The Russellville Democrat., 1889-04-25
ahe f,lummerv,lle Ballot Box

The Riummerv1ile Ballot Box
Theft.
] The Little Rock Gazette Of the
23d publishes another chapter in
connection with the theft of the bal
lot box at Plummerville. That paper
having published so many sensation
al articles concerning this affair, and
many of them manifestly untrue, the
latest article will be taken with sew
eral grains of allowance. We repro.
duce it below for what it is worth:
Warren Taylor, young man who
| has resided for some time at Morrilton,
Conway County, came to this city last
/ Friday. On the Wednesday previous
an old man, a stranger, had become
drunk on the streets of Morrilton and
laid out all night. The next morning
he claimed to have been robbed. Sat-
urday afternoon he swore out warrant
for the arrest of Taylor, charging him
with the crime. A deputy sheriff at
once boarded freight train for this city
arriving about / O'Clock that night.
The next morning he arrested Taylor,
but deeming the charge based on but
| feeble grounds, slid not keep vigilant
guard over him. Taylor, who came
! here on his way to Louisiana to visit
relatives, evaded the deputy during the
! day and went to Pine Bluff.
The Federal authorities, thinking he
would be valuable witness as to cleo
ton crimes in Conway County, and
| so;n fhat ha MIGHT haUQ
nection with them himself. had war
rant issued for his arrest on charge
of interfering with the election super
visor Charles VAIL, at Plummerville.
The warrant was placed IN the hands
of Deputy Marshal, and returned With
Taylor as his prisoner yesterday morn
ing.
The United States Attorney had lay
lor taken before the Grand Jury yester-
day, where he made the following state
ment: On the evening that the ballot
box was stolen at Plummerville he, In
company with Charles G. Reed, young
lawyer of Morrilton, George Bentley,
the Marshal of that town, and some
seventeen or eighteen others, all Of
whose names Taylor gave, went down
to Plummeryille from Morrilton. The
crowd generally understood that troub-
lie was anticipated at Plummerville, and
they were expected to preserve peace.
When they arrived within about 100
yards of the depot halt was called and
five of the number went into the town
to reconnoitre. After few minutes
they returned and stated that all was
quiet and the party turned about to go
back to Morrilton. When about half
way home, the rumor was currently
passed.ithat che Plummerville ballot
bex was also in the crowd. Taylor tes-
titled that he was not one OF the i've
who went into town, and hence knew
nothing of the theft of the box until the
rumor was allowed to get out through
the crowd.
THE BOX WAS TAKEN
on into Morrilton and carried into
room in the rear of Wells store and
there it and its contents were burned
In a stove.
Charles G. Reid was also called before
the grand jury yesterday and made
statement In many things confirming
Taylors. Tie stated, however, that on
the evening he left Morrjlton the crowd
was riding about the streets ready to
go; that he and George Bentley went In
ahead, and did not see the crowd any
more. He did not know that any at
tempt was to be made to steal the bal
lot-box. When he and Bentley arrived
In PlummerviIe and hitched their hors-
es the town was quiet, and the night
extremely dark and rainy. After they
had been there few minutes BeDtly
gave him the slip, and he could not ma
him any more. He then went ana got
Oh his horse and started for home.
When short way out he encountered
Warren Taylor, and they rode back to
Morrilton together. On the way nome
he lost his hat, and though he got down
and searched for it. could not find it on
account of the darkness. The hat be-
longed to friend of his. 1t is now in
the possession of detective in this
city. He knew nothing of the box be-
ing stolen until the next day. tie had
been at Plummeryille all the day Of
election acting as a Deputy Sheriff.
When he arrived home he was inform
ed that late information indicated troub-
lie at Plummervile and that he must re-
turn as Deputy Sheriff to assist in pre-
serving the peace. He demurred say
ing he was very tired and preferred
not to go. George Bently then accused
him of being afraid to go, and he went
in order to rsfute the charge.
Warren TAYLOR is under arrest, being
guarded by the Marshal.
Charles Reid is in the city stopping at
the Capital Hotel.
Deputy United States Marshal Faux
injury went to Morrilton yesterday
morning and subpenaed the following
witnesses: William ii. Ward, Charles
Ward, William Wood, w. Z. Wells,
John Dur, and oliver 4. Bently. They
are called to appear before the Grand
Jury. The Deputy Marshal also ar
rested colored boy about 10 years old
named George Washington, under a
warrant charging him with interfering
with the officers of election OF Howard
township, Conway county. 1t Is thought
that he was present on the occasion OF
burning the ballot box at Morrilton.
He was in the employ of Mr.. w. +.
Wells when arrested.
The George Bently, city Marshal OF
Morrilton. who, as is stated by Taylor,
was among the number who went to
Plummerville that night, was short
time after the election accidentally shot
and killed by his brother, Oliver L.
Bently, who WAS subp9naed as wit
ness, as above stated.