The Van Buren press., 1872-01-16
" When Rogues Fall Out. "

The Fort Smith Patriot, of the 9th instant
contains an affidavit OF one THOMAS N, FISH
BOURNE, sworn to before J. A. Leckhart
Clerk of Crawford County. that chargss JAS
| l.. lIoDdEs. Of Little Rock, with offering him
| Fishbourne.s 900 70 assassinate, in 1869, Hon
j. ii. Barton, brother-in-law Ex-senator Clay
ton. And further charges Mr.. Hodges will
| destroying the votes, OF. pspoersts, 81 th
election in Pulaski county, and substituting
Radical, at the election in 1868.
The first question that is asked is, who il
Thomds n. Fishbomnef
1t is barely possible, that what Fishbourn'
makes affidavit to, is all true. And II Il
rather singular If this man is so ncorruptiblt
and extremely honest, that he should hav,
! waited three or four years before he made tn,
expose.
s There is not doubt. In the mind of any OBJ.
serving man, that the Constitutional Conyen-
ton in 1865 was carried by fraud and corrup-
tion on the part fthose in power IN the State
and in fact every election held since tbe,,
stand. in the same cstagory.
We copy the Patriots remarks and aillda-
Wit:
IlosEsr ~ llopgEs.-sWe have been hand
ed the folawing strange document by the gen
tleuiah who's. name Is attached and We give
II for what u is worth not vouching for its
truth. or responsible for its grave charges. II
theS. things are true, as stated in Mr. Fish
boufB-s affidavit the grand jury should get
after this partner OF Joe Brooks, and give him
a chsnce to serve the State while in the
panitentisry
STATE or ARKANSAS
County Of County. .-.
Thomas M. Fishbourne being duly sworn
dcposes and SAYS that he is n citizen of Arkan-
sas aud has been such since 1865; that he is
we'll acquainted with James l.. Hodges of Lit
tie Rock; that in 1865 he, doponcnt, was clerk
OF the bord OF election created by the con-
sttutional convention. That, while ho was
so employed, the said Jane. l.. Hodges was
one Of the Judges of election in Pulask ki coun-
ty, at the SAME polls with dsponent That
thu said Hodges desired deponent to check by
q pGrticu!ar mark all the names OF those who
cast votes against the Republican party, for
he intended to destroy their votes or substi-
tute others in their place That Hodges did
do So " ith u numbar of Democratic votes, uu-
til this drponent refused TO permit it to be
done and threatened to expose him for his
rasrality
Til. dcponcnt further says that in January,
1869 In front of the State House in Little
Rock Hodges made propositions to this dcpo-
nent TO as,assinate Hon. j. ii. Barton brother
in-law Of Gen. Powell Clayton, and eilered
$1,000 to have the job done. He said " he
could be easily knocked on the head by some
Of your men, referring to the State guards
OF which drponent was then an officer, lle
said that Barton was inluring his prospects
for getting pay for State arms, and was also
iniurng his Influence with Clayton, and if
Barton was out Of tho way there would be no
difficulty. Deponent WAS shocked at the
proposition, and threatened the said Hodges.
that. If he ever made such a proposition again,
he would shoot him.
Hodges never approached deponent again
on that subject, but was Informed that he
(lIodgesl had made the same proposition to
two other parties, whose names can be given
il desired. TliOS. Nj. FlsHBOURKE.
Sworn and subscribed to thi. l2th day of
December, 4. d., 1871.
JAMES A. LJCKnART.
Clerk.