Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1886 — HORRIBLE CRIME. [ARTICLE]

HORRIBLE CRIME.

Five Persons Most Foully Murdered and Cremated in Georgia. Viie Author of the Demoniac Deed Con* fesses and Is Boasted at the Stake. [Atlanta ,’Ga.) special] News has reached this city of a terrible murder committed in Franklin County in which five lives were lost, and the perpetrator was subsequently lynched. Under flie law of Georgia when misdemeanor convicts are only fined they have the privilege of selling tteir services if any one will pay the fine and take them. It was thus that John Swilling, a substantial farmer, made the acquaintance of Frank Sanders, who was in jaff. Sanders had been but recently a resident of the county, coming from South Carolina. Swilling agreed to take him, and made him one of the family. On several occasions Sanders has attempted to escape the task of wdrkjng out his fine, and thus the gratitude which he should have felt toward Mr. was turned into bitter hate. Wednesday Mr. Swilling took some cotton to 'Soceoa, where he disposed of it On returning home the family, consisting of Swilling, his wife, and three chddren, retired at an early hour in one room. Sometime before daylight Thursday morning Sanders, who slept in the house, resolved to secure the money and escape. Taking the ax with which he worked he noiselessly entered, but as he reached the beside Swilling sprang up. He was given a blow on the head which went crashing through his brain. Another blow killed Mrs. Swilling, while asleep. Having got his hand into the bloody business, Sanders then deliberately went to the three children and drove the poll of his ax through their skulls. His murderous deeds accomplished, the next thought was for concealment. A lamp nearly tilled with oil was on the mantelpiece. This Sanders took and poured the oil over the bedclothes. He then applied fire, and, putting the stolen money in his pocket, sallied forth for the purpose of giving plau<bility to the deed. He ran to the house of George Swilling, brother of his victim; and told him of the fire. George hurried back, accompanied by several neighbors, while Sanders continued in another direclion. Unfortunately for Sanders, the house was not completely burned when the party reached it, and the fixe had not yet touched the body of Mr. Swilling. It was thus that the wound on Swilling’s head was discovered. Then the absence of Sanders was noted. Search was at once made for him, and before the day closed he was caught and confessed the bloody deed. The citizens took him from fire officers, and hurried him to the ruins of Swilling’s house. When the mob reached the scene of the tragedy they made Sanders describe in detail the whole crime. As soon as he had finished the narration they gave him five minutes in which to pray. A fire was built on the spot where Swilling’s body had lain, and into it Sanders, tied head and foot with chains, was thrown. When the pile had burned away, leaving nothing but charred bones, the party separated. Sanders was a fugitive from South Carolina, where a charge of murder was hanging over him. At the age of 16 he committed forgery, and therefor served an imprisonment of five years. Upon his release be married an unsophisticated country girl. He quarreled with her in January last and Cut her throat. He disappeared that night and had not been seen or heard from until the particulars of this terrible tragedy were made public.