The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-26
About Seyenty-fye Negroes Testify
to Voting for Clayton at
White River.
Only Forty-three Ballots in the Box to be
Counted for Him In
that Precinct.
1literate Electors Given Straight Demo-
cratic Tiokets-The Murder of Clay
ton will be Investigated = Mr.
Breckinridge Urges the Most
Complete Search into
the Matter.

LITTLE Rock, Ark, April 25-The Clay
tOn-Breckinridge investigation committee
| examined about seventy-five witnesses to-
day, nearly all of whom were negroes.
The latter testified that they voted at the
White River precinct in Woodruff county
at the presidential election in November,
each swearing that he cast a straight Re
publican ticket containing the name Of
John NJ. Clayton as a candidate for con-
gress.
Last night County Clerk Ferguson, of
Woodruff county, Judge Mcclure, at
torney for the parties TO the investigation,
and j. II. HerrOd, attorney for cOntestee,
counted the ballots in the White river
box. This morning they reported to the
committee that they found the result to be
2l0 votes for Breckenridge and forty-three
for Clayton. The 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 We're positive, however, of hav-
ing voted for Clayton. In very few cases
the ballots show they had voted for Breck-
lnridge. In this state a number is written
on the ticket corresponding to the number
opposite the name of the voter in the poll
books so that it is very easy to ascertain
the ticket cast by each voter. In nearly
all the cases where a negro unable to
read had cast his vote the ballot produced
was a straight Democratic one.
The committee will proceed tomorrow
with the examination of about forty wit
nesses from Pine Bluff. Next week about
500 witnesses from Howard township, Con-
way county, in which Plumerville, the
place where Colonel Clayton was assassi-
mated is situated, will be here to give testi-
mOny. The committee will endeavOr not
only to elicit evidence that will reveal the
identity of the parties who stole the ballot
box III that township, but will also try to
find out who it was that killed Clayton.
Mr. Breckenridge stated to the commit
tee today that be hoped the investigation
would take the widest scope. Judge Nc
Clure asked Judge Dant, the county judge
of Woodruff county, if he was not a mem
Der of the SO-called irrigation society of
Woodruff county. Mr.. Harrod, attorney
for contestant, objected to the question,
as the society has been organized since
the election and had nothing to do
with the case undergoing examination,
Judge Mcclure said that he wanted to
show that the society grew out of the cleo
tiOn troubles of 1886, and that the mem
bers were responsible for the election
frauds in that county.
Mr. Breckenridge arose and asked that
his attorneys withdraw their objection,
saying that if it We're necessary.for the
committee to investigate the society to ac-
cOmpiSh its object he would place moth
ing in the way Of its doing SO He
hoped the committee would send for
books and papers of the organization
and give them thorough examination.
The committee thought the evidence in
and declined to permit Judge
Mcclure to ask any further questions on
the subject.
Judge Dent fursher testified that he had
been county Judge of Woodruff county for
six years and at elections he always ap-
pointed two Democratic and one ReDubli-
,.l,
but always had difficulty in finding the
Republicans VINO would serve.
The committee adjourned until o'clock
tomorrow morning.