The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-13
rnE snrRIrF's EXPLANATION.
why re Did Not Go NJ Once 60 Piu,n.
meryllIc

'On the 2nth day of January last when
john VI. clayton wa killed, was ut Clcyc.
land, an interior town twenty-five miles
north ui Murrilton, and not accessible by
railroad. My business thcrc was 10 collect
taxes upon q day previously advertised ns
required by law. An immyu,c cpnOuurgc of
taxpayers from distant points were ;hcrc
ready and eager 10 pay taxes, and Il would
have been a hardship upon them To require
them a. return home and come back ai an.
other time. Il was on the morning of the
aDih at 10 o'clock that ! heard IT the assas.
s'nntion through q telephone message
from Walton Wells, one Oi my
deputies. who Informed me that
another deputy. o. T. Bcutly. was on
the ground. ncnily Is ~ year, Old, q mau
II coumrc aud experience aud prior Ia his
appointment by me had been Constable for
year.. therefore felt safe In thinking that
ho would faithfully represent me aud do what
II necessary in the case, aud ] have no
reason a. complain II any non performance
81 duty on his part | remained OF Clryc.
land until half past I Of the afternoon aud
LETT Tor Cedar Ridge. twelve miles east of
there. where ! was due the next day ] o..
manned NJ Cedar Ridge a day and myself
aud deputy were kept busy until dark dis.
The next dny I reached Mclnrcn township
and there prevailed upon John skinner q
farmer without official experience. IN rep.
resent me- while I FASTENED 10 plummer.
Villu whore | arrived On Friday, February
T. ! found my deputy, Mr.. Bcntly, still
there. lee never having LETT the place since
the morning ~ the Killing. lie reported
that there was no clue ~ the murdrfcrs or
any evidence that might lead a. their idouti.
al ..H a q 81 .... go. . "
nov revolver tig harr|lgd aud u NCllihuf
which had been found near gap
in the picket fence. through which
the us.us,ins are supposed to have cmwlcl
ns their footprints lod in that direction aud
outside the fence were lost in The public
rDnl I wrote tp The manufacturer NJ The
weapon in the hope of finding o clcw ~ The
owner. but have is ycf heard nothing
''rhc footprints indicated that there were
two men concerned boz The crime. They wore
oycrshors which lcii their imprint un the
ground Ono pair wHH new, the Other Wuru
ID, is evidenced by thr difference in thy print
oi the corrugated surface solUs. ! started on
several false scents I heard Of negro
woman named Hannah clifton. who wa. no..
pHrtrI 10 have Seem two men running uu the
night of the killing. | found her. bat She
lrniol tIr story absolutely ! next heard
that Henry Thomas negro, had heard
threats Ca if"U.NHF VIZ ilhNNuuI lnuuu
/ Thomas In % swamp three miles back %
| town. llraid positively thrrc WIS no ioun.
dalton Tor ihC report and denied all knowl.
| clgo ol H.
"Thc inquest l1I been held the morning
after the Killing at 10 o'clock, u having
| takon the coroner. who lived Of distance
I somr time o. rrt there. There were only
/ two witnc..os. Mr. Alnuit aud Mr. Nor
mark. who wcrr with NJ Clayton when tho
| laial shot was hrrl ! have interviewed n.
many ~ Gfy people whit" and black and
suont five dnyi at plGmmnryIllo but clicitrd
| nothing VI value. ! have uo theory Hs IA
/ The identify of che assassin. iolrgrlphcd
| foF PROSECUTING Attorney Carter and lio ar
/ rived here Monday m0minr February T.
and remained until next day IN con'ulta
lion With me. he could suggest nothing
| which had not been done
DEPUTY HEmrr nrS1tY
Indignantly denies the following reference
! 10 himself in thc Clayton letter.
~ wcro unable POO iua''g DIE BODY vow T.
nm of die nest daN. upiu $40. j ilm' ~, h,tli
III iUc county he'd nul appeared, bens' 20 NC Ian
Conntiued e TiUh rage,