The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-12-19
A GARD
From CIerk $. o. ulggason.
Kaze sich folks as he
Shan take the libertee
To walk about the streets
Aud scandalize me.

D
see in the Hickman Courier OF
dec. 9th, 1879, an article headed,
"Charges against Obion county officials
Governor of Missouri to Demand
Reparation, &c, ," and purportiug to be
from the pen of one Thos IL McMut-
len, sty ling himself prosecuting attor-
ney Of Jefferson county. Missouri. 10
which i as Que OF the officials alluded
to, have been charged IN public print
of official acts beneath the dignity of
an O5ion county officer.
For the benefit of those who have
not been so fortunate as to see the
Courier containing the gifted gentle
mans slang, | will state that, at the
November term 1873, of our law Court
at Union City, two presentments were
found by the grand jury against one
Henry Arkwright, for the oheuse of
carrying arms, foF%hich capiases and
number Of aliases were issued, and
on Thursday evening. the Goth Of No
vember last, and while court was in
session at this place, received inior
nation that Henry Arkwright was in
town, and under guard of parties then
unknown to my informant, and that
they we're going to Missouri with him
l at once issued capiases and gave them
to Deputy Sheriff Bennett. that the
matter might be investigated, at the
same time remarking to the officer that
If the parties had requisition Tor his
arrest, that he would have 10 right to
interfere with them; but if they were
holding him without authority. it
would be his duty TO take charge of
the prisoner by authority Of his capt
asses, aud have he matter legally ad
Judic@ted; so please excuse my friend
Bennett, for discharging bis sworn
duty by quietly aud peaceably taxing
charge of person charged with an
offense by legal process from parties
who were detsiuing him without the
shadow Of authority
Mr.. McMulien, 10 answer 10 your
charges against the Obi county Of
6cia!s, there are some things that /
shall denouuee as false, aud hurl back
to you the modest little charge Of
"blackmailing," while there are some
other charges that shall admit TO be
true. In the first instance, emphati
cally deny that the prisoner was taken
from you illegally or by force, but that
the action OF Sheriff Bennett iu MA king
the arrest was quietly and geutlemanly,
aud in keeping with his ofhcia! duties
Further, | deny the assertion that l
acceded to your proposition, that If
the prisoner would plead guilty 10 one
case and you would pay a fine of ten
dollars and the cost in both cases. that
you might then take him aud 20, he
being unwilling to go with you. But
to the contrary, will say that when our
officer took charge of the prisoner you
very Li-1lJ offered 20 pay me the cost
10 his case If we would allow you TO 90
with him by SO doing. which under
other circumstances would have been
an insult Bot by making due aTiows
ance for you in your excited state Of
mind, | allowed your very generous
offer to pass unnoticed By declining to
accept, remarking that | was only
Clerk of the Court; that | was neither
Judge nor Jury, aud had 10 right to
compromise the matter with you in any
way, nor that would not, even II you
would give one hundred dollars And
further deny that you we're surround
ed BY a crowd, headed by W B Ben
nett, deputy sheriff, 10 the manner de-
scribed by you, aud that L came rush
ing up with my two eapiases upon
which the prisoner was arrested, aud
| again assert, as heretofore that the ar
rest was made by Mr. Bennett politely
and quietly, upon the capiases that |
had given him before l had seen you
or the prisoner.
As to the fue and cost that you
have paid into this Court for Mr.. Ark
wright, (Which | think is the real
cause of so much slang allow me to
say that the whole arrangement was
made by or through you at your own
suggestion, without even 40 insinua
ton from any officer Of this court, that
you should pay one cent before you
could take the prisoner to Missouri or
anywhere else you wish to 90 with
him after convincing our people that
he was really thief. Aud if you had
not been quite so fast aud caused the
prisoner to have plead guilty to a
charge that think in all probability
be could have proved himself clear OF
by having a fair trial. | think it quite
likely that you could have had fifty
dollars and thirty cents more to add to
your reward for capturing the notorious
horse thief, Henry c WlkersoD, alias
/ Henry Arkwright.
Now, sir, as 10 the charges that
ana willing to admit. In the frsi
place, l very freely admit that | got
the fifty dollars and thirty cents as the
fine aud cost in the two cases against
Henry Arkwright for carrying arms
for which you have my official receipt
please write on the margin. Small
favors thankfully received Further
you say that our officers made the ar.
rest after the man was captured, well
searched, well guarded, and brought
into our town handeuffed; that, too,
am willing to admit; Cat least, that he
was we'll searched
Now, you say that your Governor i:
going to demand reparatiou from oul
Governor by requesting the return Of
the money illegally extorted, aud the
prosecution of the parties concerned
o, my Why, sir, that would include
our much beloved Judge Alden, who
holds mucl higher position than thai
of mere county officer. Why, sir
he holds a position almost equal in
rank TO that Of Missouri prosecuting
attorney, aud he is the official who de
creed that the aforesaid fne and cos
might be paid or secured as agreed
spon between you and the Attorney
General, r A Pierce, another officia
having jurisdiction over six or eigh
counties, who prosecutes the pleas o
the State, somewhat in the attitude o
a Missouri prosecuting attorney, im