Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-10-24
Death Of u Notorious Desperate.


Reliable information was received Yesterday
Of the death of Clarence Collier, the noted
Arkansas desperate. 1t will be remembered
that his father, Tom Collier, was killed by DR..
Boatlnan, of Hopefcld, opposit this city, last
month.
For long time Clarence Collier had been a
refugee from Arkansas. whose authorities were
after him for killing Haynes, in the town Of
Marion, in 1869 After living in the swamps
of Arkansas until tired of the monotonous life
he was compelled to lead, young Collier crossed
to the Tennessee side He remained conceal
cd in Memphis some time, vcnturing forth oc-
casionally, but molcSting no one His haunts
were known to a few, but nobody was anxious
to risk an encounter. with man who could
not be surprised, and with whom a struggle
meant death to at least one Of the parties
Finally he struck off into the INTERIOR and
made Bolivar, where he had relatives, sort
OF hcatluuarcrs. lie pursued no useful avoca-
ton. Ills time was chiefly spent in drinking
and displaying, to maintain his character Of
bully and desperate, pair OF navy SKIES, which
he kent at, all times bucklea about his waist
His presence was tolerated because no one
cared to provoke him, and his relatives hoped
t, keep him quiet.
Whom the oldor Collier returned to Memphis
a few hours before crossing over to llopctlcld
to meet his death at Dr. Boatman's hands, be
was returning from an exile forced by killing
negro in the latter place, last spring. He had
a few days before left Clarence on the railway
train on the Nashville aud Northern Railroad
near Wavcrly, Tennessee. \ brakeslnan and
Captain Collier quarrclcd, the latter being in-
toxicatcd. Clarcuce, who was also on the
train, cspouscd his fathers quarrel drew
knife and plunged it into the railroadman's
body. His next step was to escape, and hasti-
ly bidding his father goodbye, and appointing
IA future place Of rendezvous, he jumped from
the platform of the car alighted i'll safety, and
was in another moment lost in the woods.
lie wandered about several hours, and final
" entered the little town cf Wavcrly, in Hum
,hrcys county. ONCE there he sought the
house of an acquaintance of years before.
Clarence was unaware Of the fact, but this man
was the Sheriff Of the county. To him he re-
lated the particulars of the afTray on the rail
way train as we'll as of his bloody exploits in
Arkansas, contcSsing that he was a fugitive
from justice, and asking assistance IN eludlng
the officers of the law Of Humphreys county,
who would soon be added to the others who
had been so long hunting him down.
The Sheriff promised the desired aid, prot
tcrcd him horse, and few moments after
wards wrestcd navy six" from the young
mans belt, accompanying the action with
You re my prisoner!
Collier was surprised, but said nothing lie
was biding his time. But the shoriff knew
something of his man, and calling up two nc
urocs ordered them to search the prisoner, say
ing:
''Pcrhaps he has another pistol"
eyes, / have, damn you," replied Collier,
jumping back and drawing II companion to the
weapon already mentioned. He cooked it and
fired, but the wary official had ''kuockcd down
the weapon whose bullet buried itself in the
dcspcrado's knee lie was borne to the jail;
physicians were summoned; !! amputation be-
came necessary; and from its effects ne died
few days ago, after his relatives had arranged
for bail, in the hope, doubtless, that he would
leave the country, never to return.
Thus perished, at the ago of twenty three,
one of the worst Of the noted dcSpcradoes OF
the Southwest. lie murdered young Bethel,
of this city, in Arkansas in 1868. Hc had Kill
led q negro sometime before the year follow
ing he shot and killed Capt. Haynes, as the lat
ter SIT on his horse at Marion. Many stories
of his bloody affrays are atioat throughout
Western Arkansas He was fond Of talking OF
them when in drink, but had often complained
of the life he led not for. conscience sak ke, but
because the officers Of the law gave him no
peace. They were constantly hunting him, and
he dared hardly sleep for tear of capture. =
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