The Russellville Democrat., 1878-03-07

Judge Parker, on Monday Feb. 25th, sentenced four negroes to be hung on June 2lst, for the murder of one otEer negro.
 The Gazette publishes the letter of Hon. K. w. Johnson in reply to the charge that he skipped out and forsook Arkansas in her hour oi need. Wonder if she gets 10 cents per line for 1t? If so it will pan out handsomely.
 In letter to the Saline County Digest, Hon. J. x. Smithee says he is not candidate for Gubernatorial honors, nor will he be. He says, however, that he will be candidate for reelection to the same office which he now fills so ably and faith fully. Good enough.
 We believe, so far as we are able to judge by the out,cropping oi public sentiment, that there will be no change at the fall election in the occupants of the offices of State Auditor, State Treasurer, and State Land Commissioner. Crawford Churchill and Smithee, who now fill these offices so creditably, will we think, be the choice of tue peo. pie for thelr own successors.
 -JUpGE MANsFIELp.-We arc pleased to know, from sources which we consider altogether trust worthy and reliable that Judge ". W. Mans. field has at last consented to yield to the often expressed wishes of his many friends in different parts ol the State, and will permit his name to be used as a candidate for a seat on the supreme bench which will he left vacant by the retirement ol Hon. David Walker. While Judge Mansfield has not sought the place and has for considerable time with. stood the many solicitations which have poured in upon him, he is at last now fairly before the people and we anticipate that he will make a strong race for the position which he is so well calculated to fill with very great credit to himself and honor to the State.
 In our paper two weeks ago we reproduced from the Ozark Demo crat short extract casting severe censure upon a certain official fol mis conduct in connection with the prosecution of certain drummer who had visited that town. Altho there was no names mentioned, we knew allusion was made to J. P Bysrs, Prosecuting Attorney of this Judicial district. Moreover we had been given a version of the affair by the drummer himself. From the positive terms in which the Demo crat preferred the serious charges implied in it's article, coupled with what the drummer told us, we felt justified in reproducing the Demo crat squib and adding our condemn. ation of such conduct. Since that time we have had occasion to make more minute inquiry into the matter and we are now fully satis fled that .he Democrats accusations did Maj. Byers gross injustice and that the tale told us by the drummer was fabricated almost wholly by himself so as to prejudice us against Maj, B. The character oI the evidence upon which we base liliS DSliel IS OI luC uIOSl auluGu JlN and undoubted character, being noth ing less than the sworn statement ot the magistrate before whom the pro ceedings were had. We therefore cheerfully state, by way of amendc honarable, that we fully eXhonoratC Maj Byers from censure Tn the prem ises, and believe that he did nothing but his duty as States Attorney il the case; and moreover, that he dc serves credit for the manner in whicl he performed his duty.
 We hear it stated that the State militia have been called out Tn Wal dren, Scott county, and that nearly every business man there, besides many others have been arrested This action is the result of the re cent murders there and of the fac tious troubles which have kept thu community in turmoil and blood fo long time past.-L. R. Star,
 One thing is certain, and that is SOMETHING ought to be done to stol the reign of crime and lawlessnesi which has for so long conyulsed tha