JAMES SAMUELS testified: I have known Jep CRAIN since 1855; heard of the death of SPENCE on Sunday after he was killed; saw Jep CRAIN on Thursday before that at the depot. Saw him get off the train; asked Jep if he knew the particulars of the killing of SISNEY. On Friday morning I saw Eke NORRIS and Jep together. Saw him a gain about 10 o'clock, but can't say with any certainty that I saw him after that. The train from Marion to Carbondale leaves about 9 o'clock a.m., and I saw Jep after the train had left. This was on the Friday before the Saturday on which SPENCE was killed. Think the second train from Marion to Carbondale leaves about three p.m., but can't say whether the train was late that day.Wesley CRAIN, a brother of Big Jep, D.B. WARD and James HAMPTON, all testified to that they had seen Jep in Marion on the Friday afternoon before the Saturday on which SPENCE was killed. This evidence was introduced to refute the statement made by MUSICK that he (MUSICK), Jep and Marshall CRAIN had had a meeting at Marshall's house on that same Friday afternoon.
COLUMBUS WAGGONER testified:I live at Crainville; am in the dry goods business; have known Jep CRAIN for three or four years; know the time of the Carbondale and Shawneetown railroad; the train goes down about 10 in the morning and 4 p.m. Crainville is west of Marion; I heard of the death of SPENCE; was at Crainville on the Friday before the killing, also on Thursday; don't remember of seeing Jep the Thursday before the killing; he made his home at Crainville, but had been away; don't think he had been back but a few days before the killing of SPENCE; saw him the Friday afternoon before the killing, coming from the train; he got off the train; I don't remember if the train was late that evening; I think this was the day that SISNEY was buried; there was a number of persons came back to Crainville to get on the train to go home. I saw Jep after he got off the train two or three different times at the drug store, and outside near the door; the times were not far apart that I saw him; I think he was not there more than half an hour or an hour; I don't remember the latest time I saw him; the times I saw him were not more than or fifteen minutes apart. I think there was some parties going away and he said to them hold on, that he would go with them; I don't think I saw them start off; I think it was some of the CRAIG boys he went with; I don't know that I know BRANSON; I think Jim CRAIG was one of the parties; Jep came in the store after a coat; I don't think it was over half an hour after he got off the train that he came after the coat; I think I saw him about 10 minutes, maybe a longer time, after that; I think he came after the coat before he harled the parties; I don't remember the time that elapsed between the time; the regular time for the train to go down at that time was 4 o'clock.
L.D. CRAIN testified: I live one half mile east of Crainville; I have known the defendants since we were boys; we are somewhere from one-third to one-fifth cousins; I heard of the death of SPENCE about 8 o'clock the morning after he was killed; went to Crainville on Friday, the day before, and staid there till the corps of SISNEY came up; then went to the burying, and came back and staid till sun down; saw Jep get off the train; the time of the train was then 4 o' clock; I think the train was late that day; took out my watch and it was ten minutes after 4 o'clock; saw Jep for a few minutes after he got off the train; don't think he was out of my sight till he left town, only when he went into the back room of the drug store; I think the drug store is 40 or 50 feet north of SPENCE's store; Jep spoke about going across Crab Orchard creek that evening. It is three miles to the creek; when I saw him last he was going off with James CRAIG and some one else. He has two brothers living over the creek-Warren and Wesley CRAIN; he would have to cross the creek going to Warren's; I don't think Jep was out of my sight five minutes from the time he got off the train till he left town; I am sure this was on Friday afternoon, the day before SPENCE was killed; I know where Marshall CRAIN's house is, right south of the drug store, perhaps 150 yards; think Yellow Bill was there that evening; don't remember their going off together; Yellow Bill was around there all evening; their nicknames, "Yellow Bill," "Big Bill" and "Big Jep", originated because there are so many of us of the same name; the evening Jep was there I was in the drug store; I did not see Sam MUSICK, Marshall CRAIN and Jep together; Sam MUSICK was at the depot drunk, and was most of the time in the house; I saw Marshall there; did not see MUSICK, Marshall and Jep CRAIN together that day; their nick names were given to them by other parties for the purpose of designating them; Jep may have lived in Murphysboro for a year or so; Black Bill was in the army, but I can't say how long, perhaps two or three years; think he was in the 81st regiment. During harvest times Jep would go North to harvest- he went north during this season.
N.J. CRAIN testified: I have known Jep CRAIN since he was a child; he is my brother; I have heard of the death of SPENCE; Dr. BROWN and I found him; I went to Dr. BROWN' s early in the morning to get some whisky for Sam MUSICK, and as I came back my cow was across the track and I said to the doctor I would drive her up; when i went by the store I saw the lights broken out, and I went up and saw SPENCE dead; I told DITMORE, Mr. LANDRUM and others; I was in Crainville on the Friday before from 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning; I went to SISNEY' s funeral, and when I got bhek? I was in Crainville all the balance of the evening; I saw Jep CRAIN that evening get off the train down from Marion; I think the train was on time; I saw Jep get off, and after he was off he stopped and shook hands with a good many boys, probably Judge LEMMA; halloaed to me about mule; he spoke to BRANSEN, and said wait till he got a coat; he went to Cal WAGGONER' s, got his coat and came back and stood around the drug store; Jep. BRANSEN and CRAIG went with me to get the mule; I might have seen MUSICK, but don't remember; I don't remember that I saw MUSICK about the depot; my house is south of the drug store about 300 yards; me and Jep started from the store together and met BRANSEN and CRAIG at the blacksmith shop, and went from there to the stable and got the mule; I told CRAIG to ride the mule and let Jep ride his horse; the Marshall CRAIN house is over 100 yards north from my house, and we passed it going down; the house is about 70 feet west of the road and we were in company when we passed the house; I did not see Marshall CRAIN or Sam MUSICK or any one else at the house; Jep said he was going to Warren CRAIN' s and started South; it is something near 3 miles to the Crab Orchard; I don't think Jep was out of my sight exceeding tem minutes after he got off the train; when we went to my house he only staid long enough for me to catch the mile; it had been raining; I was at home Friday night; these nicknames were to us by other persons; when we into the war there was three Bill CRAINS in one company, and they nicknamed us; these name were applied to us in the army; I was in the army with Black Bill pretty near two years when I was captured; we were in the 81st regiment-Black Bill was never absent from Williamson county long at any other time; Jep was away just before SPENCE was killed; had been gone better than six months, and come back on Tuesday before the night SPENCE was killed, and staid till Thursday morning; he said he was going to Marion; did not see him anymore on Thursday; I don't remember anything about halloaing anything to Marshall the morning of the Saturday SPENCE was killed; I don't remember halloaing to him the MUSICK had gone; Jep had relatives in the direction he was going that Friday evening before SPENCE was killed; Jep and Black BILL are cousins; Black Bill and his two sisters keep house and farm; I don't remember the date of his father's death; Black Bill run the farm after his father's death; Mr. CRAIG would cross the creek going home; I don't know exactly where BRANSEN lived.
J.U. CRAIN testified as follows: I reside in Williamson county; lived there about sixty-one years; lived on the same farm forty years; I know defendants ever since they sucked; Jep lived at Crainville, and the other one lived over on Grassey; I heard of the death of SPENCE the evening after he was killed; I was in Crainville on Friday before the killing; I was to the burying of Captain SISNEY; the body came on the cars to Crainville I saw Jep CRAIN get off of the train; I staid at SMITHER' s till after sundown, and this day i staid pretty late; there are two stores at Crainville, one a drug store and the other a dry goods store; the buildings are about eighty feet apart, with no buildings between them; one door opens to east, and the other to the north; I saw Jep around after he got off the train; I heard Jep call Jim CRAIG to hold on he would go with him; there was another man with CRAIG, they called BRANSEN; I don't recollect the time, but I heard him call to CRAIG hold on, he would go with them; I saw him about there all the time; I couldn't set any particular time that he was out of my sight; I don't think there was a half hour that he was our of sight; I heard him say hold on he was going to get something; I did not see Jep, Marshall CRAIN and Sam MUSICK together at all; I don't think they could have got together and been out of sight half an hour. The train is sometimes there a little after and sometimes a little before 4 o'clock; I know the Marsh CARIN house; it is some 200 yards from the drug store; don't know whether MUSIC was there that day or not; might have seen him, but don't remember; saw Jep because I knew he had gone to Marion.
JAMES CRAIG testified: I know Jep CRAIN; I heard of the death of SPENCE: he was killed on Saturday night; I was in Crainville the Friday before. I went there between 2 and 3 o'clock, and was there 2 or 3 hours. I saw Jep, the defendant, there that day. I saw him coming from the train. I did not see him get off. He came up to where the crowd was, and we were around there, and when I got ready to go he said wait, he would go with me. He got a mile and I rode it, and he rode the nag I had. The mule was very small, and I rode it and he rode my horse. We had been about the store there together. I saw him between the time. I saw him coming from the train and when we left, around among the crowd; I don't think I missed him over 15 or 20 minutes at any time; he said he was going to get his coat, and think he went back to the drug store; I don't know if the train was late that afternoon; from the first I saw of Jep till we started was sometime, maybe an hour and maybe two hours; I had no watch; Mr. CRAIN and myself, Yellow Bill and Billy BRANSEN went toYellow Bill's stable and got the mule; BRANSEN and myself went home, and Jep went to Warren's; we had some difficulty in crossing the creek was very full; I swam the stock over and the other two went across on a foot log. I am sure this was on the Friday night before SPENCE was killed; I did not see Jep and Marshall and MUSICK in consultation that afternoon; when we went by the Marshall CRAIN home we did not go in nor did not see any one; the Marsh CRAIN homes is in sight of the drug store in an old field, with no woods between them.
MARY A. CRAIN testified: I know Jep CRAIN; I heard of the death of SPENCE on Sunday; I saw Jep on Friday night at our house, and he left there Saturday morning. It was dusky-dark when he got there and he staid all night. It was about 7 o'clock in the morning, and Warren and Jep said they were going to Black Bill's and they went in that direction; it's a mile and a half south of west from our house to Black Bill's; my husband got back sometime between twelve and one o'clock; I am sure this was on Friday night before the Saturday on which Mr. SPENCE was killed. My sister fold me Jep had got back, and this was the first I had seen him. I live three or four miles from Crainville, in Williamson county.
Mrs. Anna CRAIN testified: I live about ten miles from Marion; I know both the defendants; I live about a quarter of a mile form Black Bill; I remember the death of Mr. SPENCE; I remember where I was the day he was killed; I was at home; Jep and Bill came to my house, I should think between 11 and 12 o'clock; they did not stop long; I had not seen Jep for some time; when they left Jep went to Black Bill's; and Bill went to get some cattle out of my field; he went right west; he never came in; I did not see him come he went in that direction; I am step mother of Black Bill, and am aunt by marriage to Jep; the field where the cattle were in was close to the house; the house was right on the coroner of the field; only divided by a fence about the house; Martha CRAIN, sister of Bill, left with Jep; I can't tell, but took it to be between 11 and 12 o'clock when they came; this was the Saturday before SPENCE was killed; it is called 4 or 5 miles from our home to Crainville.
MARTHA CRAIN testified as follows: I know the defendant; Black Bill is my brother; I live with him; there are three in the family; Bill and myself and sister; my brother died last winter; Bill is a farmer and follows it for a living; I have known Jep all my life; I heard of the death of SPENCE the next day, on Sunday evening; I was at home, and at step-mother's twice the day before; I saw Jep and Bill that day; Jep came to our house that day; Warren CRAIN was with him; Bill was at home but not at the house when Jep came; he came in in a little while; they staid there about an hour, and then went to look over Warren CRAIN's corn; saw them again at step-mother's; about 12 1-2 when me and Jep got home; we went from step-mother's; Bill went around the field; there was some breeding cattle there of Mr. LANDRUM's; was quarter of an hour when Bill came; we were still at the table when the clock struck 2; Bill and Jep were bother there; Jep left our house at nearly 3 o'clock to go to Phil SMITH's, in southwest direction; Bill was still at home when Jep left; Bill said when he went away that he was going to catch a horse and see if he couldn't sell him; did not see Jep any more that day; I staid at Widow CRAIG's that night will between 11 and 12 o'clock, sitting up with a sick child; went home next morning about nine o'clock; Bill was there when I got home; he was not at home on Saturday evening when I left.
SARAH HAMPTON testified as follows: My mother's name is Louisa HAMPTON; I know the defendants, Black Bill don't live far from us; I heard of the death of Mr. SPENCE on Sunday; I saw Black Bill, Jep and Warren CRAIN the day before the murder; they came up and looked at the cattle; I was out in the pasture with Caroline PAYNE and Benny PAYNE; when I came back I found Warren, Black Bill and Jep there; they asked which one had been shot, and I showed them; that was about ten o'clock.
PHILLIP T. SMITH testified as follows: I know the defendants; I live west of Crainville. I heard of the death of Mr. SPENCE on the Sunday evening after he was killed; I was at Forney TUNSTER's hauling hay; it is southwest of Black Bill's about a mile; I saw Jep CRAIN that evening, and he said he was going to Phil SMITH's; I was unloading hay; I wanted a drink and him and I went to the well and sat down on some rocks and talked awhile; it was between 12 and 3 o'clock; he was afoot; in going from Black Bill's to Bill SMITH's that would be the way to go; it was about 2 miles from where I was at work to Phil SMITH's; Phil SMITH's wife passes for his sister; it was about a mile from where I was unloading hay to Black Bill's; it was on Saturday, the last day of July.
JOHN SMITH testified as follows: I know the defendants; I live at home with my father, about 9 miles from Crainville, a little east of north; I heard of the death of SPENCE on Sunday; I saw Jep at night on Saturday just about good dark; I had been at John and Dave BAKER's threshing wheat; when I got home I found Jep there; he staid at our house till Wednesday morning; he went to church next day at New Hope meeting house.
PHILIP D. SMITH testified as follows: I live about 8 or 9 miles south of Crainville; I know the defendants; I heard of the death of mr. SPENCE on Sunday evening after was killed on Saturday; I saw Jep CRAIN the Saturday evening before, passing by a neighbor's house to my house and I found him there when I got home; I think he staid there till Tuesday about noon; we went to church the next day at the TEDFORD meeting house, about three quarters of a mile from my house; he was going about three hours; I think it was about an hour by sun when I first saw him; he was afoot. I saw Jep in Carbondale going home, he said, from the north where he had been harvesting; this I think was on Monday or Tuesday; I did not see him get off the train; I wanted him to go out home with me.
SAMUEL CRAIN testified: I live near Crainville, Williamson county; I know the defendants; I was not present at the preliminary examination before Squire REYNOLDS, and only a part of the time before Judge CRAWFORD;I expect I was present on the day you allude, but can't fix the day or date; I was there when Jep and SPENCE had a fuss, but don't remember this date; Thomas DUNCAN was there, but I don't remember whether it was in the morning or afternoon. I was at the store when Jep and SPENCE had some words; at Mrs. WAGGONNER' s I can't tell, for the fact that we were all joking and rigging Jep about his and SPENCE' s quarrel; I don't believe I can tell what was said, for we were all laughing and joking and I could not have told in an hour after what was said; I don't remember hearing Jep say anything about massacring or killing SPENCE; I think if anything of that kind had been said I would have remembered it; I did not hear it; we were joking Jep about having a quarrel with SPENCE and abusing each other so and not fighting; it was in the morning; and in the evening we were talking about it again, and Jep was a little angry of course, for he had just come out of a quarrel, and we were teasing him about it; I don't rememeber that I heard him make any dangerous threats, and if he did I did not hear them. I did not have any knowledge that there was going to be a difficulty between SPENCE and Jep; they got to talking about the affairs of Williamson county, and SPENCE said the people were not capable of electing their officers, and they ought to be appointed.
N.E. NORRIS testified: I know the defendants; I arrested Black Bill, and it was a part of my posse that arrested Big Jep at Crainville; we made the attest at night; there was Mart DAVIS, Jim GRIDER, Mr. CALVERT and myself in the party that arrested Black Bill; some 50 or 60 yards from the house we divided. Mr. GRIDER and DAVIS going around on the west side of the house, and Mr. CALVERT and I went in the front way; it was further fro DAVIS and GRIDER to go around; Bill was in bed and GRIDER and DAVIS came up in five or ten minutes after: I did not right immediately make known my business; before going in I halloared at the gate and one of the girls came out and caught one of the dogs; Bill told them that it was me and told them to take off the dogs; I think I had told Bill what my business way, and named the parties we had got and sent on; I remember mentioning Jep's before DAVIS came up; Bill said "if me and Jep get in the same cell we will about fill it up;" I was present at the trials before Squire REYNOLDS and Judge CRAWFORD, but don't think I was present when Mrs. WAGGONER gave her evidence. I think she was nearly through when i got there; Judges ALLEN and DUFF and Mr. HARTWELL were there; I don't know that I paid much attention and could not be positive what she said; After arresting Black Bill we went to Crainville and then to Carterville, where we staid all night; the next morning Bill went to Dock MCCARTY's house, 50 or 60 steps away, and presently came back by himself, he was only gone a few minutes. I don't know that I heard any of Mrs. WAGGONER's testimony before Judge CRAWFORD.
CHAS. H. DENNISON testified as follows: I know about the time, but not the exact date that MUSICK was put in jail at Marion and I was at the jail shortly after in company with Mr. LANDRUM and Sheriff NORRIS. Mr. LANDRUM cane to me and wanted me to get some one else to go to the jail with him. He said MUSICK was going to make a statement. We started to Mr. HARTWELL's office, and on the way met Sheriff NORRIS, and asked him to go with us. We then went to his cell and LANDRUM said: "Now Sam, we have come, and want you to make a statement." LANDRUM remarked that MUSIC was not a murdered, but that he had been drawn into the affair through bad company and whisky. He said he had been acquainted with MUSICK for a long time, that he was a good friend of MUSICK's and would put his hand in his pocket and let him have his last dollar. LANDRUM said he wanted MUSICK to tell the truth and not to implicate an innocent man in the murders. MUSICK said if he told all he knew he would have to implicate some of NORRIS' relatives. NORRIS said go on don't shield anybody--let the truth come out. MUSICK then said if he told the truth they would kill him or mob him. LANDRUM replied that MUSICK should never see the parties, that he should have money enough to take him out of their reach. I think LANDRUM had just come from the jail when he come to me. MUSICK asked me to come back, and I went back in the evening, and the jailer brought in a light. MUSICK asked me if "they had gone after the boys." and asked me if they were going to "bring them in here." I told him I guessed they would, when he said, "I can't see them --I want the money promised me. I want to leave here before the come in." I replied "Sam, you will have to stay. They will not put the boys in with you; but you will have to go before the grand jury and tell what you know about this matter." He said "By God, I can't do that; I want to leave." I replied that he couldn't think of leaving, that he would have to say, that he would not be harmed.
LANDRUM'S PROMISE AGAIN. Sheriff NORRIS was put on the stand again, and testified as to what occurred in the jail when LANDRUM, DENNISON and NORRIS went to hear MUSICK's statement. Sheriff NORRIS' version of what took place at the interview is substantially the same as sworn to by Mr. DENNISON.
WHERE WAS BLACK BILL ON THAT SATURDAY NIGHT?--John ROLLEN was the next witness, and was introduced to swear that Black Bill was seven or eight miles from CRAINVILLE the night that SPENCE was killed. ROLLEN saw Black Bill and spock to him one half hour before sundown on that Saturday night.
HE SLEPT WITH CALVIN?--Calvin CRAIG testified as follows: I knew Mr. SPENCE; I heard of his death on Sunday after it occurred; Sunday was the 1st of August; in the morning of the day before we loaded up the threshing machine and went to Phillip TURNAGES and threshed some wheat; we left there just at dusk, and I had a couple of horses going home, and Munn JACK had a yoke of Oxen and came up behind me; it was probably 8 o'clock when we got to John JACK's, and we stopped there; John JACK was there, and so was Wm. CRAIN (Black Bill) there. Monroe JACK came up while I was there and passed by; I was there and passed by; I was sitting on my horse and John JACK was in the yard; I think Black Bill was in the act of getting on his horse; when I got ready to go, I asked Mr. CRAIN to go home with me and stay all night, and he said he would go, that he wanted to swap horses with me anyhow; he went off with me to my house; my wife was not at home, she was at High CRAIG's to set up. Black Bill staid all night with me, and left about sun up the next morning. Robt. CRAIG came to my house just about the time he left. I got breakfast myself; it must have been 9 o'clock in the evening, probably a little later, when we went to bed. I think it must be close to nine or ten miles from my house to Crainville, the direction being a little west of north. I have known Black Bill since we were boys.
Robert CRAIG deposed that he eat breakfast at Calvin CRAIG's on Sunday morning, and that Black Bill eat at the table with them; also that he had seen him at John JACK's the night previous.Monroe JACK swore that he saw Black Bill at his brother John JACK's gate on Saturday evening an hour after dark. Other witnesses corroborated the above statement.
THEN CAME "MACKADO."--Mr. William J. MACKADO was next called. Mr. MACKADO has lived in Jefferson county since 1849, and was well acquainted with Same MUSICK when that individual lived at Spring Garden. After telling all about MUSICK, from his boyhood up to the time he went into the rebel army, Mr. MACKADO wound up saying he would not believe him under oath.
A LITTLE MORE MUSICK.--Sam MUSICK was brought from his cell and put on the stand again. He was asked whether he had ever been in Jail in Marion county. Sam said he was, and told what got him into prison. He went out walking with another man's wife and she forgot to go home that night, and the next day her husband had him arrested and they put him jail and kept him there three weeks. He was asked whether he was ever under arrest and made his escape by jumping off a train of cars. He said he was not.
WOULDN'T BELIEVE HIM.--David CRAWFORD, an old man in soldier clothes, testified that he knew Sam MUSICK when he lived at Spring Garden, and from his reputation in that community he would not believe him under oath.
JACK, THE SON OF SAMUEL.--John JACK said that he had lived in Williamson county all his life, and that his father's name was Samuel. Mr. JACK swore that on the night of the 31st of July last-the night on which SPENCE was killed-he was in his stable yard unhitching his horses when Black Bill CRAIN rode up and spoke to him. JACK told CRAIN to go to the house, and when he got done he would come. Mr. JACK also testified that Black Bill staid and eat supper with him; at about 8 o'clock left his house in company with Calvin CRAIG, who had asked Bill to go home and stay all night with him.
With this witness the defense close their case, when the prosecution introduced some.
EVIDENCE IN REBUTTAL.--It would be a tedious task to go over all the evidence, and we shall not undertake it. The main points are all we shall attempt to give. Mr. County Attorney HARTWELL, of Williamson county, was called to the stand, and testified that on the preliminary examination of the prisoners and Yellow Bill CRAIN, Black Bill testified that he had taken a certain route in going from Crainville to John JACK's on that fatal Saturday night.
THEY SAW BILL--Several witnesses, among them Mrs. Mary Ann TIPPY and Mrs. Ann IMPSON, testified that they saw Black Bill on the afternoon or evening of the night on which SPENCE was killed, going towards Crainville. One witness said it was bout 3 or 4 o'clock she saw him pass her house, and the other said it was as late as 5. These witnesses lived apart, and saw Bill at different points on the road.
MORE ABOUT MUSICK--Mr. James L. LANDRUM was recalled and testified as follows, concerning the interview with MUSICK when he was about to make his statement concerning the matter. Mr. LANDRUM said: I can only state what took place at the interview with MUSICK when Mr. DENNISON and Mr. NORRIS were present. Their statements are in the main correct. I went to MUSICK and appealed to him in this way, that he had been in my employ; that he had had my confidence, and I did not believe him a bad man. I said to him for God's sake don't implicate any innocent man. He said if he told all he would have to implicate some of NORRIS' friends. Mr. NORRIS said if that is so let it come out; MUSICK said that he was afraid that that they would kill him or mob him, that they were 100 strong. I told him not to be afraid; that if he came clear, he should have money to go away.I know Sam MUSICK, but I can't tell just how long I have known him. He came to me in 1874, and worked for me until the next July. I was acquainted with his character for truth and veracity; I think it is good, and if he was sober I would believe him on oath.
SOME PERSONS WHO WOULD BELIEVE MUSICK.--Laban CARTER, a Justice of the Peace at Carterville; Mr. J.C. HODGES and Paul W. WILLIS, of Murphysboro; Mr. BURTON, of Carbondale; Mr. Wm. A. WEAVER, of Grand Tower; Mr. A.R. WARDERS, of Williamson county; Mr. E.H. BRUSH, of Carbondale, all testified that they would believe MUSICK On oath, and Samuel's character was made whole again.
BLACK BILL AGAIN.---Tutt HAMPTON and John CRAIG testified that they went to Black Bill's house on the Sunday morning after the Saturday night on which SPENCE was killed, and found Black Bill laying on the bed, and that he got up and eat breakfast with them. This was some time between 6 and 9 o'clock.
The prosecution then closed their case. The defense presented several witnesses in rebuttal, but the evidence would be of no importance to the reader.Judge ALLEN made the closing speech in the trial. It is said by competent judges that his speech in this case was one of the ablest of his life. It was full of sound reasoning; and the manner in which he dealt with some of the witnesses for the defense was by no means flattering to them. His argument lasted for about five hours. The court then read the instructions to the jury, after which the case was given to them to decide.
THE VERDICT.---At seven o'clock, Yesterday (Wednesday) morning, after being out eighteen hours, the jury returned a verdict of guilty, fixing the term of imprisonment of the prisoners at twenty years in the penitentiary. This ends another chapter of the bloody vendetta of out county. Men too mean to live and not fit to die, raised in our county, proved guilty of crimes of a character dark enough to put to shame the vilest fiend of the dark beyond. Surely the time has come when all honest men should labor together for the strict enforcement of the law, and let the wrath of an offended people be revenged by bringing to the bar of justice all those who are yet in the back ground whose hands are stained with the blood of their fellow man and their hearts darkened with perjury and their time and talent employed in devising plans which leads to the darkening of our reputatuion draining the treasuery and will, if not checked, drive us into bankuptey and total wreck.