A CIVIL WAR MURDER-- The killing of W. H. Randolph by the Bonds, at Blandinsville, in the fall of 1864, was the most notable murder in the history of the county. The affair took on a sort of political nature and, as partisan feeling was running at the boiling point--the Presidential election being but a few days off and the country in the midst of a great war--for a time it seemed as though a collision with all its fearful attendant bloodshed would break out among our own citizens. It is to their everlasting credit that the level-headed ones on both sides prevailed over the excited feelings of the hotspurs, and only one murder was committed where our citizens were close face to a hundred. Mr. Randolph, who was a leading citizen and, at the time, owner of the Randolph House of Macomb, had been appointed Deputy Provost Marshal to superintend the drafting of soldiers in this county. John Bond, among others, had been drafted. He was opposed to the war and refused to come into the recruiting headquarters, as he should, and Randolph went out to Blandinsville to arrest him, as in those times a man who failed to report after being notified that he wad drafted was the same as a deserter. Bond was a powerful man and recklessly bold. Randolph, though small, knew not the word fear, and went alone to make the arrest. Bond had publicly declared Randolph could not take him and, when that officer placed his hand on his shoulder and told him he was a prisoner, and knowing the officer's determination, Bond drew a pistol and fired it at Randolph and ran. randolph returned the fire and followed after hs man. John met his brother Miles coming to his aid with a gun, and both fired at Randolph, who went a few steps and fell, with four wounds, from which he died some hours afterward. James Bond, a third brother, wa also charged with abetting the killing, but did not fire a shot. The three Bonds, immediately after firing the fatal shots, mounted horses and fled. Although a reward of over 45,000 was offered for their capture, nothing was heard of them for years. Finally Frank E. Fowle, a citizen of Macomb and in detective service, succeeded in locating and capturing Miles Bond at Sonora, Hardin County, KY., in June 1868, where he was going under an assumed name. He was brought to trial the following October term, took change of venue to Schuyler County, where the following May he was tried and acquitted on the following grounds: First, there wa no record of the draft kept; second, the quota was full before John Bond was drafted; therefore, Randolph had no right to arrest John Bond; third, in attempting to arrest, Randolph transcended his duties and John Bond had a right to resist; fourth Miles, the accused, seeing his brother's life in danger, under the law was justified in shooting his antagonist. There was much discussion, pro and con over the justness of the verdict, but it was the end of the law. Two years later, in 1870, Maconb was surprised one morning by a man coming into town with James and John Bond in custody, he having arrested them, as he said, in Missouri. It was the general belief that the two men, having grown tired of being fugitives and seeing that their brother had been cleared, voluntarily surrendered so as to get back and risk acquittal. At any rate, they were two as peaceable prisoners as were ever confined to jail. They not only gave no trouble to J. E. Lane, then the Sheriff, but made themselves useful in doing any chores that he desired them to do, and were ready to assist him in the prevention of any outbreak of any other prisoners who might have attempted it. In 1871 at the September term of court, their trial came off. In addition to the same defense that was made in Miles' case, that individual went upon the stan and swore that he fired the shot that killed Randolph. as he had been acquitted, his testimony greatly strengthened the case of the brothers, John and James, who were also declared "not guilty" by the jury. The only one of the brothers living now is Miles, who resides in the northwest part of the county, a law-abiding citizen, and today probably regrets the awful tragedy as much as anyone. Mrs. Jane Randolph, of this city, "Aunt Jane" as she is familiarly called by all who know her, is the widow of the murdered man, and she, above all others, has been the wronged and stricken on over the death of her husband, whose patriotism and courage was a model, even in those heroic days when men were iron with nerves of steel.