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Typed by Bill Ferguson (Descendant of the Andrew Ferguson mentioned in this article). Originally published in History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, The Earliest Time to the Present; Together with Interesting Biographical Sketches, Reminences, Notes, etc., page 85.
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(Note from Marty Grant). Andrew Ferguson married Margaret ROSS, the widow of James DUGGER 28 Jul 1817 in Jackson Co, IN. James Dugger was a son of William DUGGER (1750-1839) of Carter Co, TN. James Dugger and his two full brothers Julius and Mark left Carter Co, TN and moved first to Knox Co, KY, then later went to Greene Co, IN where apparently Julius got in trouble. Bill Ferguson says the family rumor is that Andrew Ferguson and Julius Dugger killed Isaac Edwards to get revenge for a rape, possibly of Julius' sister. More research will be needed to find out if that was the case. According to Robert Nave, Julius later went to Coles Co, IL.
FIRST INDICTMENT FOR MURDER
At this term the first indictment for murder in the county was found. Andrew Ferguson and Julius Dugger were charged with the murder of Isaac Edwards. The murder was charged to have been done with an ax.
Elkins Smith,the Prosecuting Attorney, assisted by Addison Smith and Isaac Naylor, prosecuted the case. These assisting attorneys were employed by the county to prosecute. The defendants were defended by Craven P. Hester and John Law. The defendants demanded separate trials, and Ferguson was tried at that term and acquitted. The case was continued as to Dugger. Before the first trial, the defendants were sent to Bloomington, Ind., for safe keeping, and after Ferguson was acquitted, Dugger was sent to Spencer for safe keeping.
The trial created great excitement among the people throughout the county. The original jury was challenged entirely, after which forty-eight others were brought in, and with these they could not impanel a jury. Twenty-five others were brought into court, making, in all eighty-five. From this number they selected a jury composed of Moses Ritter, John Burch, George Burch, Simon Snyder, John Uland, Joel Benham, Daniel Ingersoll, George Padgett, Joseph Mise, Alexander Craig,, John Breece and John Moore.
The case was ably prosecuted and as ably defended. The jury found the defendant guilty of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to the State prison for four years.
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