New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-25
THE ASSASSIN IN POLITICS.
A TALK WITH POWELL CLAYTON ON PoLiT-
ICAL, CRIMES IN ARKANSAS.

pvppv p.NrrcpTrNFD ON AFFAIRS IN HIS
OWN srATE-cAsEs PARALLEL WITH THE
MupnrR OF JOHN NJ. CLAYTON.
,ry TELEGRAPH TIE TRrsuSE.1
was,,;,O+on Feb 24.-Ex-Senatcr Powell Clay
20 Ar,,arsas is in Washington. General Clay
ss - = hrotber Of Colonel John NJ Clayton. who
WAS assassnated few weeks ago while engaged
IN collecting evidence in his contest against Clifton
p Breckinridge In conversation with Inc
Tribune correspondent on this subject to-day Gen.
eral Clayton was asked
aDo YOU think it is Mr.. Brecldnridge's duty to
decline his seat in the List Congress P'
II he is satisfied that he is not elected, yes;
hut if he still believes, as understand he ana ms
friends assert, that he was elected then no. 1or
the assassination of brother, while 1t
the INQUIRY then pending did not change the result
of the election a single vote, and the next House
is fJ,v competept TO investigate and ascertain that
result Besides. should be decline. it seems to me
he would put himself somewhat in the attitude
~ tho four boeus members OF the Arkansas Leg
slaturc from the capital county Of the State, who
lately resigned their seats, rather, some other
persons saats when it became evident that to re-
main would result IN the investigation and ex-
posure of all the ugly facts connected with the
robbery OF the nine pollboolSs and ballot-boxcs
which last fall wiped out a Republican majority
of about 1000 in that county and resulted ir their
obtaining certificates of election"
what, then, do you think Mr.. Brecsinridge's
duty is when the next House orgsnixes2' p
"All can say is, that TO my mind no honor
able man could afford, for single day. to occupy
a seat thus clouded, Until the House had in
vestigated and passed upon his title to T."
COMMENTS ON SENATOR BERRY's SPEECH.
Have you seen the report of Senator Berrys
speech delivered in the Senate on February 13
upon the subject Of the JOINT letter of yourself
and brother?"
"Yes, 1 have read it In the Congressional
Record, and 1 am surprised and panied to think
that man occupying his high position should use
il to give publicity to false reports, and should
indulge in such disingenuous subterfuges The
Senator, observe, makes use of the following
language:
Major Breckinrdge honestly and fairly elected
in the Congress of the United States entirely
familiar with every county and every voting precinct
within the I'D Congressional District and outside Of the
precinct OF Plummsrve there particle Of
evidence that be produced show that there
fraud Of any character description.
That said General Clayton, "was o bold
assertion, and one he win regret when the facts
are made known. Did not the Senator know that
in White River Precinct In Woodruff County, it
was charged that the Election Board composed
certified Clayton's large vote as having been cast
for Breckenridge and Breckinridges small vote
as having been cast for Clayton? And did he
not know, what is fact, that at the time my
brother was taking testimony at Plummerville his
attorney, with notary was also engaged in taking
testimony in this White River Precinct and that
when the news of the assassination suddenly
terminated this inquiry, more voters had testified
to having voted for him than were returned. while
many we're waiting in the room SO Go TESTIFY, ana
large number Of others were on the road Tor that
purpose? Did not the Senator know that In
another township of that county the three Demo
cratic election officers appeared at the voting
place on the day of election and, the pretext OF
not having the key to the oaliot-box, 'efused
TO open the polls, thus preventing an election In
this strong Republican precinct? Did he not
know that in one township Of Monroe County,
strong Republican precinct, the same fraud was
practised, with the exception that missing poll
book instead of missing key, was the pretextT
Did ne not know that in another township con-
siderable number of votes cast for John NJ Clay
ton. on the Streeter ticket were not counted and
returned for him? Did he not know that, out
side of Plummerville, in the Id Congressional
District large number Of election officers and
other persons. all Democrats, had been arrested
and upon pre- liminary investigation bound over
in large sums to appear before the United States
District Court 10 answer for crimes against the
IJnted States election laws at the election in ques
ton?
THINGS THE ARK ANsAs SENATOR SHOULD KNOW
. s. If Senator Berry, General Clayton continued,
was not cognizant of these things, then he was
lamentably ignorant Of affairs that have recently
taken place in his State. II he was cognizant Of
them then how could he say that outside of the
one precinct at Plummervile, there is not one par
ficle of evidence that can be produced to show
there was any fraud Of any character or descrip-
tom? The Senator, in criticsing the joint state
ment of myself and my brother says that. accord
ing to my own admission, Clifton Z. Brecknr1dge
was hone stly elected a member OF the List Con-
gress by 399 majority. venture TO say that
even Mr. Berry himself, if he win read carefully
our settlement, will not persist in such an asser-
ton. We prefaced our statement by saying that,
although many political crimes had been CON-
mitted in different parts of the State, we would
conffne our statements to the limits Of Conway
county. IT, after having 50 confined ourselves.
we did not refer to election frauds outside Of that
county, is that an admission that they did not
exist? The following extract from Mr. Berry's
speech will ask you TO publish
Mr.. President another assassination occurred in Ar
kansas days Of reconstruction when Powell Clay
the who signed that ststementnot the deceased
man. because John NJ Clayton the man who was killed
was gentleman and fair politics and In every
other yay-I say that when Powell Caytoa had his foot
upon tho neeks OF the people the State Of Arkansas
General "TomS G. Hindman, who was Member
Congress- before me who had Just retired after
having made gallant behalf OF John N.
Hanks, the Democratic nominee, shot down the
dark night through his window presence
his own family and his children. Governor Clayton
at that time had control Of the entire State Government
Of Arkansas backed by the Federal troops Washington
and yet that assassin was known arrested
never punished and IL is stated By OF the news-
papers IN my state--I know whether It true
not--thst reward offered effort made TO
ARTIST him.
GOVERNOR CLAYTON AND THE HINDMAN CASE.
In answer TO q portion of the above said
General Clayton, 81 offer this copy Of an Execu-
tive proclamation issued by myself soon after the
assassination Of Hindman:
$1,000 REWARD.
Proclamation hx fhe co,,nnnnr