Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-02
a BLOODY SEQUEL
A Negro Shot at Plummerville, Ark.
while Tracking Clayton's Assassins.

LITTLE Rock, Ark, April News
reached this city Sunday night of muir
der which occurred mile east of Plum
merville, Saturday evening, about 3
o'clock. Joe r. Smith, negro, was shot
and killed by one Daye Richmond,
young white man. 1t seems Smith had
been to Plummerville and was on his way
home when he was overtaken by Rich
mond, who was on horseback, and shot
down.
There were witnesses to the affray and
particulars about it are meagre, but 1t
seems that Richmond fired three shots at
Smith, the first of which struck him IN the
breast near the heart, and was enough IN
itself to kill him. The shooting was wit
messed by some men who were at work in
q field near by and a negro was
seen to throw up his hands and then fall.
Richmond turned and rode back towards
Plummerville, and meeting a wagon in
the road, dismounted and left his horse
here. Some deputy sheriffs came up about
this time, arrested Richmond and took
him to Morrilton, where he is now in Jail
place Wednesday.
Smith and Richmond are not known TO
have had any previous trouble and the
killing was wholly unexpected. 1t is &C
counted for in this way: That Smith has
been employed by Pinkerton detectives
who are in this city to work up the evil
dence against the men who stole the bal
lot boxes at Plummeryille, and also John
NJ. CIayton's assassin. He, it has been
learned, had been doing some talking at
Plummerville that day about his
discoveries and it seems talked
too much, and this was the
cause of his death. Further reason for
believing this is found in a letter which
Smith wrote to the detectives Saturday,
and which was received by him Sunday
morning and which reads as follows, the
names being omitted:
FUNDAMENTALLY, March 30-Mr. -,
Little Rock, Ark: Dear Sir-This is to
inform you that - has this day agreed to
tell me the facts about what - told him.
He refers to him as the d son OF b
that killed } ohm NJ. Clayton. He told -
that he was afraid to talk what he did
know about it. says he will swear to
many other things that will be good for
the government He will also swear that
- was at Plummerville on the 9th night
of November, and many others who were
there from Morrilton. You will also do a
good piece of work by having = come
down where you are. He knows all about
the killing of Clayton. You must have
- and the two other men who
live at Nenefee. They are good
witnesses. l will point them out to
you in different places when we all get
down to the Rock (meaning Little Rock
| can find ont many more things in regard
to the Clayton matter. was up to Morrill,
ton The boys who were with - on the
night of the killing have all been sent Off.
| am try to find out where they are One
of them saw the shooting. l wish it was
so l could see you about this time. One
man who is now watching two white men
heard one of them tell the other, - had
a hand in the killing. Two of these men
are relatives ] am now at work trying to
find out more about them. You may
morrow"
Richmond is about 20 years old and came
to Arkansas from Texas about two years
ago. His politics are unknown, but Smith
was leading colored Republican in his
township.