The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-31
Details of the Assassination.
a Western A ssociafal Press


LITTLE Rock, Ark, Jan. 3O.-The Gazette
Plummerville, Ark. special gives the fol-
lowing details of the killing of John NJ.
Clayton: Hon. John M. Clayton was shot
in his room at Mrs. Craven's house, at
o'clock last night. d. III. Womack, of Ben
ton, Ark, travelling man, who was in the
room with Clayton, his friend Mr.. Alnutt,
and were occupying the same room. Clay
ton had been nervous all the evening and
was pacing the floor with hands in his
pockets He walked toward the window,
over which the blind was partially drawn,
and was in the act of sitting down when %
shot was fired through the window, MAX
ing very loud report and putting out the
light. We could hear the blood running
from Clayton. l exclaimed: THE lamp
has exploded and killed him."
NO" said Alnutt, "he has been shot"
When light was brought we found that
a load of buckshot had been fired through
the window, taking effect in the right side
of his neck, breaking it, one bullet passing
clear through. He fell back in his chair
and then over on the floor. WOmack's story
is straight. There is no clew to the perpe-
traitors of the crime, but a pistol was found
underneath the window thismOrning which
may probably lead to the discovery of the
assassin. No one advances any theory yet
A great number of people, principally ne
grOes, are in the little village, but every
thing is orderly and quiet.
The remains of John NJ. Clayton were
brought to this city tonight and were met
at the depot by the Knights Templars Com
mandery and a vast cOncourse of people
and escorted to the cOmmandery asylum,
where they will lie i'll state till tomorrow,
to be taken to Pine Bluff for interment
The fatal wound is a very ugly one. a
charge of fifteen buckshOt entered the
which man could run his fist. Seven
balls passed clear through, making hole
on the left side an inch and a half in diam
eter The neck was broken, all
the arteries from the brain to heart
severed, and death was instantaneous.
pistol found just outside Mrs. Cravens's
yard is the only clew to the perpetrators
1t is a Smith q Wesson, A calibre, blue bar
rel, latest improved, brand new, loaded full,
and had never been fired. The men came
back last night at 2 o'clock and prowled
around the house trying to find it, but the
men inside were unarmed and were afraid
to venture out, knowing it meant certain
death. The assassins wore heavy arctic
overshoes, which they pulled off as soon as
they got outside of the yard. The people
of Plummerville are horror stricken and
mystified, and feel outraged, too, on ac-
count of the c0wardly assassination, and
openly declare they Will hang the assassin
if caught.
A bill was presented in the Senate to-day
authorizing the Governor to offer s. 200 re-
ward for the arrest of the murderer, or
murderers, of John NJ. Clay ton, and it was
made a special order for tomorrow.
A telegram from Pine Bluff. Ark, the
home of Colonel Clayton, says that place
was thrown into a fever of excitement upon
receipt of the news of the assassination.
The scene at the victims home, when the
news was conveyed to his family, was q
terrible one. kilograms of coincidence
have been pouring in all day. A public
| meeting was held in the courthouse this
afternoon. There was an immense attend
ance. After adoption of appropriate reso.
| lutiOns committee was appointed to
| request business houses to close, and to
| have church bells tolled when
| the remains arrive in the morning and when
| the funeral takes place. A committee OF
| twelve citizens was also appointed to go to
| Little Rock and act as an escort to the re-
| mains. Damascus Commandery, No. s
| knights 1emplars, also sent an escort. The
| courthouse is draped in mourning and flags
are flying at half-mast. The funeral viii
take place on Friday afternoon. Prominent
| Democrats, referring to the outrage, say
| good graces of the North is to catch the
cowardly assassins and punish them sum
| marlly."
Fort SMITH, Ark, Jan. 3O.-A large mum
ber of citizens of this city have signed a de
mersville, last night. of Hon. John NJ. Clay
| ton, and subscribed to popular fund to bs
| offered as a reward for the arrest and con
| victiou Of the assassin.