The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-07-14
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of much newspaper talk, as well
as outside discussion, I deem it but
an act of justice to myself and
friends to make simple state
mruzuf the 1uHrter, trusting rhnErhnse
journals that assailed and villified me,
before the legal Investigation, willy
have the generosity to give me hear
ing nowz-fsrinr to tho cxafnination1 /
did not.see fit to make any explana-
ton, never doubling that whenit was
fully Investigated the community
would view it in very different light
from that endeavored to be gotten up
by the opposition press and partisans
IN this vicinity.
1t is well known fact that the
cause of Mr.. Clarke's attacks upon me
grew out of newspaper articles, pub
lished during the campaign of 1870.
That his enmity against me must have
gone back that far for cause is evi-
dent from the fact that on the evening
after the escape Of Shultz he was in
my Office, and was not only pleasant
and courteous, hut solicited an adver-
tisement for Shultzs apprehension,
saying that was all the aud he could
render, / treated Mr.. Clarke not
only sa gentleman, but as a neigh.
Dor, and gave him the advertisement.
The community can readily imagine
what my feelings were the next morn
ing when | read, alongside of the ad-
vertisement and the items concerning
Shultz's escape, furnished by me, am
outrageous attack upon myself con-
cerning the escapade,-an escape by
the way well planned and executed,
and for which | was no more to blame
individually than Mr.. Clarke or any
other man. l had put the prisoners
in charge of the Building Commits
sioners and was at work upon the
prison grounds nearly a half mile
away.
These attacks were kept up, con-
stantly growing more abusive and
more annoying, until the day the diff
Guilty occurred. On that day | came
to town from the prison for necessary
supplies, and in one place ] had occa.
sion to visit, the Statesman of that
date was shown me. had been up
all night looking for Shuliz, and was
harassed and worn ont in the pursuit,
and must say the article did not tend
to make me feel any more kindly To
human nature in general. While
waiting for the supplies and standing
on Griswold's corner, Mr.. J, Osborne,
night guard at the prison, came up,
and it was while asking him (he hav
ing just returned from French Prairie)
about Shultz that Clarke walked along
| in front of me.
stepped up to him, asking him "it
he had not published lies enough about
ne" ct the same time slapp;ng him in
tie 'ace. Ieimmedia,ely commenced
.stab%.,g me with his knife before |
had ton..ced him with anything else.
| kept out o. reach of his knife, except
the point. Wi. ID cut my clothing in
three places. o.e stab cutting my
watch case, until n. "rm striking the
awning post. the wmr Ell from my
hand. After getting off the Sidewalk
and Clarke still stabbing at H. drew
a pistol and fired, whereupon he ran
into the store and no other shot " en-
near him, as the last two shots were
fired-one into the sidewalk and one in
to the awning, Clarke being at that time
at the rear door of the store, about
eighty feet distant. After his disap.
pearanee | went before Esquire Muir
ply and was held under one thousahi
dollars bonds for my appearance next
day. This was when Mr.. Clarke. ac-
eording to his own statement. was
shot all to pieces. Waving examina-
ton the next day, l was held to ap-
pear before the Circuit Court IN the
sum of FIVE hundred dollars. In the
afternoon of the same day was again
arrested and brought before G. y.
Terry, County Judge, on two separate
and distinct charges from the first
commitment, on which was held to
bail in the sums of three thousand and
two thousand dollars respectively.
The Grand Jury after patiently exam
ining some twenty witnesses and de-
liberating four days, returned bill of
ian assault witha dangerous weapon"
to which / plead guilty and was fined
two hundred dollars and costs.
This is plain statement of the
case, and can at any time be substan-
tiated by witnesses. There are also n
few other points in the case which
desire the public to know, the first OF
which is the charge made by some pa
pers that | had two of the Peniten-
tiary employees stationed there. The
only employe there was Mr.. Osborne,
who had just come off the boat from
Butteville, and who had been absent
eight or ten days from the prison.
The other party referred to was Mr..
Hickson, who had hitched his, team,
with a load of sand, a few doors be-
low, and wished to. speak with me on
business. Neither of the men knew
that ! was intending to horsewhip
Clarke, nor did l know at that time
that Clarke was about to come that
way. 1t can be substantiated by
'Messrs., Lewis, Petyjohn, Osborne
Tompkins, of. Washington county,
Chas. Ray, Hickson, Meyers, and 9TH
.ers, that Clarke said while getting into
the carriage that he bad stabbed me four
times before. ] drew pistol, and that
if his knife had been larger. he would
have cut my heart out.
Regarding the second arrest and
charges preferred and judgment .ren.
myself but my friends, without re-
gard to party, that. it was done to har.