Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-14
Report of the Elections Committee
Upon the Noted Arkansas
Contest.
The AsSasSin's Bullet Declared
Not an Open Sesame to
Congress.
Urgent Necessity for Laws to Pre-
vent BallOt-bOx Stealing
and Murder.


effect that Representative Dacy, of Iowa,
has prepared for admission to the house
the majority report of the elections COM
mlttee upon the Clayton Breckenridge con,
tested election case and the murder of the
Republican contestant. Commenting on
Clayton's murder, the report says: The
state and nation were Mortified. Rewards
were offered, and the community of Nor
passed appropriate resolutions, but NJ
earnest attempt in bringing the murderer
to justice has been made by the local au-
thorities. The efforts of the governor have
been In vain. Much of the work done has
weight has not been given to the suspicion
that should naturally attach to the ballot
box thieves. -
Next the report refers to the killing of
Smith, negro detective, who was inves-
tigating the ballot-box theft. and of
George Bentley, brother of 0. 7. Bent
ley, who was suspected of being one of the
thieves. George Bentley at that time was
negotiating with one of the Pinkertons to
give the government evidence and expose
the guilty parties when he was said 10
nave been accidently shot by his brother.
The report says there is no direct Grimm
atty in the killing of Bentley, but declares
1t unfortunate that these two killings oc-
Cured while the men were about to give
evidence to the Pinkerton detectives. The
theory that Clayton's murder was due to
the enmity of one Hooper is taken up, and
the report says it clearly appears that
Hooper was not only lii California when
the murder occurred, but i'll with disease.
This theory, says the majority. was nab
urally pleasing to the contestee (Breckip-
ridge, though the friends of Colonel Clay
ton naturally complained that so import
ant clew should have been concealed for
ten months from them, and only made
known when the congressional investiga-
ton began. The report continuing says
mo reasonable explanation of the muir
der appears except that some of the ballot
box thieves, finding the taking of the tes-
timony continuing, killed Colonel Clayton
to suppress the Investigation. No other
motive is possible
The necessity of the enactment of some
laws which will prevent ballot-box stealing
and murder from comforting a prima facie
title to a seat in congress is evident from
the result In this contest. Had such laws
been in force as would have prevented the
contestee from taking his seat with such a
title no one would have attempted to con-
fer such title by stealing the ballot box
Evidently ballot-box stealing was looked
upon as joke in that community until
the awful consequences that have resulted
have appalled, the good people of the
country. No doubt some of these men
would have been deferred from taking the
first step in the crime if they had realized
that murder would be the end. But they
the seat in congress, and one crime follow
ed in the footsteps of the other. The
least guilty of the criminals dare not ex-
pose the more guilty lest the fate of Clay
ton should overtake them.
The murderers of Benjamin, we'll
known Little Rock man who was killed
near Morrillton, while comforting with
local Republicans with regard to bringing
the ballot-box thieves to justice, must be
well known, for large number of persons
were present, but they are not indicted, nc
indictments have been found under the
state election laws for the ballot-boz
crime the murderer of Smith is discharg-
ed without trial. the killing of Bentley is
not investigated, and the only man
whose crime is punished is Wahl.
the federal supervisor, who was
when 1uan' he was shot The e'. Contention of Of
Breckenridge and his counsel that the &C
quittal of the judges and others charged
with frauds in this election should bind
the house and that this adjudication
should be accepted by congress as proof
that frauds did not exist the report
says, els surprising and the majority de-
cline to be bound by the action of an Ar
kansas jury in criminal case. The re-
port also disagrees with other legal propo-
sitions brought forward by counsel
SIN Cleveland County, one Dansby ap
peared, bringing two shotguns, and an
nounced his intention of taking an active
interest in the proceedings. He was I'M
der the influence of liquor. Dansby is a
strong democrat and a partisan Of the con-
testee. His high connections, instead of
being treated as an aegravation of his
gross violation of both State and Federal
law, is rather urged as excuse for shielding
him from punishment. For this offense
Dansby was fined $500, a portion of which
fine was paid by the contestee. That the
nominee of great political party should
accept certificate of election to seat
to which he was clearly not elected,
and at the same time aid in the payment
of a fine imposed upon another violation of
the law, and that such conduct should not
be me- with anything but commentator
and approval by his political followers,
shows state of disregard for the. prin-
ciples of popular government which may
well be looked upon with apprehension.
That men may be found IawIess enough to
commit these crimes is to be deplored, but
when men OF high character and standing
avail themselves of the fruits
of such crime, and the control of the ma
tional house representatives is made to
turn up such methods it no longer re-
maind a mere matter of local concern, but
arises to the magnitude of national
calamity
The resolution accompanying the re-
port very righteously declares the seat
vacant.