New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-07
THE ARKANSAS TROUBLES
IN POPE COUNTY.

CLAYTON SUPPOSED TO BE IMPLICATED-A
POLITICAL PLOT.
IRON THB SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THR TRIBUsBl
MEMPHIS, Aug 2.-Recent information in re-
laton the disturbances in Pope County Arkansas OBJ
tanned from who have lately come
OF tho troubles ard from the local journals, makes
1t appear almost beyond doubt that the persons
arrested upon the crge Of firing upon Deputy Shorlf
williams we're murdered by Sheriff Dodson and his posse,
instead Of being killed by the fire of friends attempting
their rescue as represented by the Sheriff. Is difficult
TO believe that officers OF the law would massacre de-
fenseess men entirely in their power but the evidence
points 40 strongly to this conclusion that doubt Ia
almost impossible. Persons familiar with the des-
perate character q the men selected by Senator
Clayton 10 carry ou his schemes for controlling Arkan-
sas say that they nyer doubted from the first that the
sherrs posse had butchered their prisoners with as
little conjunction 80 many savage Indians wouid
have had in lie circumstances. The facts OF
the affair and OF the subsequent alleged armed re-
beon in Pope County against the State authorities. are
stated by unprejudted persons familiar with the whoio
affair be briefly these On the 9Th OF July Deputy
sheriff Williams a nan OF no character, stated that an
attempt had been made assassinate him; that ne
had been fred upon by concealed persons, ana tnat
he suspected certain persons to have been guilty.
of the Sheriff Dodson and his Deputy thereupon
raised largo posse. numbering about 200 men, all mem
bers Of militia company commanded by Williams, and
county seat Of Pope County, where they arrested N o.
Hale and his son william Hale Returning TO Dover
they arrested joseph Tucker and Perry West, and
started southwark with their prisoners, informing
them that they had Gders from Judge May to take them
to Dardanee, in tn, adjoining county Of Tel. They
arrived within three miles OF the town of Russellye
hour before sunsst and halted, without apparent
reason, until some time after dark
THE SHERIFF SEEN COMMIT THE ACT.
They told the prisoners expected to be BUSH
whacked when they started Dodson and Hickok, one
OF his posse rode ahead. The prisoners were placed
next, and tho Of thu posse brought up the rear
Nearly half the posse had However, disappeared during
the halt. The cavalcad, had not proceeded far
when it was fired at from the bushes. The Sheriff
and his men declared that he fire killed Tucker and
mortally wounded william Hill. The other two prison
e who escaped in the confusion, testified that the shots
were fred almost directly Upward into the air. and hit
nobody, and that Dodson md HickOk Immediately
turned out the road while the rest Of the at
once tho prisoners One Of the escaped prison
ers further that as le lay concealed In the
bushes he heard the groanso Tucker, and saw tho
sheriff take shotgun and bbw his brains out, saying,
''Oh by Godi I've got you NV where wanted you"
fact that not OF the herfs party was touched
by the voey from bushes Is strong corroboratiye
evidence that attempted rescuing party
would have killed two OF teir friends and left their
enemies unframed, and retreted without waiting to
learn the effect OF their shots On the evidence OF west
and the suryiving Hale warnnts issued for the
arrest OF the Sheriff and his POSSE by Judge May but
they were not disturbed ultil the 22d, when they
gave themselves up and were put under the guard OF
their own friends About thu same time ten men we're
arrested upon the affidavit OF he Sheriff. charging them
with having bushwhaoked his ary when the murder OF
the prisoners occurred. No evidence produced
against them, and they all discharged On
the sd Sheriff Dodson Hickok were released
in 50 600 bail each, and tic rest OF their militia
were required to give bond in only $500 each. The
Sheriff and his lawless miit posse belong to the Clay
ton faction and all the darged by him with bush
walking his company, OF with firing on his
deputy, are Democrats o anti-Clayton RepuO-
licanA known as the "BIndle TALL party, which
ia now cooperating with the Liberal movement.
GOV. HADLEr's PARTIaS PROCLAMATION
On the 3oth Of July ov. Hdey ClaytOns successor,
issued long proclamation, spousing the side Of the
Sheriff with evident partisan feeling. charging the men
accused OF Ku-KluXing that officer, with coming into
court with about 40 OF theii friends, armed with shot
guns and reyolvers TO intimate the Judge, and warn
ing them to lay down their arms under penalty OF
having martial law declared md the militia quartered
upon them Unfortunately m the Governor, ON the
same day Judge May himself.so partisan OF Clayton,
count Of the proceedings OF his Court and stating that
although the prisoners from Dover the u. alleged
their weapons Immediately AID that the only man VINO
wore arms in the Court-roomTas Sherin Dsdson. Inc
4
the people OF Pope County ht the Sheriff cannot be re-
moved or suspended. and that they must respect
his authority and submit TO be arrested
y him and his Deputies Mosiof the respectab people
OF Pope County believe tht the Sherln murdered
Tucker and Hail. and they hare no assurance that ne
will not murder Others OF In political opponents II
they permit him TO Arrest them. AS men
yang their lives they naturally reluctant 10 put
themselves IN his power, audit Is probable that they
will resist his authority In hte OF the Governors
| warning. The militia commanded by MS Deputy,
| are reported to have committed many acts OF
| robbery and outrage Away, OF course, upon the
property persons OF their ptca opponents ana AZ
last accounts these Outrages rs stu being continued
call IA published in the last isue OF The RusseHrHe
Tribune for q Convention or law-abidng citzens 10
meet on the 10th nst for the prpose OF considering the
situation.
CLAYTON APPEARS JUST BEFoR THE TROUBLES OCCUR
1t is noteworthy fact that 5Rstor Clayton made his
In the State just bere the troubles occurred
I'm Pope County. The outrageOs practices by which he
carried the election two years and sent his satellites
| 10 Congress against the 'otes Of tho people,
| {ustify the belief entertaind by the Liberals
| in Arkansas that the Poe County affair was
| cotton up 10 make excuse Tor declaring
martial law before the coming election, and that under
cover OF martial the state to be carried Tor Grant
nv balotbox stufng and false bunting They say that
| CLAYTON has the power thrugh the state oncers,
who are all TO cont the vote OF Arkansas
nst as he wishes and they hee no confidence that he
| will refrain from exercising thapower
/