The Van Buren press., 1872-09-10

] publish very clear and concise statement by
| kef. j. NJ. L. Hickerson, of the killing OF
! Hickox, who for more than six months has
| been the deputy clerk of the county. On the
day prior to the killing of lliekox he dis
/ charged Mr.. Hickerson from his employ be-
cause. rs he stated, the latter had foiled his
attempt to get the governor TO declare mar
tlal law in the county some time ago. by Civ
ing the executive plain, unvarnshed state
ment of the killing of young Hale and Joe
| Tucker by the sherif's posse.
! We ask candid reading of the following,
aid leave the public to judge of its truthful
ness:
LITTLE Rock, Sept ).
EDTcRs GAzETrE--l notice in this morn
| lngs Gazette statement of the Pope county
| troubles. Purporting to be my version of the
same. | desire to correct some inaccuracies
in the s'ataments of the Gazette above allud-
ed to. and that all may understand what |
have to say about it, herewith submit a
statement for publication:
On Saturday, August 81, 1872, at about IL
O'Clock a. M, Sheriff Dodson and John IL.
Williams (who was once his deputy rode into
the town of Dover alone and halted at the
south door of the Courthouse for few min
utes in conversation with a little boy who
was at the door after which they rode off in
direction of Mr.. llickox's boarding house.
where suppose they took dinner. At about
were back at the Courthouse, and from the
kno king and ammcring inside of the Court
house. supposed they were mailing the wind
ows and doors. In about an hour they COM
menced putting the county records and some
Of the Courthouse furniture into a two-horse
wagon. After the wagon was loaded it moved
out In direction of Russellville-being in
charge OF young man who was said to be
Mr. Dodsou'S son.
In about haitian hour Ilickox, Dodson and
Williams mounted their horses and started
out in the same direction, Dodson in front,
and IlicXoX and Williams a few feet in his
rear, Williams being on llickoxs right. As
they left the Court-square, and entered the
street in the direction of RusSellyille, they
had to pass n large dry-goo house on their
right. occupied by Young, Halle d Co and
a drug store on their left, occupied by john
son d McMurry. At the time they passed
these houses twenty-five or thirty persons
were seated on the steps of the two buildings,
most of whom were citizens Of the town. and
unarmcd | was sitting in the drug store
door. As they passed, Mr.. Dodson spoke To
me, and also to a young man on his right
llickoX and Williams did not speak to any
one, After they had passed me about one
hundred feet, Williams reined his horse of
the street, and rode up to his right on the
sidewalk, in front of the residence of Mr.. w.
n. IL Poynter. | was profoundly astoniShed
to see such conduct and instantly rose to my
feet and watched his conduct with regret and
surprise He rode along near Mr. Poynter's
fence and appeared to be looking earnestly
into the yard of Mr. Poyntcr, When he
reached the gate he appeared 10 hold his horse
back. aud was at the same time looking to-
ward Poynter's door. Turning his head, he
looked In the direction of woOdshop. about
seventy-tivc or one hundred feet in front of
him, and OH his right. where Mr.. Poynter was
at work, He appeared to throw himself for
ward and rode on, keeping his horse on the
sidewalk until he got in front of the shop,
when he threw out his hand and fired pistol
shot into the shop. or in that direction. |
saw the smoke from the pistol rise from his
hand. In quick succession another pistol
shot was fired from Williams left, which |
thought was fired by Wallace II. Hickox; and
in an instant two reports OF Il shotgun came
from the shop. Hickox fell from his horse
dead. and Dodson and Williams galloped off.
shooting back toward the town. So soon as
Dodson and Williams commenced firing back
toward town. some Of the men who had pis-
tolls ran from the steps of the two houses
young. Halle q Co, and the drug store) land
as they ran forward, fired probably twenty
five On thirty suuJs at podSon and NiilinmS.
One shot Leither from Dodson's pistol or from
those running from the steps above), took eff
feet in the postern OF Williams horse, and the
last saw OF Williams his horse was going on
three feet. Dodson had passed out OF sight
some distance in front of him. When the
men commenced firing who were running
from the steps, several of us who remained
called to them to stop which they soon did.
If there was any gun or pistol fired from any
house after the shooting already mentioned
from Foynter's shop, did not hear it-and |
most certainly would have heard them had
had any been fired. | saw no one about the
shop Of Mr.. Poynter to assist him. and be-
lieyed there had been would have seen them.
have no doubt but the above statements will
be fully verified by twelve or fourteen other
persons of sounG veracity and Of all political
persuasious.
Wallace II Hickox was killed dead. An inquest
was held over his body, and gold watch and other
yauables were taken off his person ly the jury Of IN
quest which the woman with whom liickox hsd been
living wanted to take in charge, but Mr. McMurry'
he foreman of the jury Of inquest refused to give
them up 70 woman o. sprh character anu IaDad
VM tRom over TO tho Hon " Brown, county and pro-
bate judge. Mr. iickqxs pockets were not rleq ed %
their contents has been stated ne was not hiieo
by thieves, not did he fall among thieves. 1t was
sad affair and We all deeply dcplqre IT.
As TO the shooting of Esquire Allen Brown, l only
know that he was shot shout dark. heard the re-
port of the gun that shot him. was sitting at me
have hoard saw nothing. 1t was supposed by the
citizens generally that posse OF men had been LEFT
short distance away from the town, 70 brace pSd
should need help and that inasmuch as Hekox had
becn killed, this posse would make RAID on the
town and put in execution the long standing threat
of burning the town. Tho police had been ordered
out by the mayor to prevent It, ana atdark az alarm
was given that this posse wa, now coming; ne po-
lice called into line on the square, ana stat
ed that in the excitement gun accidentally red ana
Mr. Brown was shot through the body. At hrst IT is
said that Brown said John Halle had shot himi put
on being assured by his daughter and others that
John Halle was at the time eating ms supper Brown
said he was shot by accident, and that he did not
want any one hurt for it. Mr. Brown has died since
left Dover, and am told that this was his dying
declaration. For the truth of this do not Vouch,
lie received but one shot, which passed through his
abdomen; he was not shot in the leg, as mas beeh
stated. John Halle. above mentioned IS not reia-
tive Of the Hale killed by llickoX ana Dodsoh On inc
Sth of July.
On Monday morning, September 2, started TO the
city of Little Rock to have an interview with MS eN
ccllency, Gov Hadley, of Arkansas. When reach-
ed Russellyillc was not permitted ~ my irehos 70
take the stage even to pass down the main ROAD 70
the depot for the reason OF rumqred threats aae pS
John II Williams and Frank NJ HickoX, brother Of
Wallace II Hickox, 1t was stated lnat hheg ,a n9u
ams fired poynter before Poynter killed W alIace
II Uckox. was therefore to be killed for giving my
testimony; Is now snid that ihe s'ags ahp aepiIi ei
reach the executive. therefore changed my course
and made circuitous route and reached the city OF
Little Rock yesterday evening IN company WIN - IL
ear reached the city obtained an interview with
Gov ladley, with the promise OF ANOTHER to-day
Soon after / left Gov Hadiey FRANK NJ HlckoG ana
10bn n N iliams attacked me on the streets OF TINS
it eyidentIy TO carry their murderous threats into
execution aud had 1T not been ior lhe tInSy aIa os
friends in Schader store ana the prompt actlon OF
The police believe they wSuia h for them both. but
tbey fled from the city. have had one interview
With hs exceloncy to-day, and am TO meet nun anu
others on tomorrow Al we ASK ~ 'i III Iaw and
have no rghr to say he will net give US that chhSo.
Dover is now trembling under the threats oi pv,hg II