, 1890-08-07
THE CLAYTON MURDER
Majority Report of the Elec-
tions Committee.
NO DEFINITE RESULT REACHED
The Necessity for Better Laws
Resolution Declaring the Seat
Declared Vacant.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3. 3.-Representative
Lacey, OF Iowa, has prepared for sub
mission to the house the majority re-
port OF the election committee upon the
Clayton Breckenridge contest election
case and the murder of tho republican
contestant
Commenting on Clayton's murder, the
report says: "Rewards were offered
and tho community of Morrill, town
passed an appropriate resolution, but no
earnest attempt to bring the murderers
to justice has been made by the local
authorities. The efforts of the govern
ment have been in vain"
Next the report refers to the killing of
Smith, the negro detective who was
investigating the ballot box theft, and
George Bently, brother of the Bently
who was suspected of being one OF the
thieves. George Bently ut the time was
negotiating with the pinkertons to give
evidence and expose the guilty parties,
when he was said to have been acci-
IDENTIFY shot by his brother. The report
says that there is no direct evidence to
show any criminality in the killing of
Bently, but declares that IL is uniortu-
nate that these two killings occurred
while the men were about TO give evil
dencc to the detectives.
The theory that Clayt murder was
due TO the enmity of one Hooper is
taken up, and the report says; at
clearly appears that Hooper was not
only in California when the murder
occurred, but i'll. This theory was
naturally pleasing to the contestee
(Breckenridgc) although the friends of
Colonel Clayton very naturally COM
planned that so important clew should
have been concealed Tor ten months
from them and only made known when
the congressional investigation began"
The report continuing, says, "No
reasonable explanation of the murder
appears, except that some of the ballot
box thieves, finding that the taking of
testimony was progressing. killed Clay
ton TO suppress the investigation. No
other motive seems possible. The
necessity of the enactment OF laws
which will prevent ballot box stealing
ana murder from comforting a prima
iacle title To IA seat in congress Is evident
from the result OF this contest. Had
such laws been in force as would have
prevented the contested from
taking his seat with such tito,
no one would have attempted to confer
such title by stealing the ballot boxes.
Evidently ballot box stealing was looked
upon as joke in that community until
the awful consequences vi that case ap-
palled the good people OF the country.
No doubt some OF these men would have
been deferred from taking the first step
III the crime, IL they had realized that
murder would have been the end; but
they crossed their Rubicon. Brecken-
ridge got his seat in congress and one
crime followed another. The least gdilty
OF the criminals dare not expose the
more guilty, lest the fate of Clayton
should ovcrtake them. The mur-
derers OF benjamin. well.known
Little Rock republican, who was
killed while conferrIng with local repub-
Leans with regard to bringing the ballot
box thieves to justice, must be well
known, lor large number of persons
were present, but they had not been IN
dicted. No indictments had been found
unuer the state election laws for the
ballot box crime. Murderer Smith was
discharged without a trial. The killing
OF Bentley was not investigated, and
the only man whose crime had been
punished is Wahl, the federal super
visor, who was indicted Tor playing
cards when Clayton was shot.
That men can be found
lawless enough to commit these crimes,
is TO be deplored; but, when men of high |
character and standing complacently |
avail themselves OF the fruits of such |
crimes, and the control of the national |
house of representatives is made to turn
upon such methods, IL no longer remains
mere matter oil local concern, but |
arises TO the magnitude of u national
calamity. The present case has
attracted national attention. Never
before has a contest Tor seat in
congress been terminated by the bullet |
oil AN assassin. Ii such methods are sub |
mitted TO in silence, the party benefited
by tue crime and his partisans quietly |
and without dispute retaining the ben
ehts OF the death of his competitor, a |
new element will be introduced into our
form of government"
y resolution accompanying the report
declares the seat vacant.