Arkansas weekly mansion., 1884-01-05
ARKANSAS STATE NEWS.
Murdered for O Little Money.

LITTLE Rock, Dec. q.
Another brutal murder took place in
Argenta, across the river from this city,
last night. The body of the victim, Siias
Williams, was found this morning. Will
liams came to Argenta about two years
ago from Poplar Bluff, Mo. He had no
family or relatives here. He was about
thirty-fv years old. He conducted hlm-
self in that honorable way which made
friends of all his acquaintances. For some
time past he has been employed at the Fort
Smith Railway shops, receiving Sl.oo per
day. Last week he was discharged or lald
off at the shop, and yesterday he came to
this side and drew the money que him for
the last months work. Two colored men
crossed the river with him on his return to
Argenta, who knew that he had the money.
1t is not known, however, that these men
are guilty of the crime that caused his
death. After returning to Argenta he
went to his boarding-house,a and showed the
colored woman with whom he has boarded
for several months the money he
had received, and she wanted to take
care of it for him. He declined
placing it in her care, and returned
it to his pocket in red pocket
book. He was seen after this at the Col
ored Baptis. Church, in company with
him. After services ended at the church
10 one can be found who saw him. This
morning he was found lying on his back
beside the road that leads from the bridge
down the river, about half way between
the church and the shanties the west
end of Bolue street. He was struck blow
over the left eye, with n heavy club that
appeared to be part of an old fence-rail.
The club broke. 1t had one sharp edge
which cut a cash in it's victims forehead
about four inches long and literally
mashed the skull. The murderer robbed
him and then placed his hands in his pock-
cts and crossed his right foot over the left.
He had n brass watch-chain that he had
worn for months, but had no watch. The
villain pulled this from bis pocket, but not
finding a watch left it as if in disgust. No
definite clew is yet found by which the
murderer can be identified. The best citi-
zens of Argenta, however are determined
to ferret the mystery if possible. No ar
rests have been made.
miscellaneous Items.
For some time past 4 worthy German
family, named ketcher, has cultivated
small tract of land near the National
Cemetery, about a mile south of Little
Rock, raising vegetables for the Little
well thought of, and it was not known that
the family had an enemy in the world. A
few nights ago, Mr.. Ketcher heard
strange noise outside of his house, and
immediately ran out to ascertain the cause
of the disturbance. He greeted with
a load of No. buckshOt. Most of the bull
lets took affect in his right leg, being scat
tered from the thigh to the ankle. Although
dangerously wounded, he escaped in the
darkness, and at last reached a neighbOr's
residence, where he reported that he had
been shot by an unknown person. This
fe lrful crime did not end with the shoot
ng of Ke.cher; for the villain no sooner
found him gone than he entered the house,
and. after beating his wife severely, out
ragged her person i'll Il horrible manner. She
is positive that the man was a negro, and
can identify him il captured. ketcher
died the day following the shooting. A
negro named Governor Matthew has been
arrested on suspicion, against whom strong
circumstantial evidence can be produced.
The village of Walnut Ridge has been
laboring under intense excit-m -ment over
the shooting of Jacob Sisler by his nephew,
Thos. Toole. Sisler lives one and a half
miles from town, and Too!e, with others,
were visiting n few evenings since when
words passed between Toole and Sisler.
Toole became excited, drew and brandished
a knife swore he could whip any man in
Arkansas, advancing upon his uncle. Sis
Ter stepped back to the fireplace. and seiz-
ing a shovel struck Toole stunning blow
over the head Almost at the same time
Toole drew a pistol and fired, Sisler falling
dead instantly, the ball entering near the
mouth. Two young men sprang on horses
and fastened into town, and few mo-
ments later Toole came in, as he said. to
have his wound dressed, claiming that his
skull was broken. Toole claims that Sisler
had threatened him with harm, and that
he told his uncle he wanted no trouble, but
without further provocatiOn he struck him
over the head with a shovel, which COM
pletely stunned him that he does not know
whether he shot Sisler or not. He claims
he had no weapons but there were several
eye-witnesses who saw him shoot, and the
pistol in his hand afterward. Toolc has
been arrested and is under heavy guard.
Christmas cGsSedncsS was carried on
with high hand on one of the Texas & st.
Louis passenger trains. AtTexarkana and
a number of otherpoints saw-mill laborers,
white and black, boarded the train until
the smoking-car was packed. All of them
| were in various stages of intoxfcation, and
| the drunken revelry battles description.
| Many of them were armed, and they swung
| their knives and revOlverS about like In
| dians. The bell-rope was pulled by the ruff
| fans and the conductor was powerless to
| control the men. They terrorized travellers
| generally until they left the train.
A few nights ago a negro named Matt
| Simmons was shot by another colored man
| named Brocky in n dive on the levee at
| Helena. Simmons stated that he w&s in
| the house sitting down, and heard Brocky
and WON talking outside, and that
Brocl,y fired a pistol twice, and the second
| shot came through the door and struck him
| in the stomach. Brocky escaped arrest by
| running away, and had not been heard of
since. Simmons was in a very precarious
| condition, and it was thought would die.
The dead body of Penn Girt, -neg'o
| preacher, was found a few days ago six
miles from Brinkley, Monroe County, be-
| side a hog he had killed. 1t is beli we'd he
| was shot Immediately after killing the hog.
| Christmas was generally observed.
At Dover, Pope County, a few days
| ago, John Hail shot and killed Samuel
James. Both were citizens of that town.
| Hail is a we'll known man and has long
| been a citizen of that county. James was a
| Young man raised in Dover. The killing is
said to have been done without any appar-
| ent provocation.
A desperate negro named Scott John
| son was shot and killed n few nights ago
| at Ozark. Officers Cowan and Sexton went
| to his residence to arrest him, and he resist
| ed and attacked them with an ak, when
| they shot and killed him.
A regular saturnalia of crime seems
| to be holding sway.