Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-03-21
NUMBER 81.
The Clayton Murder.
"Both conservative Democrats an

s'B0th conservative Democrats and
conservatives Republicans in Arkan-
sas," said Mr.. .Chas. r. Boddie, the
travelling representative in Arkansas
of Wear-Boogher Dry Goods Co., at
at the Lindeli last night, "attribute
the murder of John NJ. Clayton to the
feeling of hatred that exists in Conway
and other central Arkansas counties
against the Clayton family, and as in
no way growing out of recent political
battles. Powell Clayton's militia. while
he was Governor, raided the cen trail
counties of the State number of times
during 1857 and 1868. These raids
were ostensibly to capture law-break-
ers, but in reality to rob and punish
political enemies. Upon one occasion
his militia murdered a man named
Hooper, living within two miles of
Plummerville, where Clayton was
killed, by burning him to death in his
store. Casey and Jackson. living in
this county, were murdered in cold
blood by this band at the same time.
On another occasion they took 20 odd
men in Conway County as prisoners,
who, to this day, have never been seen
nor heard of. In Little River County
they tried and numerically whipped
Tom Brooks, a prominent citizen, and
forced his wife to be ravished by three
negroes before his own eyes. Such
nutrages were committed by the score
Any pretext to rob, kill or ravish they
acted upon.
"Col. Zeb Ward of Little Rock, who
cultivates several thousand acres Of
land in Conway County, and who was
for years the lessee Of the State Peni-
Tertiary, one of the very best men in
the State, said to me that the assassi-
nation of John M. Clayton owed its
origin entirely to the memories of the
awful depredations of Powell Clayton's
militia in 1867 and 1868. Dozens of
other we'll known Arkansas men have
corrobroated this in converse tions
with me in regard to the matter.
MANY sons whose fathers were MUIR
dered and mothers outraged in those
days have sworn to avenge the crimes
John Clayt0n's visit to Plummerville
as the first one any member of the
Clayton family ever made to Conway
County. and 1t is well-known fact
in the State that there are number
of counties in which Powell Clayton
dare not go. One of them is Conway.
'There are not three men in the Ar
kansas who do not deeply deplore
John Clayton's assassinat ton and who
are not anxious that the murderer
should be apprehended and punished
At the same time the people of the
State do not approve Of'eXtremes in |
in the matter of rewards, nor do they
approve Of the public journals of the
State who, by their loud-mouthed de-
mands for the apprehension of the
murderer, seems to be alarmed at the |
rapid expression of Republican senti-
ment created by politicians for the
sole purpose of injuriDg the character
of Arkansas people. They feel that
the State press should criticise aud
denounce this disposition of Republi-
can politicians to injure Arkansas in.
stead of not daring for tear of being
misinterpreted, to reflect the senti-
ment of the people in the matter.
They also crticise the Legislature for
offering SO large q sum as $1,000 for
the arrest of the murderer of Clayton.
while for the murders of many as good
men rewards to exceed 81 900 have not
been offered. Such a course shows a |
trucking disposition and an appear
ance of fright at the unreasonable hue
and cry of the North, which the rep
people of Arkansas resent. |
They despise such subserviency and |
''No State has better laws than Ar
kansas nor are laws better enforced |
than in that State. [ believe it is only |
a question of time till Clayton's assas- |
sin will be arrested y -ReDubic.