The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-05
CLAYTON'S MURDER.
His Brothers Make a Statement
OF the Events Which Led to the
Tragic elimination.
While they claim to Be Free From
Partisan Promptings,
IL certainly Bears the Stamp Of
the Politician All Through.
AT ANY Rate. the Notorious Powell
Clayton and His Brother Take Ad-
vantage of Their Brothers Muir
der to Serve a Purpose

ell Clayton and Judge w. IL. II. CLAYTON.
Drolhers OF the Hon. John NJ. CLAYTON.
VINO was assassinated on the night of jan
uary 20, have furnished the following
statement to the public:
That the public may understand the cir.
cumstances leading up to and eliminating
IN the assassination OF our brother, John
Nj. Clayton, We desire, over our own sig
natures, to make the following statement
of facts: All agree that this was a political
assassination; II will be, therefore, neces-
sary Tor us to refer TO the political condi-
tons and circumstances surrounding it..
We do this in no partisan spirit, but only
that justice may be done to the memory
our brother, and that knowledge of the
facts which led to his assassination
may induce the people of this State
TO correct the evils from which this
and other great crimes have sprung. and
that however sad the circumstances may
be to us, his martyrdom may result in
good to the people OF this and other
States. Although since the commence
ment Of the last political canvass for State
officers IN Arkansas, many political
crimes have been committed in different
parts OF the State, In this statement how.
ever, we will confine ourselves 10 the
limits OF Conway County, within which
flummerville, the scene Of the murder is
situated, and only TO those circumstances
which, in our opinion, led to the commits.
sion OF the crime. Prior to the September
election, and during the canvass. polti.
cal club was orpnizcd at Morrilton. the
county seat Of Conway County, with one
siowers, fresh from Mississippi, at lis
head. This club soon after resolved itself
into a militia company, and about two
weeks before the election, at a time OF
profound peace In the county, the Hon.
Simon l.. Hughes, then Governor. not
only supplied IL with State arms, but
furnished u with full supply Of ammu-
milton. This was the beginning of the
troubles in Conway County. From this
-<lme until the day Of election StoNers. with
Gls armed partsgns, almost daily parallel
the streets oi MorriltOn. On election day
their guns were deposited loaded and
Fyady lor action IN n convenient place IN
the building in which the election was
held. On the morning OF that day the
Republican Judge Of Election. on his way
io assume the duties ot his office, on
frivolous and prcconccricd prclcxt, was
arrested, whcrcupOn Stowcrs, with his
men, marched 10 the polls and upon his
nomination aud their votes another per.
son was declared elected TO hll the va
Cancy by these unlawful proceedings the
Election Board, composed OF citizens
representing both political parties. was
made sOlidly Democratic. Whether Stowrrs
aud his men at this time were acting
as q political club or a company
Of state militia, We are not advised,
but certain il Is their londe, guns were
near at hand. While at Morrilton these
things were being done. the citizens of the
town Of Plummervillc, who we're nearly all
opposed politically to our brother, while
those oi the farming parts Of the precinct
were his political friends uhc latter greatly
outnumbcring the former, colloclcdat the
voting place before tho hour fixed by law
for the opening Of the polls and organized
full set OF election officers Of Their pirty:
when the two Republican judges appeared
they found their places usurpci aud the
election In full blast. The result Of the
September election, 20 conducted in Con.
way County was q complete change OF H.
political status ~ iar ~ is officers were
concerned, but not as 10 ihe sen.
tmpnts OF its people. Under these
changed conditions about two months
. thereafter the Congressional election oc-
curtod, John VI. Clayton being the Re.
publican candidate, aud &. H. Brcckn.
ridge the Democratic. Tho day before
this election. NJ W.Upnjamin, prominent
Republican lawyer Of Lutte Rock, and one
Of Arkansas best citizens, was sent 10
Conway County 10y thc Republican State
Committee with Instructions a. use his
best cndClyors 10 secure ln honest olCC.
ton. Upon bis arrival at the depot No
Morfilt0n, hc was confronted los m in.
fuHaicl mob ol several hundred citizens,
who throw him i0om thc ears, assaulted
and beat him, pulled from hi face hand
fl'f OF beard and met 600 OF bis appeals 90
their humanity with kicks and cuhs,
finally shooting him in the forehead viii
weapon Of sufficient force o. embed and
naucn % bullet upon his skull. A short
time after Mr. Benjamin died. telling his
wife before death that bis snGcnngs
were due 10 the treatment received az tho
hand. ol the MoniIton mob on the lOl.
lowing day, being tie day NJ election NJ
plummcryI'lc. at the hour Tor opening the
polls, the two Republican Judges we're on
hand, ready 10 perform their duties. but
we're ignored by the Democratic Judges.
who put in nomination two members 0i
their owu party, aud upon a mcrc alirma-
tive vote, without putting the negative,
declared them elected aud they we're in.
stalled Tho Republican judges. not BE-.
Ing permitted 90 act, accompanied by the
United States Supervisor, undertook ~
open polls elsewhere. but were notified by
Democratic Deputy ~hprila, five Of whom
were present, that they would not be- per.
united % DO ao. Under these aud other
threats they abandoned their purpose and
the Republican Supervisor returned "a
where the election. rs first organ
izcd, was being held, where he re-
maincd IN the faithful performance o
bis duty until the polls were closed
wherupon the election Judge. by who's,
illegal action the Boarl was organized, ~
before stated took the ballot box aud car
. riod II from place 10 place. through M,
town, followed, however, porpistcntly b,
the faithful supervisor, Charles Wahl' A
last, finding that he could not shHkc hin
oH he and the aunefxiaar Fatufu.F al,utt