New-York tribune., 1872-08-13

courthouse under cuard while Dodson and HckcoN
each took squad OF rom the posse and procoeu'u
make further arrests. They first marched 10 'le wv
saloons arrested and took TO the courthouse 'e wv.
nronrieiors Joscnh Tucker and Gen. Franklin.
Tucker who was afterward murdered. was respec'a-
BILE popular young man, with family, ana II was DO.
claimed that he was connected with the Pe'o""Vu
shooting at williams. Franklin, through the
intercession of tie deputy clerk, was anerWard
released. They then searched for Hogan
Paynter, BayliSs, ani other prominent ana re-
spectacle young mon, but failed to ma tnenl'
just before resuming their march they arrested Liberty
west who had at the request OF the wives oil the
two Haes 10 ntercede them and secure II possible
prompt and fair trial. and who, in discharge OF that
duty had simply demonstrated with DOdson in quiet
manner whereupon he was suddenly arrested and added
20 the prisoners; DOdson eXelaimng Wel you are so
id smart. YOU may come along too DOdson' VINO hau
all assured aes that they should have speedy
examination before magistrate In Dover now an
nounced that he had orders from judge May te Judge
Of the rcuiO 70 take the prisoners TO Dardanee whch
is in Yell County These arrests were all made without
warrants, and without informing the prisoners OF the
nature Of the Odense, If any, with whch they
stood charged. or course they were unlawful; the
detention constituted false imprisonment ana the
pretended posse was merely mob. Even II lawfully
arrested il is made the duty OF the officers making the
arrests TO take the prisoners before the nearest maS
trate for examination; whereas these men were taken
past the doors of half dozen magistrates Judge May
states that he gave orders TO have the prisoners
brought before him Dardanelc, and die Lot know at
that time that they to be arrested Besides such
thing as preliminary examination in any other county
than that IN when the OGense was alleged TO have been
committed IS novel idea to lawyers. The whole pro-
ceedng only conspiracy on the part OF these
officials and their followers TO get possession OF these
gentlemen Tor the dabOhcal purpose which Will appear
TIE RIDE DEATH
Tie four prisoners were marched toward Russell
VILE ten miles distant West requested Dodson TO re-
lease him. stating that his wife, not knowing the cause
Of his detention would be uneasy, and assured him II
he had said anything offensive he sorry for it, Dod
son repen that he would reflect IT, and let him know
next morning During the conversation Dodson IN
formed him that he arrested the other three prls
oners not foT shooting DcputySheriH Willams' Dut
for killing Morris Williams six years ago, ana that ho
was going TO kill every of b-h OF them' III Is not
retepdea that there is even a suspicion that either OF
these men was guilty OF killing Morris Williams; ana
Dobson himself, on every other occasion, has pre-
tended that he arrested them for the alleged
attempt TO kill the deputy-sherif, which state
ment he made under oath in legal proceeding which
will be referred TO. After marching seven miles from
Dover and within three miles Of Russeyile and seven o.
Dardanee they reached old camp ground known as
the Shiloh or Williamson CaDpGround; and although II
was an till sunset they camped as they pretended
TO procure forage The forage Is shown TO be pre-
text by the circumstance tnat the families living IN the
neighborhood Of the camp and who had plenty OF
forage Of knds-corn, OATS and fodderState that no
one applied to them during that time for forage The
real motive threefold viz TO reeonnoer the pace
where the feigned ambuscade was 10 be placed ana the
prisoners massacred to move part Of the posse 10 the
front TO constitute the ambuscadng party and to delay
the whole affair till dark During the halt the prisoners
were confined in rude structure standing on the camp
ground and used a church. While waiting there they
were entertained with mock religious exercises one OF
the pose entering the pulpit and pretending to preach
while others sang.
Gone thoa fount Of every blessing" &c.
Until the prisoners had few or 10 apprehensions
OF their impending fate, and had been quite hopeful AT
this time they heard DOdson, Hickcox ana Stuart con-
versing low tone outside the church, and became
alarmed by the general movements. one Of the posse
pressed the Sheriff relieve him at this point as he had
had nothing TO eat all day. DOdsOn replied "that IN an
hour after sundown they all could 60" AS they were
about to on Stuart appeared at the door OF the
church and gave orders TO the prisoners prepare to
march. The old Hale begged him 10 give him some
assurance that should not be harmed Stuart assured
him on his honor a gentleman and Christian not
a hair OF his head should be hurt"
As they formed TO move forward, Dodson and Hekcox
rode In front and Tucker, side by sides then
the Hales; then the posse, two and two. The posse
were ordered to carry their guns cooked and aimed at
the prisoners As they rode along Dodson looked back,
and with a demoniac laugh said, Not more than half
the men 20 be left (" He orders they were
attacked. to make sure Of the prisoners.
THE MASSACRE.
About half a mile the campgrOund there is belt
of apngs about 25 feet wide bordering the road behind
which is an open feld the left is forest with under
brush This the spot chosen for the ambuscade.
Reaching this point, some Of the posse exclaimed,
ozark az Egypt" 10 which DOdson replied, But Egypt
has 10 eyes" This appears TO have been the signal
agreed upon for instantly call TO halt from be-
hind the belt of sapngs the right, followed by the
discharge several guns The testimony Of the old man
Hale and West Who escaped, and the dying declaration
Of young Hale concur that the blaze from the guns
ascended almost porpendiculary Certain il Is that no
one was hit from this firing and instead Of firing upon
1r looking after the persons in ambush, Dodson cried
out Now is the time, boys, TO do your work." and he
and HckcOx being in 'front.' wheeled their horses TO the
right with their backs toward the party in ambush
Tucker received ball in his spine, and fell from bis
lorse Young Hale received the contents OF shotgun
n his right shoulder and fell Old man Hale, having
spirited horse escaped the road unharmed his horse
knocking down HckcOx's horse and slightly Djuring
uckcox as he passed. When the firing be-
yan West threw himself the side Of his horse,
which caused his saddle TO turn and threw
aim on the ground He crawled into the tbicket and
lay mOtonless until the entire party had passed on He
savs that while he lay there he distinctly heard the
ambassadors come in from the right Of the road and
join the posse and heard them laugh as they reoined
each other He further states that after the whole
party ridden up the road he heard man groaning
in tine road and heard DOdsOns voice saying, "HOw,
God damn you I've got you,' and immediately heard
heavy discharge from a shotgun, and the groan-
ing ceased. Tucker's body disclosed a wound in
the spinal column from a ball fired from the rear,
and wound the left side OF the face large enough as
the surgeon stated "tO put hs fist in West escaped
Tucker was killed, and young Hale fed mortahy
wounded TO a neishborng house, from which he
red home where he died in few days. Such the
frghtfu details Of the most deliberate murders
and codbooded massacre under the sanction OF official