LOCAL MATTERS--Jesse PICKARD is getting ready to pull our for Texas. --Uncle Charley ROBINSON keeps the most popular boarding house in town. He keeps all of his boarders free of charge. --Terry CRAIN who was indicted for the murder of old man BURBRIDGE, at the big muddy bridge in Jackson county in 1862, was admitted to bail on Monday last by Judge CRAWFORD, in the sum of $15,000. --On Sunday evening, about dark, a poor, miserable looking female presented herself at the door of Mr. William P. GOODALL in this city, and asked permission to stay all night. She could not speak the English language, but from broken sentences gathered from her expressions, it was learned that she was of French orgin. She had the appearance of having seen better days. Nobody learned her name or where she came from. She was sent to the County Poor House on Monday.
MARRIED--On Sunday evening, the 3d inst., of the residence of Mrs. Sarah ALSBROOK, by the Rev. W.H. BOLES, Mr. M.W. PHILLIPS and Miss Mary J. CRAWLEY. All of this city. The newly married couple have our best wishes for their future happiness and prosperity. We hope their future life will be pleasant to each other, and that they will be valuable and useful members of our society.
DIED--On Saturday, Oct. 2, 1875, Temperance SEAY, consort of J.W. SEAY, aged 78 years. She died in hope of immortality.
IN MEMORIAM.---Whereas, It having pleased the Alwise God, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, in the dispensation of His Providence, to remove from our midst our venerable and much esteemed brother, John CRAIN, who full of years, fell before the fell destroyer, death. Therefore, be it RESOLVED, By Fellowship Lodge, No. 89, A.F. & A. Masons, that in the death of Bro. CRAIN the Fraternity lost one of its brightest ornaments, the cause of humanity one of its strongest friends. RESOLVED, That while we bow with submission to the decree of Omnipotence which has called our brother hence, we deeply and sincerely deplore his loss as that of a warm hearted friend, a true and faithful Mason, and that in token of our sorrow and respect for his memory, the members of the Lodge wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days, and that a copy of these resolutions and proceedings be sent to the bereaved family with the assurance of our deep sympathy with them in their melancholy bereavement and irreparable loss; and also, that a copy of the same be furnished each of our county papers with request that they publish the same. (J.M. BURKHART, W.B. HALL } Com. J.S. RICE Oct. 8, 1875
LOCAL MATTERS--D.W. MCCOWEN, who has for some time been confined in the county jail, was liberated last week. --The case of The People vs. Fields HENDERSON, charged with the murder of Vincent HINCHCLIFF, was called last week, when the States Attorney entered a nolle. --Wm. MASSEY was tried yesterday morning on the charge of resisting an officer. The sentence of the court was one hundred dollars fine and one hour in the county jail.--Milton BAXTER was arrested last week on an indictment for the murder of Vincent HINCHCLIFF. He was confined in jail for a few days and then liberated on a bond of $3,000.--Pad HENDERSON was arrested last week (an account of which was published in the Monitor) for malicious mischief, and was tried and sentenced to the penitentiary for one year. His time in jail was short, and he was soon informed what it costs in this county to ax a cow.
--Tim CAGLE, a young man indicted for an attempt to murder G.W. SISNEY, was set at liberty last week. He has served a faithful term in the county jail, but owing to developments recently cropped out the suspicion was shifted on other shoulders and Tim acquitted
.--Marshall CRAIN was arraigned before the court last Tuesday evening and listened to the reading of an indictment against him for the murder of Wm. SPENCE. He stood erect and steady, and when asked if guilty or not guilty, answered "Not guilty" in a voice clear and strong that could be distinctly heard by the entire audience. He filed an affidavit for continuance, but the court decided that it was not sufficient, and ordered the case for trial at 9 o'clock Wednesday morning. When the case was called yesterday morning the prisoner plead guilty, and his case will be disposed of by Judge CRAWFORD today.
--In the case of the people vs. the CRAINS, charged with the murder of Wm. SPENCE, a change of venue was granted on the oath of the defendants. The attorneys for the defendants selected Vienna, and the attorneys for the people selected Pinckneyville; and, as there could be no agreement between the attorneys, the Court sent them to Cairo.
--The case of Samuel MUSIC, for the murder of Wm. SPENCE, was continued by the people.
LOCAL MATTERS--The M.E. church at this place has been supplied with a minister. Rev. WILKINS, we are informed, is the man. --Randall ALLEN of Rock Creek precinct, departed this life last Monday. Mr. ALLEN was one of our oldest citizens. --At the city election last Saturday, O.H. WILEY was elected Alderman to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of R.M. ALLEN.--Dr. A.N. LODGE of this place, and C.A. FURLONG of Crab Orchard, attended the Grand Lodge of the Masonic order, at Chicago last week.--Judge CRAWFORD arrived here early last Monday morning and adjourned court till today, on order to complete the BULLINER and BAKER trial at Murphysboro.--The Grand Lodge of the I.O.O.F., of Illinois is in session at Peoria, this week. G.W. YOUNG is representing Williamson Lodge, M.S. STRIKE Corinth, and J.W. PEEBLES, Crab Orchard.
--An important and very interesting arrest was made in this place last Monday by our States Attorney, J.W. HARTWELL. One Pad HENDERSON was indicted by the grand jury at its last term for malicious mischief, and had up to Monday morning been at libery, as no arrest had been made. Pad feeling easy over his past acts, he comes to town and meets up with Mr. HARTWELL, who asked him if had some to court, (supposing that he had been arrested.) He told Mr. HARTWELL that he had not, that he had no business in court. Upon this information Mr. HARTWELL at once went to the Clerk for a writ. The Clerk informed him that one had been placed in the hands of the Sheriff, but on inquiry the Sheriff said he had received none, and as there was no time to be list, Mr. HARTWELL went the second time to the Clerk and obtained a writ, and with the assistance of Dick EVETTS arrested his man. After his arrest he was accused of stealing some money from another party. The money was accurately described, and upon searching the prisoner it was found stowed away in one of his shoes. He is now in jail where he will patiently await the orders of the court. The time has come when men in Williamson county had better be a little careful how they violate the law. Our people are determined that crime shall be punished. Mr. HARTWELL deserves much credit for the noble part he is taking in enforcing the law.
--Jeremiah OWENS, of this county rode from Schoharie Prairie, eight miles north of this place, to DuQuion, last Sunday night, with a State's warrant for Jesse EASON, to answer the charge of an attempt to murder A.A. LAWRENCE, last Friday night. The particulars as we understand them are as follows: EASON was intending to move away, and was owing LAWRENCE. LAWRENCE called on EASON Friday afternoon and asked for the payment of the debt, whereupon EASON picked up a fence rail and attacked him. He knocked him of his horse, and commenced further violence, when a nephew of EASON's arriving on the spot at this time, prevented further violence. EASON was brought back to this county and taken before Esq. W.W. YOUNG, where his case was heard and EASON held in a bond of five hundred dollars. He failed to give bail and was jailed to await further action of the court.
--Marshall CRAIN was out on leg bail last Sunday night but owing to the swiftness of his pursuers he soon gave up the chase and was safely housed. He was out with only one guard and by some means obtaining a handful of lime and threw it in his guard's eyes, almost blinding him. He crossed Muddy Bridge and attempted to secrete himself by falling down; supposing his pursuers would pass by without discover him. --Samuel MUSIC and Marshall CRAIN were brought from Murphysboro yesterday and lodged in the county jail.
MARSHALL CRAIN'S LETTER--The following letter was written by Marshall CRAIN, to Allen BAKER and John BULLINER, during their trial at Murphysboro:
Allen I want you and John to post Mun JACK, Sam JACK and
Thedford, Johney RICH, Jeff. YELTER, Bill WESLEY and Sarah Rich
that they were to have a surprise party at Sarah RICHE's, and I
came in eight or nine
o'clock on the night that George SISSNEY was shot, and that I was
barefooted. I know I sent my boots and coat but Sam MUSIC, but
that won't convict me now boys do all you can for me and I will
do all in my power for you. Employ the same lawyer for me that
you and Allen have got, all is right if I hang all right I feat
that I will hang John lecture for me in this case and clear me
when SPENCE was killed I was at Cal CRAIG's prove this him and
other witnesses tell them too that I was there about half after
nine o'clock on the night SISSNEY was killed Allen you and John
and all the boys
will come clear I shall swear that I was forced to swear what I
did. If I hang it is all right; I shall swear that Sam MUSIC told
me that he killed Mr. SPENCE, and he told me that he was going to
put ammunition in that house so when he turned state's evidence
he could make some proof. He told me this. Can't you and John
state, too, that he told you he put it in there when he was
hauling lumber for LANDRUM. If you and John come clear, you go
and post Mrs. RICH and Johney and Wesley and Anderson THETFORT
tell Ant THETFORD to swear he seen me close to his daddy's at
about nine o'clock as he came from his daddy's. Andsaid he would
swear anything for me, post James CRAIG and prove by Wes and tell
mother not to go back on me and clear me they can do it; have
they swore against me; tell Jim CRAIG I want to prove I was at
his house, by him and other witnesses, when SPENCE was killed;
give information how I will move my trial to Marion.
THE SENTENCE OF BULLINER AND BAKER
The Jackson County Era, in a lengthy account of the trial and conviction of the accused, concludes as follows:
"We, with the public, accept the verdict as a just one, yet we feel that the public good demanded that BAKER be hung. To be a hired assassin, is to be guilty of the worst crime we can imagine. The man or men that he killed, had no time to make peace with their God before they were pushed off into eternity, and why should BAKER not pay the penalty with his life? Hanging is none too good for such scoundrels. "It was a heart rending scene to witness the taking off of John BULLINER. A young man of such fine personal appearance, to be borne away to a dungeon to be confined for 25 years--during the best part of his life seems to be a hard penalty to suffer for any crime. We saw him as he was brought from the jail, heavily shackled with irons and chains, his affectionate old mother there hanging on to him until taken away by the officers, weeping bitter tears of sorrow. Before he got in the hack to be borne to the depot, he kissed his old mother, and then turned and embraced his brother, Monroe, and kissed him on the cheek. How changed the scene. During the progress of the trial, and up to the very moment of the reading of the verdict of the jury, BULLINER was cheerful and buoyant in spirits as though he had not the least fear of being convicted, but from the moment the verdict was read, and up to the time of leaving for prison, he was depressed in spirits and did little but weep and sob in a most pitiful manner. From his actions we should judge he was an affectionate son and brother. "He loved his aged mother, and what seemed to trouble him most, was the fear that his brother would be killed by the other side of the vendetta and leave her alone in the world. It is our opinion that John BULLINER is not a bad man at heart, and if guilty of murder the deed was done in vindication of the death of his old father and brother Dave. But the law must be vindicated. If John BULLINER is guilty--and a jury of good men have so decided--it is right that he be punished, and the penalty, probably, is none too severe. It is only to be regretted that he should be so heedless of the consequences that follow the vindication of the death of a relative by taking the law in his own hands. John has gone up, and when he gets out of the penitentiary, if he should live to see the end of his term, he will be an old man. The outside world will be entirely changed to him. His old mother will be dead many years before, and laid by the side of her murdered husband and son. Strange faces and unknown towns will appear to him, where once everybody was an acquaintance, and every village and by path perfectly familiar. The old BUILLINER farm will not be what it used to be. Williamson county will have passed from the scenes of blood and ku-kluxing, and assumed the aspect of prosperity and civilization. The example made of BULLINER, we think, will have a good effect upon the people of the whole State. We now want to see the law thoroughly vindicated, and every person connected with this bloody affair dealt with as the law directs. Let us have a thorough cleansing, and try and redeem the lost character of really the garden spot of the great west.
MARRIED.--On Sunday October 24, 1875, at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. Wm. H. BOLES, Mr. Charles M. KERN and Miss Kate MITCHELL.The long looked for has come at last. Charlie is married, but we hardly expected it, and we here take occasion to extend to him and his fair bride the right hand of fellowship, with the hope that. While life may last May joy and happiness increase, And when from earth they're called away, May both still dwell in Peace.
DIED.--In Vienna, on the 13th inst., Joshua, son of Mr. and Mrs. M.W. WILHELMS. Joshua was 13 years and three months old. The parents have the sympathy of friends and relatives in this their time of trouble.
LOCAL MATTERS--Dr. Z. BLAY and A.J. BENSON attended the State Council of the United Friends of Temperance at Vienna last Tuesday.--The Sheriff took Pad. HENDERSON to Joliet last Monday to serve a term of twelve months in the penitentiary.--The grand jury returned an indictment against Leander FERRELL, last week, for manslaughter. The Court fixed the bail at $2,000.--Marshall CRAIN sent for Wash SISSNEY to visit him to visit him last Saturday and confessed to him the killing of his father, and plead with him (Wash SISSNEY) to forgive him for the fearful act. --The Jackson County Era says their Sheriff has returned from Joliet, where he had been to convey BILLINER and BAKER. BAKER has gone into the shoe business and BULLINER is tailoring. --"Yellow" Bill CRAIN was granted bail and is now out on a five thousand dollar bond. "Black" Bill and "Big Jep" are going to rest their case in the hands of the people of Alexander county. --We neglected in our last issue to mention the marriage of T.G. HELTON, of this place, and Miss RAY, of Northern Precinct. They were married at the PULLEY House on the 16th inst., by Elder W.H. BOLES. We trust there may be strength in this union, and much good grow out it. We await further developments.
TO BE HANGED BY THE NECK UNTIL DEAD!--IS the doom of Marshall CRAIN, one of the members of the Williamson county vendetta. As it has now been once week since this verdict was rendered, and our readers generally understand the situation, it is needless for us to say but little about it; therefore, we will only give a brief sketch of the trial. As we stated on our last issue, CRAIN plead guilty to the charge, which left the case in the hands of the court for investigation and disposal. At 9 o'clock last Thursday morning the prisoner was arraigned at the bar to await the action of the court. By his side sat his wife, a picture of distress, who, with feelings such as a companion only can have, tremblingly awaited to hear the final doom of her ungrateful husband. Witnesses were introduced and carefully examined, whose evidence disclosed some fearful facts. The most important witness was Samuel MUSIC--one of the actors in the horrible tragedy for which the prisoner at the bar was then being tried. His evidence was so clear and pointed that the people in the court room were completely carried away in imagination, till the tingling glass of the broken window at Wm. SPENCE's could almost be heard, and the crimson stain and assassinated man's blood could be seen on the floor. The examination closed at half past 2 o'clock, and the case submitted to the court, without argument. After a few moments of stillness, the Judge proceeded to deliver a very telling lecture, that will live fresh in the memory of those present for some time to come, at the close of which he pronounced sentence on CRAINS, and condemned him to hang by the next until dead, on the 21st day of January, 1876. These words fell on the ears of the listeners with a tremendous crash. His wife was completely overcome and wept bitterly over the awful sentence just pronounced on her ungrateful husband. Judge CRAWFORD deserves credit for the moral courage he exhibited during the progress of the trial; and, while everybody admits that the punishment is great, it is considered just, and the people generally say amen to the decision.
--In our issue of the 14th inst., we published a letter written by Marshall CRAIN, while in prison at Murphysboro; before he was convicted for the murder of SPENCE and SISSNEY, and while some hopes of an acquittal were entertained by him. The tenor of his letter was bad, showing the principle of a bad man in its true light while in hope. This week we publish a letter written by him in our county jail, after sentence has been passed--all hopes fled--and he brought to realize his true condition. The contrast between the two letters is great, but not greater then honesty and dishonesty; and in them can clearly be seen the difference between a man who relies wholly upon self for aid, and he who realizes that beyond a doubt there is One mightier than he who shall judge the world the last day. The letter reads as follows:
Marion, Illinois October 25, 1875} Mr. Jesse L. RAGSDALE: Dear Connections and friends:--I seat myself for the last time, in life, to tell you my sorrows and troubles. I am in a terrible fix--I have got to die. All that I can do now is pray to God for his forgiveness and to prepare me for death. Cousin Jesse, I desire the prayers of all Christians I want you to pray God to forgive me, so that I may be prepared for heaven.It has fallen to my lot to die at ropes end. I am here in prison. I was tried before the Circuit Court, last week, for the murder of one William SPENCE. I plead guilty, and afterwards proven guilty by witnesses. I left my case to the decision of the Judge, and he sentenced me to hang by the neck until dead, on the 21st day of January, 1876, between the hours of 10 and 2. May God prepare my soul for heaven; may be soften my heart that I may be fit to dwell with Christ forever and ever. May the Lord look down on me in tender mercy and pardon my sins. I pray that God may save all his people from that burning hell that burns forever and ever. The good book teachers me that all manner of sin shall be forgiven; except sinning against the Holy Ghost. Offer my well wishers and love to everybody. I shall have to close my last words to you in this life, hoping and praying to God that I may find peace and meet you all in heaven, where there is no more parting. Your affectionately, Marshall T. CRAIN
Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1875--It being God's will to spare me until another sun has risen in its beauty, and not being able to write all I wanted to last evening, I preceed to make some additions to my letter. I want you, as an intelligent Christian, and one that has influence over many young people of my acquaintance in your country, to advise and counsel with them. Tell them to speak evil of no person and to take the advice of their parents, when it is good, and never disobey the laws of their country, and especially obey the laws of God, and endeavor to make their home in heaven, where thieves cannot break in. Had I taken my parents' and brother's advise, I could now be at home with my dear little wife. May God bless and save us both and prepare us to meet in heaven. I pray God to soften my heart and enable me to see the danger I am in. It seems as though it were too late for me to be forgiven. I try to pray but my mind reverts to things that are passed. I pray to out Savior to place my mind on heavenly things; and may He remove all uncleanliness from me, and may I realize the danger I am in. Prepare for death, and teach mankind the way to heaven, prepared for you and me. M.T.C.