as an accessory in the murder of Wm Spence, he was arrested but was out on bail.  Milton Baxter and his brother were also indicted in the murder of Vincent Hinchcliff but this case was nolled as they found the two were only friends with Thomas Russell and Gordon "Texas Jack" Clifford. Joseph W Hartwell was in the 31st IL, he lost an arm 21 jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.  He was the states attorney in 1875.  Benjamin Flowers was born in 1838 Effingham Co, IL.  He came to Marion in 1858.  He went south to deliver letters to soldiers from Marion in the CSA, he was caught and jailed as a spy.  In 1866 he married Letha McCowan, they went to Canada.  (I have no idea what Mr Flowers has to do with the Vendetta)

The Vendetta cost the county $13,032. 

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Murdered

David Bulliner shot once 27 Mar 1874 age 25

James Henderson shot 15 May 1874, died 23 May 1874 age 40

Vincent Hinchcliff  shot 16 times 04 Oct 1874

William Spence.  shot once 31 Jul 1875 age 40, by Marshall Crain

George W Sisney shot once 28 Jul 1875 by Marshall Crain

George Bulliner. shot 46 times 12 Dec 1873 age 61