The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-13
n Complete RefutRtiou of the Clayton
Ipfler


was going embttered by the somewhat unu-
sual circumstances that the Il 'publicans
were divided among themselves, and had two
tickets in the field. Each of the factions had
its separate organ in the shape OF
II weekly paper and the columns
of these sheets toemed with examinations
aud determinations. The Morrilton Star.
| edited by white man named n. G.. IIaincs.
supported the Courthouse ticket which
| contained the names of Mr. Cuhlcn IT,
Sheriff. and Mr. Hawkins, Clerk. The
Morrilton Clarion, edited by shrcwd negro
named w. NJ. Jordan, who was himself a
candidate for Clerk and made an active
canvass upon the stump advocated the
boilers ticket. Jordan is probably the
ablest stumpcr in the county and
| poured hot shot into the opposition camp,
which the enemy were unable 10 success
fully return. Jordan took position which
was certainly unassailablc from Republican
| standpoint He argued that rs the colored
| voters of the Republican party furnished all
the votes and every other thing ncCdful for
victory they were at least entitled To a r,a-
sonable share of the ,pnils. lie said: "Our
demands are modest We don want much.
Give US one paying position ON the ticket,
say the County ClCrkship.n This rea-
sonable demand was refused aud the
tocsin OF war was sounded, The Democracy
saw their opportunity aud were not slow to
seize II, They Organized q political club 100
strong, hut SHOWERS, fresh from Missis-
sippi' was not at its head rs alleged by the
clayton letter. It's president was DIR. W A.
C. Saylc, a wealthy planter and physician.
4 vigorous campaign was inauguratcl. The
Republican breach widcncd and widoncd,
and the Democrats naturally did not break
Their nccks helping To accommodate mat
tens Jordan was charged with trcachcry To
his race and party. Rival meetings were
held nightly all over the county at con-
vcnicnt places. Jordan was charged with
having been bought up by Democratic
| money. and that threw the county In an up.
roar The fight became 80 hot that col
li.ion on election day seemed immi-
ncnt Reports came in OF threats By
the negroes To burn Morrilt0u II was also
known that five eases Of Springfield rifles
| hal been received from ST. Louis and dis
trbutcd 10 negroes. At this juncturc IL
occurred 90 leading citizens that In view of
TIE heated condition Of the political atmus-
phcrr the formation Of "a militia company
for the protection Of life and property un-
der the laws of the State OF Arkansas
might be advisable. Such a company was
accordingly organized with membership of
/ sixty, aud W. |. StOWgrs, Clshicro the Bank
Of MOrriltOn, man ~ approved courage.
/ cool nerve aud sound Judgment. was elected
captain. Guns were applied for and fur
ni,hcd 10y the Governor At stated periods
the men were drilled, that being considered
essential Co thorough discipline aud ctlicicn.
cy. II is not true that the guns uf this COM
pauy were deposited on election day loaded
ana ready for action, IN n convenient place ion
the building IN which the election was held.
That j. Powell Claytpn's allegation and it b.
disprovcd 10y Republican authority The
election was held In the courthouse
The Clerk aud sheriff. both Republicans had
their offices there and, according Ia 40 pre-
ccdcnt. the sheriff was vested with the Gus
tody Of the building aud had control of H.
The building swnrmcd with negroes aud was
Republican headquarters. II ~ proper TO
state right here that two weeks before the
election sheriff Cohlcntz withdrew from the
Republican ticket and another was sulisu-
tutcd IN his place. but the election
was held under Sheriff Cuhlcntz- supCryis-
ion. Now II ans man was in a
deposited in the Courthouse that man was
sheriff tohlcnM | questioned him upon
the subject and his answer was. II saw no
guns, aud hi, testimony upon that point l.
Durrubouicd by every man | interviewed
The guns, all witnesses agree. wcrr stored IN
the lrmpry uf the company unloalcd, at a
distance OF nearly q quarter OF a mile from
MUfft lNt ClttNou was htld.
uE ELECTION WAS QUIET, rEAcEinLE NND
ORDERLY
according to all accounts. The time fixed
for opening the polls was O'Clock am. Iy
that time q large crowd ot voter, bad us.om-
hlcd, and they Ncr impatient 10 vote, No
Judges Woru ut hand The crowd waited uu.
80 go o'clock and then in the absence of
the regular judges, the by-siandcrs, In con
formiiy with Arkansas laws. filled the va
clucic. ls they had q right TODD. The Clay
tons charge that the Republican Judge uf
Election. while on his way a. thc polls, WIS
arrested on a irivolou, and prccuuCcricd prr.
text learn that the fact, are, that the Re-
publican judge got into an alteration with
drunken man aud that both were arrested.
The Democratic ticket carried thc county,
aud is now iu control Of ~ anlir,.
TuE BENJAMIN ArrNtG.
Concerning the treatment by the people Of
Mornlltou of the late Mr.. VI. W. Benjamin,
the Clayton letter says.
The day before this ,l,JI0u ". " Benjamin. a
monument Republican lawyer ui Ilu, itp.E And
one of Afkuu4h % best riifDus Wis sent ~ conway
County by Che Republican state Committee. with
Instructions a. usr nis best rudHayou 90 secure On
huurt election. upoH his arrival ut the depot NJ
Mnuilliun hc Wa confronted BOZ au iniufatDd mob
uf several hundred Citlf'us, Who Mrrw him ifum
iu0 rIft assaulted AMI beat bin, pulled ifum BIZ
face handouts ui beard aud met 40 n, hla appeals
in tHc.r humanity will LIrls aud rlf. ihtIIy
shooting BIN Boo tuu iufUHrld With o. weapon 90
sufficient iurc Co umJJi aud n4ucu thu bullet
n .h1ri duo fer Wr BENJAMIN died. telling ti,
uIiH before death That hlf tufrflugs Wrw doe io
il.c tfDitucut Del eiycd at iho hands u The Morrill,
som mob.
The version " this afIair told by the pco.
/ pie ui MoHriltun is ls follows That uu the
/ iny when ST. Benjamin was expected ',l.
rErm from ono Horny Cooper e Little Rock
| Republican. informing The former that Mr.
/ Benjamin was ON hIg way Go MUuIltuu with
/ % commission ns United States Commissioner
/ In DIE pocket made ont iu the namr of Mr.
| t1hlygI that Mr. Benjamin was accom-.
panied hy Detective Wiids. Ut the United
/ States Secret Service. whose functions would
| e. tuurrrst citizens Tor violations ol election
/ laws under instructions from United States
/ Commissioner tublonty. IN other words
/ here Was sCllcousututod court coming
/ down To- MorriltOu 10 run the election and
| iutimidn voters. I did not see the telo.
! sum but such was the construction put
| upon IL By the people Of M0uliun IT.
| contents leaked out How. ! have not been
/ able 90 ascertain. II is aid that man on
| thp platform ~ the railroad station, whore
| tho telegraph odcnis located looked through
/ o. window over the operators shoulder aud
| saw tho telegram coming However that
| may bolt got out gathering new details with
| every repetition, and by the time The train
! arrived thc people Of Mouiion were
| wrought mp 10 high pitch ~ indignation.
! The train Wus two hours over due and got
! 90 .Muriltou az O'Clock pm. instead of q
| O'Clock pm, schedule time. A large crowd
| of excited ci.yCus was nc the depot among
! them The usual sprnkliug u the irppfc-s'
ihlc small boy. When Mr. benjamin ap.