The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-26
CLAYTON'S CRUEL DEATH.
THE ATTEMPT TO FIX THH CRIME
ON A DEAD CALIFORNIAN.

A Sheriff Who Claims That the Dead
Man Disclosed to Him His Aninus-
A Threat to XIII the Deceased on
account of q War Time Grudge-
The Investigating Committee.
Los ANGELES, CAL, April 25.-Regard-
ing the report that Thomas Hooper. the
ranchero, who died at Ranchito, near here,
last winter, was implicated in the murder
Of John N. Clayton of Arkansas, the fol-
lowing facts are learned. Last June.
Charles Lewis called on Sheriff A. Grurrie
and said that in the latter part of 1888, he
had made the acquaintance of Thomas
Hooper and cared for him when he was
sick. Hooper was often moody, and
Lewis asked him the reason. Hooper
replied intimating that in 1888, he killed
two men in Conway county, Arkansas,
whose names Lewis caught as Thomas and
MAY. Little by little he told Lewis that
several years before his father had been
killed in Arkansas by body of men who
took him from Jail and lynched him. He
swore vengeance upon the lynchers and
told Lewis that the men whom he had killed
were two of the ringleaders in the party.
while Clayton was there too.
"If you ever hear of Clayton dying with
his boots on" Hooper remarked to Lewis,
'you will know who killed him." During
December Hooper disappeared, and soon
after Lewis read of the assassination of
CLAYTON. Lewis called at his house
and Hooper's son said he did
not know where his father
was. Soon after Lewis learned
that Hooper had reappeared and bought a
ranch at Ranchito. During the investi-
cation by the sheriff letters were received
from Gov. Eagle of Arkansas, stating that
Tom Hooper was brought up in Conway
county, Arkansas, and went through the
the war in the confederate army, and that
he was in Gov. Eagles regiment when quite
a boy. He left the state in 1868 or 1869 and
had not been there since to live. The gov
ernor's description is said to fit Ranchero
Hooper. He also said that Hooper's father
was murdered about the time stated.
HOOPER TO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.
The sheriff was about to arrest Hooper
last winter when the floods came, and cut
of connection with Ranchito for several
days. During that time Hooper was taken
down with pneumonia, and died. Gov.
Eagle, in replying under date OF March 81,
1890 to a communication from Sheriff A.
Grurrie of Los Angeles county, requests
specimens of Hooper's writing. He con-
cluded by saying: circumstances that
have come to light point to Hooper as the
probable person who committed this crime.
Ii he died. and is now dead, he cannot be
convicted in the courts, but hope you will
Immediately take this up and help us rush
it to conclusion"
THE CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY.
LITTLE Rock, ARK, April 25.-The
Clay, ay,on-Brecklnridge investigating COM
mitree examined about seventy-ive wit
nesses to-day, nearly all of whom were
negroes. The latter testified that they voted
at the White River precinct in Woodruff
county, at tie presidential election in No
vember, each swearing that he cast
straight republican ticket containing the
name of John M. Clayton as candidate
for congress. Last night County
Clerk Ferguson of Woodruff county,
Judge Mcclure, attorney for the
investigation committee, and j. II. Harrod,
attorney for the contestee, counted the
This morning they reported to the commit
tee that they found the result to be 210
votes for Brecki nridge and A for Clayton.
A majority of the negroes who testified
were unable to read and could not tell
whether the tickets shown them were the
ones they voted or not They were posi-
tive, however, of having voted fol-. Clayton.
In very few cases the ballots showed that
they had voted for Breckenridge.
EASY TO TELL.
In this state the number is written on a
ticket corresponding to the number opposite
the name of the voter on the poll books, SO
that it is very easy to ascertain the ticket
cast by each voter. In nearly all cases
in which negro unable to read cast his
vote, the ballot produced was q straight
democratic one. The committee will pro-
ceed tomorrow with the examination of
about forty witnesses from Pine Bluff, the
home of the late John M. Clayton. Next
week 500 witnesses from Howard township,
Conway county, in which is Plummerville,
the place where Clayton was assassinated
will be here to give their testimony. The
committee will endeavor not only to elicit
evidence that will reveal the identity of the
parties who stole the ballot box in that
township, but will also try to find out who
it was that killed Clayton. Mr.. Breckin-
ridge stated to the committee to-day that
ne hoped the investigation would take the
WldesJ scope.
Judge Mcclure asked Judge Dent, county
Judge of Woodruff county, if he was not a
member of the so-called immigration society
OF Woodruff county.
AN OBJECTION.
Mr.. Harrod, attorney for the contestee
objected to the question, as the society had
been organized since the election, and had
nothing whatever to do with case under
going examination.
Mr.. Mcclure said that he wanted to show
that the society grew out Of the elecsion
trouble of 1888, and that the members of it
We're responsible for the election frauds in
tnat country.
Mr.. Breclzinridge arose and asked that
his attorneys withdraw their objections,
saying that if it were necessary for the
committee to investigate the society to
accomplish its object, he would place moth
!ng In the way of its doing SO. He hoped
Tue committee would send for the books
ana papers of the organization, and give
Vnem thorough examination.
Ihe committee thought the evidence in
Competent, and declined to permit Judge
McClure to ask any further questions on the
Judge Dent further testified that he had
.en oeen county judge of Woodruff county for
oA years. and at each election he always
appointed two democrats and one republi-
tan as judges for each election precincB,
put put always had difficulty in finding repub-