Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-07
PONG COMM. Arkansas.


During the last three months or more, there
have been reports OF violent aud murderous do
ings in Pope county, Arkansas. There has been
no satisfactory explanation of this violence; but,
after reading all the reports and letters relating
to the matter, it seems possible to underestimate.
Pope county is situated nearly half way on a
direct line between Little Rock and the north
west corner of the state. The civilization Of its
best inhabitants is not remarkably brilliant,
while large proportion of them are as barbar-
Gus and lawless as wild Indians, in the NANTES
tations of their prejudces and passions. 1t is
known that some of the Pope county people
have been connected with the desperadoes, who,
led by a fellow named Cullen Baker, have car
Tied on the business of brigaudage between the
Ozark and Texas.
For long time, it appears, these people have
been accustomed TO assassinate their county
officers. Their sherifs and deputy sheriffs have
been disposed of in this way. The last five
clerks of that county were murdered, or, as
correspondent of the New York Herald has it,
"died in their tracks, waylaid by assassins
For some time past, the county officers have
been republicans, and political prejudice and
rage against them seem TO be at the bottom of
the present troubles. We notice that the people
are divided politically into "minstrels," who
appear TO be the regular republicans, demo
Gratis" and "brindle tails" who act with the
democrats. For some time previous to last
July, it was made known that the republican
county officers would be assassinated, and at
tempts were made to execute these threats. Mr.
I;ol- o1ar IN
house, and there was an attempt to shoot Depu-
ty Sheriff Williams. 1t was plain that the lives
Of the officers were in jeopardy, and that it was
dangerous to attempt serving any legal process.
The shot fired at Williams led them to declare
that there should be mo more shooting in Pope
county. without retaliation or arrest" and
now began the proceedings Of which we have
heard so much in the dispatches and letters
from that quarter.
On the eighth day of last July, the sheriff,
whose name is DOdson, summoned posse and
proceeded to arrest the assassins who had at
tempted to shoot Williams. Five men were
arrested. In the evening, while the officers were
going with their prisoners through piece Of
woods, TO Russellville, they were fired upon.
Two Of the prisoners were killed, and the Others
escaped. The sheriff says this attack in the
dark was made by party from Dover, which
sought to rescue the prisoners; but the other
side say the firing was done by the officers
themselves, who had decided to murder the
prisoners. The sheriff s story is more credible
than the other for it is easy to believe there was
a rescuing party, and not easy to believe thai
any of the prisoners could have escaped, if the
officers had resolved to kill them; but each side
believes or disbelieves, according to the dictates
of its mad passions Among those injured
during the attack was Mr.. HickoX the county
clerk. This affair Occasioned the first public
report of war in Pope comfy" Since that
time disorder and violence have prevailed. The
assassins have killed Mr.. Hickox. They have
also shot deputy sheriff, and killed the magis-
trate who held an inquest on Mr.. Hickox.
A letter from Little Rock, printed in the New
York Herald, describes the present condition of
the county, as follows "There is, practically,
no law there, no courts are held, no business
done, and no probability Iof anything ensuing
but more murders" The assassins swear they
will murder Sheriff DodsOn and Mr.. Stuart, SUI
perintendent of schools Many inhabitants of
the county have fed for safety to other parts OF
the state. The Herald's correspondent says:
"All admit that the present county officials
cannot hold their offices with safety"
There will be an attempt to hold a regular term
Of the court, at Dover; but the prospect of sue
cess is not flatering for neither the sheriff, the
deputy sherifs, nor any other county officials
can appear there with safety. War exists in
the county. The hostile parties are organized;
but they seem TO be not very brave, for this
correspondent says: Neither band approaches
the other, and between the two stands the COM
mander of the military forces of the state, with
about fifty of the governors guard" Neither
reconciliation nor civilization seems to be over
abundant in that region