The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-05
CLAYroN's TRAGIC DEATH.
His Brothers Make a Statement to
the Public.


LITTLE Rock, ARK, Feb. 4.-Gen. Pow
ell Clayton aud Judge Clayton, brothers Of
John NJ. Clayton, who was assassinated on
the night of Jan. 30, have furnished over
their own signatures a long statement, in
order that the public may fully understand
tae circumstances leading up to and Cul nj
mating in the assassination of JOnn NJ. Clay
ton hey say that all agree that this was
political assassination, and they therefore
find 1t necessary to refer to the political
conditions and eli cumstances surrounding
it;
We do this in no partisan spirit, but only
that justice may be done to the me nory Of 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 crimes have sprung and that how
ever sad the circumstances may be to US, his
martyrdom may result in good TO the people Of
this and other states.
REVIEWING THE TROUBLE.
They then described the disturbed co1di-
tion prevailing in Conway county prior to
the election, III which one other prominent
republican lost his life; the intimidati N
practced upon republican voters at the
polls; the stealing of the ballot box at
Piummerville, which box, they have been
informed by the republican supervisor
of election, contained 697 ballots,
Of which at least 572 were
cast for John NJ. Clayton. Upon
learning Of these unlawful acts, together
with many Others in different ,rts of his
district, he (Mr. Clayton) felt it his du y
to institute a contest for his seat in congress
and for the purpose Of ascertaining 70
actual vote cast for him at the Plu INNER
vile precinct. That he might en- sraft that
fact in his notice of contest he employed
responsible citize !, named Alexander, of
the Plummerville precincts, TO obtain the
names Of forty-dve such voters.
ALEXANDER FRIGHTENED.
Mr.. Alexander was frightened into dis
continuing his work, and accordingly John
Nj. Clayton went 10 Plummerville unarmed
and unescorted recognizing the futility
Of sucl precautions against the stealtny
assassin, and believing that his opponent,
Mr. Breckinridge, who was aware of the
condition Of affairs In this county would
he willing and able to res rain has partisans.
While passing through Little Rock on his
way there he said to Hon. Henry NJ. Cooper,
in response to a suggestion of danger:
II do not believe that will be harmed, but
the men who voted for me believe that / WAS
elected, and so do l. and will 90 there even at
the risk of life" And so he went.
THE ASSASSINATION.
After having been engaged for several days
in taking testimony, about o'clock on the
evenin of Jan. 49, while in his room at his
boarding house, in the act of sitting down at a
table near window to write TO his motherless
children, he was shot through window
by concealed assassins, few feet
from him, and instantly killed. We were
unable to remove his body until $50 o'clock on
the next day, up to which time the sheriff OF
the county had not appeared, being, in the
language Of his deputy, engaged in the NOR
Nor had any citizen of tie town
made the slightest effort to trace OF
apprehend his murderers The foregoing facts
we state and can substantiate in every essential
particular, every one of which we believe to be
link in the cham of circumstances surround
ug and leading to the inhunan murder of our
brother, John NJ. Clayton
POWELL CLAYTON,
W H. ii. CLAYTON.