Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-05-05
The Arkansas Troubles.

NEW IORh, May "a Litlie Ieoch epeoia
says: After the arrest of Judges Bennett and
Searle by the Bakeries they were taken across
the river in sklff and then to St. Johns Col
lege, at the outskirts of the city. They spent
the night there and yesterday morning were
put on horses, and in charge of band of cav
alry. were taken into the country and will prob
ably be kept in the woods.
% the heels of this event, at FIVE o'clock
yesterday morning, State Auditor Wheeler was
awakened by knocking at the doors OF his resi-
dence. He Jumped out of bed and went down
stairs, where he saw hack at the door. The
driver said that Gen. McCanany wanted to see
him. Wheeler, not thinking of capture, said:
"Ask him to come H." McCanany answered
back for him to come out. He went out and
some men who had been stationed with guns
on the other three sides of the house rushed
up and put him, by force, into the carriage.
He was driven down to the Anthony House.
They there took him to Baxter's room, woke
Baxter up, and McCauany said, Il beg pardon
for acting without orders, but thought it my
duty to capture Wheeler, bring him to you,
aud make him acknowledge you as Governor.
| will do the same with State Treasurers Page
and Brooks if you say So Baxter gave or.
ders to release hun much to McCauanys dis
com6ture.
There is some talk of moving bis govern
ment to Arkadelphia and making that bis cap
ital.
A son of Judge Bennett received letter
last evening from his father saying, u suppose
you know Judge Seare and | were captured
at Argenta last pight. We are we'll treated and
10 no bodily danger. Don't know when we
will DO released The letter was received
through General Blucher, Of Baxter's forces.
Baxter has again practically seized the tele-
graph office. There are guards posted about
one hundred yards away and they allow no one
to enter.
ST. LOUIS, May 5.-The Democrats Little
Rock special of last night says that the reason
for the arrest of Judges Searle and Bennett, OF
the Supreme Court, may be summed up as
follows There is standing appropriation OF
$50, 900 at the disposal of the Governor for the
payment of the militia when called into active
service. This statute was passed IN 1868.
Gov Brooks made requisition for part OF this
fund. The auditor drew warrant upon the
Treasurer for the money, who, to protect him
self from any doubtful payment refused to hon
or the warrant, whereupon the attorneys for
Brooks prepared maudamus against the Treas
urer. asking that he be compelled to pay the
money 70 the mandamus the Treasurer re-
spouded that the presiding officer OF the Senate
to whom the election returns were made
had declared Baxter Governor OF the State,
and submits that Brooks has no author
ity to draw upon the fund. To this .
replication was prepared, setting up the judg-
ment of the Circuit Court in favor of Brooks
for the Office of Governor and his installation
into Office Hereunder. To this replication a
demurrer was prepared to the effect that the
Circuit Court was without jurisdiction to render
judgment. The question presented by plead,
ings would necessarily have determined who is
the legal Governor To prevent this determi'
nation by the Court Judges Bennett and Searle
were arrested. Baxter denies that he authorized
the arrest of the Judges, but when st. John;
College was searched this morning by a, squad
of regulars, acting as police, an unfinished :epor!
of their arrest addressed to Baxter was founc
on table where it bad been left in haste in-
cident to departure, which effectually refute:
the statement. Writs of habeas corpus have
been issued for the missing judges. and Baxter
Newton, Churchill, Blocher and Williams are
reported 10 have left town to avoid service.