The Portland daily press., 1874-05-06
THE ARKANSAS WAR.
The Situation Unchanged.
The Judges yet i'm PrisOn-Br00ks Bound
10 Sta nd Out Against the Legislature.

NEW YORK, May ga Little Rock special
| states that the Supreme Court did not meet yes
terday, consequent upon the capture of Judges
Bennett and Searle. Judge Stephenson, who
| was in the train when the others were captured,
| states that when the train stopped at Arkagen-
| ia. opposite Little Rock, Capt. Williams with
| several armed men stopped all exit from the
| cars and went to Judges Bennett and Searle,
telling them sthey were under arrest After
solne remonstrance they were forciby taken
from the cars. The men noticed Judge Ste
| phenson. but left him in the car, saving their
orders were to take only two. On leaving the
tran tney were taken across the river in a skiff
70 OF Johns College, where they were kept
uurihg tne night. In the morning they were
put on horses and in charge of cavalry taken
into the country.
The regulars visited St. Johns College Mon.
day morning, but the Judges were not there
An unfinished letter of Judge Benefits was
found there. 1t is said the Judges with their
captors have gone to Pine Bluff
Judge Benefits son has received note saw
ing that he and Judge Searle are well treated
and are IL no bodily fear, and do not know
when they will be released
On Monday morning at five O flock State Au-
dltOr Wheeler was awakened. He went to his
door, where he was seized by Gen. McCanary
and men. taken in a carriage to Gov. Baxter
who Immediately released him. McCanary said
to Baxter that he would capture State Ireasur-
er Page and Brooks if the Governor would give
orders.
The sentinel of the government troops was
hred on twice last night and returned the fire.
GOV. Bakers forces have guard across
Markham street and company of regulars
nave been placed on the same street facing
them. These guards allow no one to pass their
lines, which practically precudes entrance to
the telegraph office.
King White is reported still at Pine Bluff
Some of his men captured the town of Dewitt,
Arkansas county, pllaged it and released the
prisoners IaIl. A flUct there is DOrta1
Brooks publicly announces that he will not
abide any decision of the Legislature. The
Gazette and other conservative journals favor
call by the Legislature of q constitutional
convention with view to respbmitting the
whole matter to the people.
ST.. LOUIS, May "a special from Little
Rock says that the arrest of Judges Bennett
and Searle was to keep them out of the way so
that the question as to who is Governor shall
not be decided by the Supreme Court, before
whom question was to be brought relative to
the legality of a warrant drawn upon the State
Treasurer by Brooks for funds, the Treasurer
denying Brooks authority.
Gov. Baxter denies authorizing the arrest of
the judges, bnt an unfinished report of the ar
rest, directed to Gov. Baxter was found in st.
Johns College.
Writs of habeas corpus have been issued for
the judges, and Baxter and his general are re-
ported to have left town to avoid the service of
the writs.
LITTLE ROCk, May D.
The United States formed line across Mark
ham street last night on three separate occa-
sons to prevent the advance of Baxter forces
Brooks has received reinforcement of one
company, nearly all colored from Perry coenty.
Chief Justice Mcclure to-day lad writ
served on Gems Churchill and Blacher, COM
manding them to produce the bodies of Judges
Bennett and Searle. The officers replied that
martial law prevailed in Pulaski county, and
they knew no orders except those from their
70 10 I.,., 1Ix.1z
Washington that Senator Clayton applied to
the President for the use of Federal troops in
searching for the two judges, but the President
declined to let them be used for that purpose.
A few days ago Baxter's side sent to st.
Louis to have duplicate of the State seal
made. The seal was forwarded yesterday by
express, and this morning. before the agent
had time to deliver it, squad of Brooks men
entered the Office and captured the seal.
Considerable activity prevails ON both sides
tonight Sentinels ore doubled around Bax-
ter's headquarters and general military air.
pervades every thing.