The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-08-01
ARKANsAs,
The Pope County Disturbances-.The
Governor Threatens Martial Law.

LITTLE Rock, July 3l.-The Governor
issued . proclamation this forenoon,
threatening % declare. martial law In
Pope county. Alter reviewing the cause
Of the trouble, he says:
lam further informed that Judge May
issued warrants for the arrest OF ten per-
sons, whose whereabouts are now un.
known TO me, charged with firing upon
the sherifi'a posse, &C. These warrants,
/ am advised, were served on at least
most of them, and about forty witnesses
had been subpenaed by the defendants.
l am advised that on the day set for the
trying Of the ten persons arrested on the
charge Of firing upon the sherifFs posse,
SC, the prisoners came to court armed
with double barrelled shot guns and
Navy revolvers; that the forty witnesses
were similarly armed, and that from
forty to sixty other people, all OF whom
were armed with double barrelled
shot guns and pistols, and who in no
manner constituted a part Of the guard
for the prisoners accompanied them to
the place where the examination was to
be held. This l am advised was done
against the advice, over the eprotest OF the
counsel for the prisoner. The counsel
Tor aid on behalf Of the State by reason of
this violent revolutionary proceeding and
threats Of violence made in his hearing,
was constrained to withdraw from the
prosecution where the court and Its officers
would be compelled to behold prisoners
and witnesses 'subpeoned on their behalf,
all armed to the teeth, denying the au.
thority of the judge and his jurisdiction
in the premises. The sheriff and his party
have submitted themselves TO law and so
far as / am concerned they have
kept the peace and their assurances to
me, Those persons charged with firing
upon the Sheriff and his posse have not
done so, and l am advised that the citi-
zens Of Pope county, in the vicinity OF
Dover, arc now in arms, determined to
resist the authority Of the law and its
officers. / do not desire to place Pope
county under martial law or subject the
citizens TO the loss ofproperty, consequent
in quartering militia in the county, but
the law must and shall be enforced, re-
spected and obeyed, and II necessary, the
entire force of the State will be employed
for that purpose. The citizens must
return to their homes, lay down their
arms and attend to the daily vocations Of
life"
Judge May in an official letter to the
Governor, received this evening, after
mentioning the release OF the Sheriff and
his posse on bail, says: "A
"Afidavits were there filed by Dodson
charging ten persons (naming them with
bushwhacking his posse at the time
Wicker and Hale were killed. Warrants
were issued and on Thursday morning
the defendants came in and surrendered,
and we're put under guard, bringing 2S
witnesses. There being no witnesses
sup9ned for the prosecution went home
Thursday evening, and Friday morning
was taken sick and have not been able to
return to Russelville yet. knew when
attacked that / would not be able 10 re.
turn. The prosecution had not up to
that time had supnna issued. intima.
ted that they did not intend to suppna
any andinstructed the Sheriff to discharge
the prisoners for failure Of the plaintiffs
to produce any witnesses TO sustain
their charge. The same was done, and
the investigation ended. l learn that
some parties are trying to make it appear
that the Court was intimidated the last
day it was held, and that was the reason
Of my not putting in On appearance on
Friday. 1t is not so. Sickness alone
prevented me. Some capital is attempted
to be made in regard to the prisoners
from Dover coming in with an armed
squad. 1 am informed there were ten.
prisoners, ten guards and twenty-three
witnesses who were in the squad, besides
some citizens. When they came in they
were marched to the guard house and
all disarmed but the guards.
Governor, whatever you do, would
urge you not TO declare martial law in
Pope county unless there should be more
justification for 1t than now. Dodson,
Hickcox and Williams, the three ring
leaders in the late tragedy, whose bonds
were fixed at $1,000 each, have not yet
given bonds, but are now In the city,