Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-31
THE CLAYTON MURDER
Particulars OF the Terrible Assassination
in Arkansas.
The Nature of the Wounds Received by the
Victim, and a Brief Account OF His Ca
reer-A Famous Family.


LITTLE Rock, ARK, Jan. 30.-Col.
John NJ. Clayton, Republican contestant
for Congressman Breckinridge's seat in
congress, was killed last night near this
city while engaged in collecting testi-
mony in his case. There is great excite
meHt here Clayton is the brother of
Powell Clayton.
TIE PARTICULARS.
LITTLE Rock, ARK. Jan. 30.-The
Gazette s Plummerville special gives the
following details of the killing of John
| M Clayton: Hon. J. M. Clayton was
shot in his room at Mrs Craven 5 house
at o CLOCK last night. d. H. Womack
of Benton, Ark. a travelling man, who
was III the room with Clayton, says: His
friend Mr. Alnutt and he were occupying
the same room. Clayton had been ner-
vous all evening and had been walking
the floor with his 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 a
shot was fired through the window, max
ing q very loud report and putting out
the light. We could hear the blood run
lamp has exploded and killed him -
mo, - said Alnutt, ''he has been
shot. -
When a light was brought we found
that a load of buekshot 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.
womacl1s story is straight. There
is no clew to the perpetTator of
the outrage, but pistol was
found underneath the window this
morning which may probably lead to the
discovery of the assassin. No one has
advanced any theory yet. y great num-
Der of people, principally negroes, are in
the little village, but everything is
orderly and quiet.
WILL OFFER A REWARD.
LITTLE Rock, ARK. Jan. 30.-A bill
was presented i'll the senate tc day
authorizing the governor to offer $4,000
reward for the arrest of the murderer or
murderers of John NJ. Clayton, who was
assassinated ut Plummerville last night,
and was made the special order for to-
morrow
The remains of John NJ Clayton were
brought to this city tonight, were met
at the depot by the Knights Templar
commandery and a vast concourse of
people and escorted to the commandery
asylum, where they viii lie in state until
tomorrow and be taken to Pine Bluff for
interment.
The fatal wound is very ugly one. A
charge of fifteen buckshot entered the
right side of the head, tearing hole in
if in which man could run his fist
Several balls passed clear through, max
ing q hole in the left side an inch and
half in diameter, the neck was broken,
all the arteries from the brain TO the
heart were severed land death was instan-
taneOus.
A pistol found just outside Mrs.
Craven 5 yard is the only clew to the
perpetrators. It is q Smith & Wesson
"A caliber, blue barrel, latest improved,
brand new, loaded full and had never
been fired The men came back last
night about 2 o CLOCK prowled around
the house trying to find it, but the men
inside were afraid to venture out, know
ing it meant certain death. The. assass-
ms wore heavy arctic overshoes, which
they pulled off as soon as they got into
the yard The people of Pmmmerville
are horrorstricken and mystified, and
feel outraged. too, on account of the
cowardly assassination, and openly de-
clare they will hang the assassins if
caught.
The Arkansas ClaytOns are from Della
ware originally, and are closely related
to the family of the famous Senator John
M Clayton, President Taylor's secretary
of state. The murdered man was q
younger brother Of Gen. Powell Clayton,
and twin brother of Judge Thomas Clay
ton of Fort Smith Ark. Hewas a mem
Der of the leading law firm Of Hemming-
way, Austin & Clayton of Pine Bluff, his |
partners, both being prominent /
Democrats. John NJ. Clayton was
educated for the pulpit, as was
his opponent in the late con-
gressional contest, Clifton R Breeken- |
ridge, son of Vice-President John G..
Breckenridge. He served as sheriff of |
Jefferson county, and was esteemed by |
all who knew him as an honest, chival-
rous gentleman. He had hundreds of |
friends among Democrats, and his politi |
cal assimilation viii meet the condemna-
ton of the better class Of Democrats in |
Arkansas.
The murdered man was in moderate /
circumstances and leaves family OF /
five children, two of whom are grown |
daughters.
DENOUNCED AT FORT SMITH.
Special TO the Gazette.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. Jan. SO.-A special |
from Fort Smith, Ark, says large |
number of citizens of that city have |
signed a announcement of the assassina- |
ton at Plummervilie last night OF Hon |
John NJ Clayton and subscribed to a |
popular fund 10 be offered as reward |
for the arrest and conviction of the as
sassin.