Extracted from The Macon Georgia Telegraph (Macon, GA)
Tuesday, April 6, 1841

Murder and Conviction

On the 2d of March, ultimo, Nathan Taunton was murdered in the town of Lanier, Macon County, by Robert T. Downing. The difficulty between them was of trival [sic trivial] character. A few words passed respecting a bet of fifty cents, which one of them had made on a game called ``Fox and Geese,'' when Downing drew a pistol and shot Taunton through the lower part of the head, of which he died instantly.

The trial of Downing came on before Judge Taylor, on Thursday last, at the regular term of the Superior Court for Macon County, which resulted in his conviction of the crime of murder. He was sentenced to be hung on the 21st of May next.* The case was ably managed on both sides by several attorneys, and strong efforts were made by the prisoner's counsel, to postpone the trial to the next term. The reasons advanced were deemed insufficient by the judge, and such a course subversive of the ends of justice. The jury who sat upon the case were among the most respectable citizens of the county; and we believe there is no dissenting voice in the community where the murder was committed, but that they have done justice by their verdict; and it is to be hoped that example which this conviction will afford, will not be lost, where such an example (it is generally admitted) has long been needed. Downing has been committed to jail in this city for safe keeping.

*We understand this to be the time of execution, but we may be mistaken as to the day.--Messenger.