The New York herald., 1872-10-05
The Insult That Led to Hickox's
Assassination.
A Tammany Court House Swim
ole in Arkansas.
The Governor to Declare Mar
tial Law.
LITTLE ROCK, Sept. 25, 1872.

prODaDlllJy OF anything ensuing UuC Somc HoTc
murders The people OF the county swear to kill
Dodson, the republican Sheriff, and Stuart, the
School Superintendent, for the murder of the
prisoners, Tucker and Hale. They have already
killed Hickox the County Clerk, for the same act
shooting him off his horse In the outskirts OF Dover,
and they have shot and seriously wounded the
Deputy Sheriff, besides killing the Justice of the
Peace who held the inquest on Hickox
On the other hand the Sherif's militia have
burned down a Brindle Tail newspaper office at
Russellville and robbed the merchants and
farmers of all the surrounding country of forage,
groceries, arms and stock. Neither band ap
proaches the other, and between the two stands
the commander OF the military forces of the State,
General D. P. Upham, with about fifty Of the Gov.
ernOr's guard.
An attempt will be made to hold regular term
Of the Court at Dover fortnight hence and unless
new hostities intervene the obnoxious Sheriff will
appoint Deputy, if he can find one brave enough
to act. If there are any more assassnations the
Governor will declare martial law.
The state Of society is truly barbaric. Many
people are refugees from the country at Darda-
nellie and Little Rock. All profess to want peace,
and yet none admit that the present county officials
can hold their Offices with safety The Governor
says that he has no power to remove the Sheriff
nnd his Chief Justice so instructs him. The county
scrip has fallen to nearly nothing, and more than
county.
In previous letter l have related how, when the
new constitution Of the State went to the vote and
those only who voted for its adoption could vote
also for State and county Olcers II found that
Wallace II. hicKox, late OF Illinois, was County
Clerk Of Pope county, where he had arrived with
the conquerors five years before. Hickox ruled
Pope county by manifest superiority and steady
force, and acted as IL he had come to stay.
THE ENEMY'5 CORPS OF OBSERVATION.
Around the village were number Of Confede-
rate soldiers and Union officers, who had seen SER
vice in partisan warfare in the mountains and
plains of Arkansas and on the distant fields. Since
the conclusion OF the war they had been observers,
and one or two, 1t Is claimed, were participants in
the ranging and robbing parties which beat to and
fro between the Ozark and Texas led by Cullen
Baker and other desperadoes. Bred to the bivouac,
HickOx gave whatever leisure he had for women to
avillage widow, and the social consideration Of the
place was withdrawn from him. while its political
consideration he never had.
BlCKERISGs.
He was keenly perceptive OF those people whose
nl-wll he knew he had obtained, and ne set down
as nearly in the same class all active politicians on
the other side. Political difference was personal
cause TO Hickox, and he called rebel nothing
less miider.
THE HOUSES OF PIzARRo AND AMALGRo.
AIter tne brlnQle Iall DIVISION, Wnen tne radical
party fell suddenly apart, and the county paper
going to the brindles, fell bitingy upon Hckox
Dodson, Stuart and the rest, 1t became
apparent to the entire people that the
days OF the carpetbag corps OF occupation
were numbered, and this was followed by q cOrre-
spending exultation and show of independence on
their side. The charges that the new Court House
had cost twice what 1t should have done, that
Hickox had fixed up his own of1ces eaborately and
0verissued scrip beyond his authority, that the
taxes were excessive and unequaly distributed
and that the Hickox junta had nobody's care or
confidence, passed from Battenfelds county paper
Into 1reside comment, and the young bucks OF the
village and country talked them over the steps
OF the stores and drinking doggeries. However,
all processes were obeyed and the laws may have
been said to command acquescence until the first
rupture OF personal nature occurred from Hck-
Dxs 0bstinacy concerning a man named Harry
Poynter. the very same who afterwards shot him.
HARRY POINTER HICKoxs FATE.
Poynter had been Confederate soldier and un
der-ofcer, and he was the cousin OF the woman at
whose house Hickoxiwas boaTder.
He was average village poor white, who fol-
lowed q little farming and some carpentering; a
black-eyed, black-haired little fellow mild enough
nnd common enough except when aroused, and
then his vanity made him furtive as a wolf and IN
forgyiDg as an Indian He carried arms never
fought but he bethought him OF his knife or pistol,
and had that needless disregard OF life which is the
problem OF the South in good order and stable gov
ernnent. Poynton was man on whom Ilickox
had Kept his eye, as fellow who lad killed his man
and was independent and desperate
INSULT.
The Sheriff, Dodson, who was totally amenable
to Hickox's influence, and was yet man of
desperate character conjolned to the cowardy
stratagem OF the independent ranger, had taken
OF the Sheriff who had been murdered some years
before. Williams, who was country side boy like
the rest although OF Union family, had been sent
a
conduct some convcts to the Pententary at Little
and expenses to any Of the villagers who might be
selected, and few would probably be 10th TO 60 as
with its saloons, Leoni's opera, billiard dens, shoot
ing galleries and gfosser privileges.
SCUFFLE.
It was the April term Of the Court in this present
year. 1872, and while HckoX was III the court room
In the second story, sitting within the bar at the
Clerks desk, some newsbearer or hangeron came
''Mr Hickox, Williams has picked ont Harry
POINTER to go to Little Rock with the possen
"By God, that won't dol" said Hickox, true TO
his old rcpulson.
room and down stairs to the Sherhs office, where
Dodson was getting the posse and prisoners ready.
S se NJ a 70 tr roaeh TO
Poynter, who stood there with his traps OF travel
and % MS revolver at his nip, and said:-
1--WE don't want you ~
..Mr. Williams summoned me-" said Poyntcr,
I've I've ieit t my work and been at the time and ex-
I'VE don't want your sortr' exclaimed Dodson.
"Y0u can't go.n
81 mean to 60" persisted Poynter; 'T'm poor
man, Sir, and I've got me some things to go WITH
Y0u don't give me good trcatnent.n
'G0 out Of here " said DVdson; "Gol damn you
90 outn
The Arkansas devil was up in Poynter's face in 4
minute, and he said, Perhaps youll come outside
with me, If you're man enoughln
D0ds0n reached to push Poynter out OF his office,
they clinched, the hand CT the Arkansan was at
once on the hip where the loaded pistol lay, there
was q struggle for the trigger Williams, q third
pfrty pushed and took the dangerous weapon from
bloody face.
He Is said to have refused to wash himself or
change his clothes, but carried the marks OF this