As heretofore stated, Callahan was shot on Saturday forenoon. On the preceding Wednesday, about two o'clock P. M., Dock Smith met Andrew Johnson on the Middle Fork just below the mouth of Gay's Creek. Johnson there told Dock Smith that James Deaton wanted Dock and Andrew Johnson to help kill Callahan, and for Dock to go to Deaton's house that night. Smith says that Johnson asked him if he had a gun, and he told Johnson that his gun was at his father's; that Johnson then told him he would go back home to Granville Johnson's, and would meet Smith there that night; that Smith went to his father's, got his gun, ate his supper, and then went to the mouth of Orville's branch and there met Andrew Johnson, Willie Johnson, Tom Deaton and Billie Johnson. From that point Smith and Andrew Johnson proceeded to the house of James Deaton on Caney Creek, which they reached late in the night, finding James and Dan Deaton there. That night the four discussed the proposed killing of Callahan. James Deaton told his confederates that on the next morning he would go to his father's at Jackson, and learn from him, Fletch Deaton, what definite plans had been made about the killing of Callahan, and would get "Red Tom" Davidson's Savage rifle. The next morning, Thursday, James Deaton and Dan Deaton left James Deaton's house and went down Caney Creek towards John E. Deaton's, Dock Smith and Andrew Johnson remaining at James Deaton's. Late on Thursday evening James Deaton came home from Jackson riding "Red Tom" Davidson's mule, and brought along a gun which he said belonged to Red Tom. After supper Smith, Johnson and James Deaton left the latter's residence, Dock Smith riding and carrying the gun, Johnson and Deaton on foot. They proceeded to the home of John E. Deaton, where they met Bob Deaton, another of the accused. Here Bob joined them in the expedition. The four then went to Abe Johnson's, on the Middle Fork, about three miles above the mouth of Long's Creek, arriving there after midnight on Friday morning. Friday was spent around Abe Johnson's. At noon they sent for Dan Deaton, whom they had left at the home of James Deaton on the morning of Thursday. Dan responded, and all of them again discussed plans for the murder of Callahan. James Deaton told Abe Johnson and Billy Johnson that his father, Fletch Deaton, wanted them to come to Jackson on the train Saturday morning, so they could be there as witnesses to prove the alibi, and that Willie Johnson was to come with them. It was arranged that Dock Smith, Andrew Johnson, Bob Deaton and Dan Deaton were to go down to the Grand Sire Rock on the Middle Fork, below the mouth of Long's Creek, to watch for Callahan and Anse White, who were expected to come up on Callahan's boats on that day. This arrangement was carried out.