The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-30
THE LAwLEss SOUTH.
MURDER IN ARKANSAS.


-f MI RIDER IN ARKANSAS.
HOW An INoFFENDING MAN WAS MURDERED
THE SCENES CONNECTED WITH THE MUIR
DER. -.-
The correspondent Of the New York Her
aid, from Little Rock, on the 10Th INST, says:
The cold blooded murder of the Richardson
family, for which Cass Mattock, negro, was
executed to-day. stands pre- eminent as the
most brutal and wanton butchery of human
beings which has ever taken place in this
state, already too wen known abroad for the
number of crimes perpetrated within its
boundaries. On the morning of Monday.
November "a, eIs73, an emigrant wagon.
drawn by two black mules, two others being
led behind, containing George, Modison
Richardson. his family, consisting of wife
and infant daughter, and his little ans in
household goods, followed by yellow dog,
passed through this city,. en- route for the
emigrants' Ell Dorado, the state of Texas.
They left their home in Gasconade county,
Missouri, during the first week of Noyein-
Der; travelled slowly down through South
ern Missouri and, Northern Arkansas. On
Friday, November 81, they stopped at
a house eighteen miles from here, on
| the other side of the river, remained there
that night, and as it Iained all day Saturday
they remained until Sunday; then started
once more on their weary Journey, little
| thinking of the fate in store for them. On
Sunday night they camped out and early on
| Monday morning passed on, crossing the
Arkansas river at this place near O'Clock.
Passing through the city they took the Hot
| Springs road. About midday the same day.
Monday, November "a, they passed small
grocery at the Russ place, four miles out,
and must have arrived at Rock Creek Ford.
| five miles from the city and the scene of the
murder. about half-past twelve, probably
| stopping to water the mules and take their
| dinner. After passing the store they were
the negro, Cass Matlock. He passed the
Brown place, three miles out, on foot, ten
minutes after the emigrants. On arriving at
the grocery he wasupnly five minutes; here
he stopped. He RECLAIMED at the store twenty
minutes and them walked on after his VIC
Tins. are .-,r -o4 --
u THE MURDER.
About half past twelve horseman neared
the Rock Creek Ford. When about a half
an hours ride from it he heard shot. He
thought nothing much of this, supposing it
. was some hunter. On arriving at the ford
at about O'Clock, and crossing over he saw
a wagon, with two black mules hitched to
! it. two others hitched behind standing near
the creek. No one was near. He rode on
and soon heard a wagon coming behind. He
stopped to adjust his saddle; the wagon also
i IL.
He rode on, the dog followed him. Soon
after the wagon, which had started again as
soon as he did, turned off along byroad to-
ward Matloclx's place, the dog now leaving
the rider and following it. He could not see
whether the man driving was while OF
black. The Richardson's were now thought by
all who had seen and conversed with them
to be safe in Texas. On December II mar
was walking towards Little Rock. On com
ing to Rock Greek he turned down stream
to lOok for foot log, and about thirty step:
from the crossing discovered the body o
Richardson lying in the water and lodged
} against sapling. He was shot through tn,
head, the ball entering just behind the bsst
: of the brain and coming out behind the lef
r ear. He must have died instantly. Hi
3 pockets were turned inside out. Near tn
body a woman's shawl was found: a littl
above blanket: near the waters edge tw,
2 bottles, one containing medicine; shreds O
: clothing and child's apron were also foun,
near the body. The man who
FIRST DISCOVERED THE BODY
: then went for a neighbor, and both wen
back to the creek to continue the search
9 Further down the branch they found tn
( body of Laura Ellen Richardson lying in tn
: water against some bushes. She had beel
struck by club or stick across the left eye
crushing in the superorbital bone. Anothe
large wound was found on top OF the head
q cutting it down to the skull. Marks of blow
were also seen over the right temple, an
9 there Were bruises on the arms and neck, a
il she had been rudely grasped. The bodie
q appeared to have been in the water two o
!, three weeks. The two men now sent for tn
i coroner to Little Rock. The body of tn
child was found soon after the coroner's az
! rival good way. from, the other bodies;
!, had been killed by heavy blow, breakin
in the right side and top part of the skull
> All the bodies, after death, appeared to hav
. been thrown into the creek by the murder
!; or. The bodies were brought into town an
exposed for identification, but nobody knew
: who they were. The murder created a
immense excitement in this city; crowd
! viewed the bodies and excited groups dis
: cussed the latest bit of evidence obtained
From certain circumstantial evidence, whic
will appear further on, suspicion fell on tn
s negro Cass MatlocS, who lived near tn
= scene of the tragedy. His house wa
d searched by Deputy Sheriff Counts an
! others and he was arrested. Matlock tool
q the matter very ccolly and protested hi
Z innocence. Matlock on the conclusion Q
o the trial was taken to the penitentiary, an
was brought into court a few days after
s wards and sentenced to be hanged on Tues
e day, May 26. On May 26, however, he wa
y respited until to-day. Matlock was a I'm
/ specimen of genuine pure blooded Africa
! -one of those perfect types of the negr
who sometimes turn out to be EXCEPTIONAL
good men. He is of medium height, soil
head and acquiline nose, large, piercing eye
II and wears a full beard. He has been yer
sullen since his sentence, and would answe
:. no questions. He has made several attempt
~ to escape, though he to the last moment prC
g tested his innocence. The scaffold was ere,
ted in an open lot near the penitentiar,
# Deputy Sheriff Counts managed the execI
4 ton, which took place at eleven O'Clock pr
3 cisely. large crow was present, I'll
"a negroes being out en- masse.
n asa A SNAKE STORY.
n THE SLAUGHTER OF FIVE HUNDRED REPTILI
D. SKILLED IN A STONE QUARRY.
,. The st. Paul Press of late date say
vi When St. Patrick was journeying from tt