The Van Buren press., 1872-07-16
Bloody Work.
Prabobe Killing Of Three Caiss' q
Pope County.


Parties by last evenings train on the Fort Smith
road bring exciting news from Pope county As
PREDATORY to what follows, we copy the following
from yesterdays Republican:
"Frorn Capt Fitch, who has just returned from
Pope county, we learn Of dastardly attempt on
the part of two ku-hhx to take the life OF John
Williams, deputy sh riff of Pope county. on last
Friday night He had been at Dover and reached
home before dark. In company with another man.
Sheriff Williams went to his corn crib, and while
standing on the outside of this four shots-evi'
IDENTIFY from pistol-were fired at him from the
bushes One ball str ck him on the belt, knock
ing him down. and the others missed him. Will
liam's companion jumped out and took him to the
house. In the meantime the assasslns Ned. AS
last accounts Capt. illiams was doing well. and
will not be incapacitateJ from duty for long.
These outrages are becoming too frequent, and
citizens should 90 prepared for the attacks OF the
eowardly ruffians wEo haunt thickets and live up
on bad whisky and game
Bad as was the spirit in which the above was
conceived and written, what followed was still
more reprshensble. Williams went to Dover and
made the report above. The general opinion seems
to have been that he did the shooting himself IN
order to raise the cry of ku klux and bring trouble
upon the good people of the county. On Monday,
as we eaIn from gentleman who left Russell
vile Yesterday, the sheriff. Elisha Dobson, sum
moned posse of twenty eight men, went out from
Dover to the vicinity Of the reported attempt at as
sassnaton, and arrested four persons on suspicion
of berg the parties concerned In It, 1hey were
a Mr.. Hale and son, Mr.. West and Joe Tucker.
Mr.. Hale is an old and respected citizen OF the
county. The others are young men, and generally
esteemed good citizens. Ii appears that the par
ties demanded trial before magistrate at Dover,
bnt the sheriff refused, stating that he intended TO
take tn EN- to Dardanele, in Yell county, before
Judge May, the circuit Judge he started with
them about o'clock in the afternoon. When about
three miles fLom Russelville, which is about ten
miles from Dover and five from Dardanelle, the
sheriff halted Lis posse with the avowed intention
of camping during the night. A party was sent
out to hunt forage but returned, stating none
could be OF tanned. The party then remounted,
and the four prisoners were placed abreast IN
front About this time u portion OF the posse
left the party and went another road Golng on
about three or four hundred yards, several shots
were heard in front from unseen parties, when the
sheriff ordered the guard to fire on the prisoners,
which they did, killing Tucker and 1t is thought
Young Hale and West also The old man Hale es-
capped back to Dover. Soon after his sons horse
came in with blood all over the saddle, and II was
inferred by this tEat his son was one OF the sher-
ifs victims. Nothing has been heard OF West,
but the general impression was that he also iell
victim by the same means.
Inc people OF Rueseii'iiie' y" "'"'i i"S ""
it is stated at once armed themselves and when
our informant left yesterday morning more trouble
was spprehended. The clerk, Mr.. Hickox, was
one Of tha sheriff. posse. During the melee he
was thrown from his horse aad had his arm Sc
verely injured, The sheriff and Hckox arrived in
the city last evening to consult the governor-per
haps to ssk him to declare martial law. Capt.
John R. II. Scott on behalf Of the citizens of the
county, also arrived last e, ening and had an inter
view with the governor last night 1t to be hop
ed his excellency will resort to no unusual means
in this matter A thorough and complete investi-
CATION into the facts should be had and where
ever the responsibility rests the guilty parties
should receive speedy punshment.-L. R. Ga
zctte.