Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-02-06
ASSASSlNATED.

CoWArdly Murder of John NJ. Clayton by
~ Unknown Assassin ut Plum nervIiie,
Ark.-Political Enemies Accused OF the
Deed
PLuMMERvILLE, Ark, Jan. 31.-The fol-
lowing details Of the muir or of John NJ
Clayton ut this place Tuesday have been
obtained: Mr.. Clayton occupied q room at
Mrs. McCraven's. In an adjoining cham
Der were W. H. Womack, Of Benton, and a
man named Alnutt. Clayton was
nervous that night and spent sew
eral hours pacing tho floor He
finally wearied Of this and went over to
the window to sit down. AS he dill so q
shot was fired at HIM through the window
Womack and Alnutt heard tho shot, and
rushing out found Clayton lying on the
floor in the agonies of death. He was
picked up and placed on the bed and ex-
pred in a few moments.
PINE BLUFF, Ark, Jan. 31-This place
was thr wn INTO q fever of excitement
upon receipt of the news Of tho murder of
Mr.. Clayton. The scene at the victims
home when the news was conveyed to the
stricken mily was most touching one
A public meeting was held at the court
house Wednesday afternoon. There was
an immense attendance. After tho adop-
tion of Apr opriate resolut ons a commit
teo was appointed to request business
houses to close and to have the church bells
tolled when the remains arr. we'd this morn
ing and when the funeral takes place. A
comm ttee of twelve citizens was also ap-
pointed TO 20 to Little Rock and act as an
escort to the remains. Damascus Com
mandery No. 8, Knights Templar, also
sends an escort The courthouse is
draped in mourning and flags are flying
at half-mast Tue funeral will take
place Friday afternoon. Prominent
Democrats, referring to the out
rage, say the only way to reinstate the
State in the good graccs of the North is to
catch the cowardly assassins and punish
them summar ly.
An inquest was held Wednesday on the
remains Mr.. Womack and Mr.. Alnutt
told tho circumstances of tho shooting,
and q verdict in accordance with the facts
WAS returned.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, Jan. 3l.-The re-
mains of John NJ. Clayton were brought
to this city Wednesday night, and were
met at the depot by the knights Templar
Commandery and vast concourse
OF people and escorted to the CON-
mandery asylum, where they will
lie in state till to-day to be
taken to Pine Blnff for interment. The
fatal wound is very ugly one. A charge
of fifteen buckshot entered the right side
OF the head, tearing a hole in which a
man could run his fist Seven balls
passed clear through. making hole on
the left sido an inch and a half in uiaMe-
ctr. The neck was broken, all the ar
terles from the brain to the heart severed,
and death was almost instantaneous.
"A pistol found just outside Mrs. McCra-
vens yard is tho only clew to the perpe-
TRAITORS. 1t IS Smith g. Wessou, forty
four caliber, blue barre, latest improved,
new, loaded full and had never been fired.
Men came back Tuesday night at 2
O'Clock and prowled around tho house try
ing to II d it, but the men inside were un-
armed and were afraid to venture out,
knowing 1t meant certain death. The as
sassins wore heavy arctic overshoes,
which they pulled off as soon as
they got outside of the yard. The peo-
pls oil Plummerville are horrors stricken
and mysthed and feel outraged, too, on
account of the cowardly assassination,
and openly declare they will hang tho as
sassins if caught.
A bill was introduced in the Senate yes
terday to authorize the Governor to offer
IS. 900 reward for the capture of the as
sassin.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 3l-Louis Alt
heimer, the next-door neighbor and bosom
friend of John NJ. Clayton, who was mur-
dered in P'ummerville Ark, hoard early
Wednesday morning, while here in the
interest of Powell Clayton, of the
murder of his friend He gives
an. interesting account Of Cl,!yton
and of the high esteem ia which he was
held bv Democrats as we'll as Republicans
Of Arkansas. Mr.. Clayton was member
Of the law firm OF Hemminway, Austin &,
Clayton, of Pine B uff, his partners both
being prominent Democrats. He was
educated for tho pulpit, as was
his opponent in the late Congress
sional contest, Clifton r. Breckenridge,
the son of Vice-Presidcnt John e. Breck-
inridge The murdered man was in mod
crate circumstances. He leaves fam ly
of five children, two Of whom are grown
daughters. When Mr.. Althelmer called
upon General Harrison the latter had al
ready heard of Clayton's assassination
General 81 srrison was profoundly affected
at the ne1vs