Daily Republican., 1879-05-05
AMINISTER MURDERED.
He is Killed for Preaching 10 Ne
grOes-The Todd Tragedy I'm
Arkansas.


groes-The Todd Tragedy in
Arkansas.
In the St. Louis "Central Christian
Advocate" of April, appears the fol-
loving statement Of Rev. J. S. Pollard,
Presiding Elder Of the Little Rock Dis
trict, Arkansas.
Rev. W. M. Todd was appointed by
Bishop Andrews to the Brinkley Cir.
cult, FEBRUARY "a, 1879. Reaching his
work soon after, he wrote about March
II, desiring me to come at once, hold
his quarterly meeting and assist him
in organising. for owing TO misrepre-
sentations and the threats of white
men, the colored people were unwilling
to join the church without they could
see the Presiding Elder. For the white
people said that brother Todd was not
sent to preach, and that he soon would
leave; and that they had way of get
ting rid of men who came from the
North to preach to the colored people.
reached his work March 81, meet
ing him at Brinkley. We staid there
that night, but left next morning, and
returned on tho following Sunday af-
ternoon. preached at night, we teok
break fast at the hotel in the morning,
and then went to the country, but re.
turned the next day, March 25, and
prea' he'd at night. The congregation
consisted of about equal numbers of
white and colored. Among the whites
were the Marshal of the town, a Mr..
Kelley, and Justice of the Peace, Mr.
Bannor. We held service the following
night. After services, as we were pas
ing along the streets, among others a
Mr.. Pascal, of Duvall's Bluff, as we
reached the business and central part
of the town We saw two men who seem
ed watching us.
Not desiring to come in contact with
men who looked suspicious at that
hour of the night, We passed on across
the main street. But they ran around
ahead. and soon came up in front of US,
and one of them called Parson," tc
which Ireplied: " Who are you What
will you have Are you civil officers
We are nobody but Methodist preach.
ers." One of them, who afterward
gave his name as Kelly, the City Mar
shal, said: "Hold up your hands "
both of them pointing their pistols al
us. He then said to his deputy
"Search them for weapons" OF COURSE
+ they found none.
| said, "What authority have you fol
doing this : What do you want will
us Are you civil otficers?' lie answer
ed, "We are; come, 60 up the stree
, with u.s. We said, "all right" | ther
asked my friend, Mr.. Pascal, to g
along and see what they were going t(
do with US. He started, but they for
bade his going, telling him not to come
but to 60 away, which he did. They
took us past the post Office, at the doc
of which stood man who afterwards
learned was the postmaster. He hat
closed up the post Office and was wait
: ing for us. He asked the officers, "Wh
5 are these men you have here'" | said
E "Are these men civil oficers' The,
! have a couple of Methodist preachers
Will you go along and see that We ar
: not hurt'" He went with us.
Passing by large empty store hous
the Marshal opened gate.to the righ
and ordered us to go in and down
> passage-way, which was dark and le
' i'll behind large billiard saloon in tn
. next building. | objected, saying
"Gentlemen, hope you will not tax
!. US back there and take any advantag
Q Of US. "lf you are civil officers, Civ
us fair trial" The Marshal answer
5 ed: 81 want to take you back to m
office" said: ~ don't know tha
g you have any office. Take us in at tn
n front door," At this instant Brothe
IS Todd ran. They shot at him thre
&c times; the first shot took effect in tn
l. upper inside portion of his left thigl
He reeled but continued to run. The
% ran after him, leaving me in the Gu:
= iody of the Postmaster. He took N
l. on into the back part, where ther
II were quite number of men both whit
% and colored, drinking.
}, In few minutes the Marshal an
II his deputy returned, appearing yer
\ much excited, and said Brother Tod
o had made his escape, but swearin
l. high and low that should not. Th
Marshal threw off his coat and took OF
+ pair of handouts, and soon made IN
n doubly secure. After Handwriting m.
he, with two or three others, marche
me through side door, and throug
two rooms into the third, fastened tn
It doors, and took a seat. Again | ask
IL ed, "By what authority do you d
n this :" The Marshal held before a p;
= per, across the top Of which l saw
n estate or United States Detective" an
d said he wanted to examine me, whic
Il he did, after taking off the handouts
y l assuring him, if he would let me sen
J, to Little Rock, could satisfy them
y both as to whs was and to my chal
}, acter.
9 He then searched my naked chest 70
scar. About this time Brother Tod
r returned. The Marshal, however, ha
n said that was not the man he was a.
q ter, but the one who ran. told hir
h guessed he had caught the wron
t boys, that neither of us were guilty {
= anything. When Brother Todd RI
= turned he told them that he was vii
/. ling to surrender; that he had becom
d excited, but after rejecting awhile h
had determined to come back and Civ
d himself up. The Marshal said to Brc
3 Todd, "You are not the man wanted
h but he is" pointing to me. Neverthe
l. less, he examined both of us for scar
It on the chest and legs, after which h
. released us.
9. | at once ordered doctor, who cam
y. and looked at the wound, but althous
t. he apprehended danger, he would nc
| IL MI .,.L..,.4xx j