The Van Buren press., 1872-09-24
The Pope County War.
Kausrs ShW Quiet-Ths Woaading Of
WHHams-He STU Lires.
From Little Rock Gasetts.l

krIom Lutte MOCK UateVs
Several parties arrived from Pope county
last evening, among others, Messrs Jobe and
Battenfeld, of the Tribune, which office was
destroyed by fire on Sunday night by some
of Dodson's militia. They visit Little Rock
for the purpose OF obtaining new material
with which to print their paper.
We are told that on Thursday Dodson made
speech to his men, telling them that he
wanted none to remain with him but "trus
blues" and il there were any who did not
heartily sympathize with him he desired
them to leave. At this one hundred and fifty
of his men left. glad of the opportunity to get
away. leaying one hundred and twenty y-iiye
with him.
We hope to be able to give Williams con-
fession, and other developments of the origi-
nal plan of Dodson, Hickox & Co. Williams
is reported to be still living with fair pros
poets OF recovery. The following letter fully
explains the affair in which he was wounded: I:
RussELLvrLLE Sept. 10, 1872,
EDITORS GAZETTE: BY request OF several cit-
ZenS give you correct account of the shoot
ing Of John Williams, deputy sheriff of Pope
county. | was an eye witness of the whole
affair, as it took place in about fifty yards of
my house. | first saw twenty eight men pass
my door, armed with guns and pistols. Four
or five OF them were on foot. They went TO
the lower end efmy lane, where some ofthem
got oil their horses. some remained in the
saddle, while others got into my field. !
watched them closely to see what they were
going to do. Those that got off their horses
got in the corners OF the fence Directly four
men came from another road leading into the
lane As they appeared those men who were
in the fence corners placed their guns on the
fence and fired at them all at once. Thetir-
ing frightened the horses of the four men.
The latter returned the tire at the men in the
fence corners, and rs they di so, those men
who remained on their horses commenced
firing on the four. The latter then commenced
fire on the former with pistols and | was
one man fall | thought dead, but in few
minutes he rose again and commenced firing
on the four men, but fell again as though he
was wounded.
In about twenty minutes one Of the four
men came to the house and told me he had Sc
verely wounded oohn Williams, as Williams
had shot at him after threatening his life and
waylaying him. | understand that one of
both parties got wounded besides Williams.
Since the fight all four of the men have been
to see Williams, and he has told them that he
begun the trouble, and told them to 90 home
and be at peace-that there was none to blame
but himself and that if he had been doing
what he ought there would have been no diff
Guilty, and all would have been well.
Yours, respectfully,
NANCY ANN TRIGGs.
We clip the following from last evenings
Journal in reference to Williams confession:
On the Sth inst. Williams made a confession
before many persons, among whom WAS Mr..
NJ. A. llrnthorne, who gives us the following
notes of what he stated;
mir. Williams expressed great desire TO
make Il confession. He said he had been an
instigator of the troubles of Pope county, and
deeply regretted having acted any part in
them. He did not blame the men for shoot
ing him, for he shot at them first, and did not
desire them moested whether by law or 9TH
erwise. He had ordered his men to go home
and never return again. and said that Dodson
and Upham had better disband their men. He
wished some one would tell them never to
come aboutshim again. If they should come
to see him he would advise them to disband
their men, for there was no necessity for their
presence, or for martial law in Pope county.
They were only making a bad matter worse.
lie affirmed that the altidavits of Perry West
and w o. Cox. as published in the Russell
vile Tribune. were correct. lie expressed
wish to say more and make further disclos-
ures, but was suffering such intense misery
that he could not continue.
The following letter. from former mem
Der of Dodson's militia. explains itself:
LITTLE Rock Sept. ii, 1872.
EDToRs GAZETTE: On Thursday evening
the 9TH day of September, 1872. | was sum
moned by one of Dodson's men to appear at
Perry station on the following morning. |
told him would not go. lie then told me
would be made to go; that they were sum-
moning every man in the county, and that
they all had to go. ] then told him | would
be there. although had TO walk about eleven
miles. and left my wife sick at home, with no.
body to take care of her; but rather than be
made go went. and there met about $50 men
(consoripts) under the command of the assas-
81 Dodson. That Friday night we marched
to Mr.. X. Potts, distant about ten miles,
where we camped for the night. The men
took everything about the place in the eating
line. and forage enough to feed 800 horses,
though ! stepped off and went home that
night and back next morning. Some of the
men swore they would burn the Tribune Of
flee and about one block of other buildings
before a week. We then moved to the farm
ofJohn Bradley Ga brindle), where we camp
eG for two days, until they plundered and took
all he had. Dodson then said they would
have to move on to some other brindle-taiIs
and eat him out After that we moved to .he
farm of old Stuart, and commenced on Mr.. j,
L. Wharton, Killed the STOCK ana captured all
hi. eatables and every bodys cattle that they
could find (for they owned none emselyes).
and our general orders were not to take any
thing from minstreljo or Clayton man-only
from the brndles andDemocrats. After find
ing out that was not legally summoned, and
they could not hold me, | concluded that |
would stay with no such gang of thieying
robbers and informed them that was going
home. They told me was at liberty to 60
but would have to suffer the consequences.
and gave me to understand that they would
kill me il they caught me; and thought it
advisable to leave the county, and according
ly moved to Little Rock | could tell more
on them than has ever been told yet but
through fear of being killed ! refrain from
SAYING anything more. | have often heard
many'of Dodson's and Stuarts men and them
selves say and swear they would Kill j. IL.
Battenfeld the first chance ; that him and the
Tribune Office should go up;' If not nov
there was hereafter; and, believe, will XII
him if he stays Mt home where they can see
him. III had the means of leaving the state
| would make full statement in regard to
all their damnable plots and schemes of vii
lainy | was considered minstrel, but
want it thoroughly understood that after all
their bloody work and midnight murders,
no more belong nor sympathize with any such
villains. am yours for REFORM,
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