The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-02-24
Clayton's BURNERS.

Il
a.AxD MURDER HIN IN 1BB wooDs-A MEL
CHANT THROWN IN PRISON AMI. HE sroR
GurrED-Ax IxrERvIR v wrru cLAYros
i From the Memphis Avalanche, 81
One Of the most heinous atrocities ye
committed by Arkansas militia, occurre
last Monday in Mississippi county. ]
was nothing less than the cold.bl0ode
murder OF Mr.. Alexander Baugh, respee
table citizen Of Arkansas, gentleman Q
some means and cripple, physically inca
pacitated to do any one any harm.
The facts as derived from unquestiona
BILE sources are briefly as follows Nj
Baugh lived on Corson's Lake, ten mile
from Osceola. Last Monday some prov
ling militia, who had been robbing th,
neighborhood, insulting ladies and fright
en'ng children, got half drunk on whisk!
or wine they had stolen, and made on at
tack on some citizens, who escaped from
them going in the direction OF Mr.. Baughi
house. The militia pursued them to tht
house, where they stopped, and the fagi
tives disappeared. Mr.. Baugh was in bei
sick but was taken out and required to tel
where he had concealed the men. He Of
course, knew nothing Of them, and could
make no disclosures. This 30 enraged the
militia that they took him out . few hund.
red yards from the house and shot him dead
and lett his bulletriddled body by the
roadside. No arrests had been made 1t
last accounts.
Several prisoners ore still held in jail ut
Osceolo, among them Captain VIM. Ben
nett, prominent but remarkably quiet citi.
zen, who lives on Frsnchman,s Bayou about
fifteen miles from Osce0la. The militia
went to his house . week or 90 ago and
completely cleaned ont his store of a large
stock Of goods. They also destroyed con-
siderable property about his residence, and
then carried him off to prison.
1t is reported that boats have been en-.
gagged to carry the most of the militia away
from Crittenden and Mississippi counties.
preparatory to being mustered out of SER
vice at Helena. These two counties are
the only ones remaining under martial law.
When it 10 revoked the troops sent there
will be removed, but those organized in
those counties will be retained there for
the present. Such is the rumor.
We have heard repeatedly that some of
the militia savages about Marion are very
anxious to eat up q few Memphis local edi-
tors. They are welcome on this side of
the river, but we know one city editor who
can fight oil his duels without going to
Arkansas.
During Governor Ciayton's etay in Mem
phis, Major Will. o. Woodson, the Wes-
tern Associated Press. Agent had an in
terview with him, and telegraphed to the
press abroad the following account Of what
Clayton said:
1t 10 his desire that the whole truth
should be known and nothing covered up.
The militia had committed outrages, bat
the offenders, 30 far - practicable. had
been summarily dealt with; FIVE having
been executed out of force numbering |
| 900. On the whole, the militia had acted |
Rs we'll 40 any militia would have done.
Many outrages reported had not been done |
by State troops, but by marauders Who
followed in their wake, representing them |
selves as militia. As the State is too |
poor to uniform its force, this evil could |
not be remedied, but the officer had in.
'tructed citizens to shoot down all pretend. |
I'd militia. Another cause Of reported out
'ages was that commissary trims had not |
been organized. being impncticable, and |
1e mad ordered officers to subsist their COM |
hands on the country and give vouchers. |
Where claimants could establish loyalty to
he State they would be paid.
IN regard to the policy in calling out the |
militia he gave reasons almost identical
With those alleged in Porter's report to
General Grant. He said many good Re.
'ublicans had differed with him In regard
% that line OF policy, but he was determin-
q to cure the evil for oil time, by making
ne work short, sharp and decisive. Seven
counties which had been under martial law
lad beed restored to civil rule, and no
'ounties in the United States were now
more peaceful, as the military had driven
ut or exterminated the outlaws intestinR
hose sections. relieved the citizens of ter
orism. Militia operations and the incon-
enience OF having them in the vicinity,
od Impressed on peaceful citizens, who /
'ere hitherto too passive and inactive. the
OF seeing that the laws are en-
orced. Martial law still exists in Dew, Il
Ashley, Bradley Crittenden, Mississippi,
ireene and Craighead. counties, bat the
Military force, which now numbers about
90, is gradually being redcced, and from
ppearances in short time the necessity
'r troops will cease to exist.
In regard to operations in Orittsndsu
ounty, opposite here, he said the militia
"a committed outrages on ladies, bat four '
I them had paid the penalty with their
YES. All were punished severely who had I,
cen guilty OF misdsmeanor. /,
In regard to the execution Of Harvey,
icer and McCallister. he said they had
cen regularly tried and convicted, and
istly punished, but he would have prefer.
their being executed in public a. an
xample. As for stories of prisoners being
ortured, In order to make them confess,
be story was wholly untrue. J. d. Wat
'rd, now in Jail at Marion, had been son.
snced to death by court-marhal. He
'ould certainly be executed.
In conclusion, he said the effect OF bis l.
olicy had exceeded his most sanguine ex.
ectations. Its effects were felt in Ten
essee. Brownlow would now have no
'ouble, as there would be no fighting, and,
nalIy, that it had given Arkansas peace. II
LETTER FROM SENATOR Wmsox.-The
Justin Crexas) Republican Publishes the
flowing letter from Senator Wilson
the proposed division Of that State and
IL
WARRINGTON, Monday, Jan. 4. 1885,