New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-20
ARKANSAS.
THE POPE COUNTY TROUBLES.

| THE POLITICAL MURDERs-GUILT or THE sHERIPp
| AND CLERK-THE MURDERERs AT LARGE
WITHOUT BAII.-TERROR OF THE CITIzESs-
DREAD OF MARTIAL LAW.
| IRON THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUsRI
RUssELLvILLE, Pope Co., Ark, Aug. 10.-On
reading the aldavits relative to the Pope County muir
ders while in Little Rock, found that the evidence
| that Sheriff Dodson, County Clerk HickOx, AMI
! their posse, mad massacred their prisoners, and
that the two officials had sent detail Of their
| own party IN advance, 10 fire from the bushes in
order to give the appearance Of rescue, was 80 com
plete that no room was left for doubt The circum-
stantia evidence Joined the testimony Of the two
| prisoners West and Hall, who escaped, and the
wounded man. who afterward died. would convict
| the sheriff and tho clerk OF murder In any
court. The facts. to rehearse them briefly, were a.
follows: deputy sheriff named Williams either was
fired on, pretended that he was by party concealed
near his house. For years the county had entirely
peaceable and the people dsbeieyed Wlliamss story,
and thought he had shot hole in his hat and through
his coaseeve to make 1t appear that attempt had
been made TO take his life and to open the for the
subsequent proceedings. The sheriff and CLERK mus
tered posse Of 2s men, all OF the Grant and Clayton
party and without warrant arrested four men. took
them through the county seat and started for adj.
joining county where the circuit Judge lived. Seven
miles south Of the county seat and three miles from
the Of Russeye they halted, put the prisoners
In a church, and planned the murder. They sent five
in advance to fire into the air from the bushes by
the road The firing done as arranged, and the
sheriff and clerk aided by the school superintendent at
shot two OF the prisoners the other two escaping IN
the darkness One of the prisoners shot second
time while the ground with dOuble-barreled shot
gum in the hands OF the sheriff The wounds In both
showed that they could have been made by shots
the roadside, but that they made with guns
placed against their bodies. The posse disbanded after
the murder, and Dodson and Hckox proceeded 10 Little
Rock, asserted that they had been bushwhacked and
demanded that martial law be declared. The suisse
quent proceedings IN court are well known
Gov HADLEY SIDING WITH MURDERERs
I had an interview with the Governor "Wednesday,
and found my astonishmen that he took the side OF
the murderers persisenty and adroitly II he had
been their counsel and that he st intended to declare
martial law in Pope County could not learn that he
had any evidence other than the reports OF the murder
ers, that there any disposition the part Of the
citizens to resist the operations of civil law. have
since learned that at the time talked with him he had
letters many OF the best citizens OF the county,
and had been visited by Populations OF the same class OF
men, assuring him that nobody in arms OF intended
to resist the law except squad OF militia who were the
friends OF the murderers. After hours talk with
Gov. Hadley, made up my mind that there no oc-
eason for martial law and that IL IL proclaimed
would be- not to maintain the peace, but tO give the
Clayton party chance to terrify their political OPP
ponents and carry the elections by force and fraud The
partisan in which the Governor and all the men,
Of the Clayton espOused the side or the crlm
na and refused be convinced by the best evidence
that there was lawlessness in Pope County
except what was created by their own friends,
led TO the suspicion In Little Rock that the whole affair
had been planned by the ring to make pretextfor
martial law. Another ground for this suspicion was the
fact that the murderers at large, without hail. as It
was alleged, and that they almost daily private
consultation with the Governor.
determined on Thursday to 60 to Pope County and
see for myself the condition OF affairs there Before
left the capital the rife that Hadley had
changed his mind, and would not declare martial law,
because suspected Clayton and the other members OF
the ring OF design throw him overheard in the State
Convention on the oath, and nominate another fo2
Governor. 1t is not possible to say how much
truth there is In this report, but it IL GER
tain that there was e marked change Of policy
between Wednesday and Thursday night Leaving the
Rock on Friday to 90 By rail aud stage 10 Russe1e.
the chief town in Pope County, found tue train
Capt ,Patten of The State Journal and Gen. Bishop.
Register in Bankruptcy, bound for the place The
captain was search Of information for his papernot
one Of the Little Rock papers had had sufficient enter
prise send reporter to the disturbed district before
ths-and Gen. Bishop had been the night before APP
pointed Special Commissioner by the Governor 20 10
Pope County and report upon the situation and DISPOSE
ton of the people, Hckox the County Clerk OF the
murderers, was in the baggage car armed with two
heavy navy revolyers man named Gibson, who IA
States Attorney for Pope County, but who instead of
prosecuting Hckox and DOdsoa acted their counsel
when they were brought before the judge and waived an
examination was also board-a young fellow OF dis
sipated appearance Hckox in to talk with
him. but was evidently uneasy, aud went pack TO
his retreat in the baggage car.
MURDERER TRAVELS.
1t seemed incredible that murderer could be az large
In civilized community and loaded with deadly wea-
pons while the neiglbors and relatives OF his victims
were pleading with the Governor TO put him at the
head of band OF desperadoes styled militia aud send
him 10 plumber and kill them, but had the evidence Of
nv own eyes, took a good look at the man he sst
facing me. He is a Of powerful physique, with
thick animal neck, heavy bushy whiskers low brows.
and sullen expression OF countenaDceobviousy dan.
eerous character and with brains enough apparently
make him no ordinary rascal When We reached the end
Of the railroad after ride OF four hours lhckox mount
ed horse and disappeared at gallop, accompanied by
two armed men, There but single building at the
railroad terminus a rude board shanty that served
depot store, stage office, and diningroom. The sta
tion-master said Hckox had doubt gone
out to the camp Of party OF militia some
where on Carton Crow Mountains, few
miles Of He did not know where the camp was,
but fifteen OF the pretended militia had been at the
station the day before They ragged dirty fellows
he said black and white and armed with guns and re-
yoyers. They evidently waiting for the expected
proclamation Of martial law to begin depredations upon
the citizens We dined on broed chicken fried chicken
and cabbage, served In q little room with cooking
stove In the corner making with the scorcbing rays Of
the sun pouring down on the thin board rooi an in-
tolerabe emperature Soon after of through the
woods In q rude twohorse stage for Rusevilie, i6
miles distant The country sparsey settled and the
houses were nearly all OF logs The captain and myself
were the only passengers the Special Commissioner and
the States Attorney having remained behind TO find the
militia as we thought. They obviously not DESTROYS
of our company the Of the journey After four