Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-08-07
THE CLAYTON KILLING.
OAdo4tp Report on the Clayton
.Drsc11nridee Case.


1heGt-Th9 SD picloee Circun9<ssncss
cd the e0flufo to Indict Coe-
eensed UoDn- o
WAsH1RGroA. Aug A-Reprsseats
Lacey, OF love has prepared fos ovb-
mission to the House the uejorite Co.
Clayton BfeekinfidEe Contested election
contestant
Commenting on Clsyton's murdes. The
report Gays:
1.-THE State and Natiea we're herrified
Rewards were offered and the commun-
ity OF Morrilton, near which the murder
occurred passed appropriate resolutions,
but no earnest attempt in bringing the
murderers to justice has been made by
the local authorities The efforts Of
the Governor have been In vain. Much
OF tue work done has been upon . mis-
taken idea and, due weight has NOT been
given Co the suspicion that should nat
ufally attach to the ballot box thieses.''
Next the report refers to the killing
OF Smith. . negro detective who was in
vestigating the ballot box theft, and OF
George Bentley, brother OF q T. Bent
ley. who was suspected OF being one OF
the thieves George Bentley at the
time was negotiating with the Pinker-
tons to give the Government evidence
and expose the guilty parties when he
was said to have been accidentally shot
by his brother. The report says there
Is no direct evidence to show any Grim
inality. in the killing Of Bentley, but
declares it unfortunate that these two
killings occurred while the men were
about to give evidence to the Pinkerton
detect;vea
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 in
California when the murder occurred,
but was i'll with dropsy. This theory,
says the majority. was naturally pleasing
to the contestee (Breckinridge), though
the friends OF Colonel Clayton very
naturally complained that so important
. clew should have been concealed for
ten months from them, and only made
known when the Congressional investi-
cation began.
The report, continuing. says: NO
reasonable explanation Of the murdee
box thieves, fading the taking Of the
testimony progressing. killed Colonel
Clayton to suppress the investigation.
No other motive 10 possible.
THE necessity for the enactment Of
some law which will prevent ballot box
stealing and murder from comforting Q
prima facie title to 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 q title, no one
would have attempted to confer such >
title Big stealing the ballot box. Evil
IDENTITY ballot box stealing was looked
upon as joke in thas comm unity until
the awful consequences that have re-
suited have appalled, the good people OF
the country.
mo doubt some OF Shese men would
have been deferred from 8aking the first
step in the crime if they had realized
that murder would be the end But
they crossed their Rubicon. Breckin-
ridge got the seat in Congress and one
crime followed in the footsteps of the
| other. The least guilty of the criminals
dare not expose the more guilty lest the
fate of Clayton should overtake them.
s'The murder of Benjamin, well
known Little Rock Republican, who
| was killed near Morrilton while confer
| ring with local Republicans with regard
| to bringing the ballot box thieves to
| Justice, must be we'll khown, for large
number of persons were present, but
they are not indicted, no indictments
| have been found under the State Elec-
| ton laws for the ballot box crime; the
murderer of Smith is discharged with
out trial; the killing of Bentley is not
| Investigated, and the only man whose
crime is punished is VAIL, the Federal
| supervisory, who was indicted for play
| ing cards when he was shot"
] The contention of Breckenridge and
his counsel that the acquittal of the
| judges and others charged with frauds
| in this election should bind the House,
and that this adjudication should be ac-
| cepted by Congress as proof that frauds
| did not exist, the report says, is surpris-
! ing, and the majority decline to be
bound by the action of an Arkansas jury
in criminal case. The report also dis
| agrees with other legal propositions
| brought forward by counsel
1.-The present case" continues the re-
| port, has attracted attention, not be-
| cause it stands alone as startling and
striking incident of dangers ahead for
| our form of government, but because it
appears to be one of a very bad kind.
In the old days of the code of honor,
political antagonists often met face to
face and eye to eye. and sought their
| adversary life. This method of set
Ting political differences has become
| obsolete, and we frequently con-
graduate ourselves upon the inn
! proved moral tone of cur day and gen.
L
| for seat in Congress been terminated
| by the bullet of an assassin. If such
methods are submitted to in silence, the
party benefited by the crime of his par
| tisans quietly and without dispute re-
| tanning the benefits of the death of his
! competitor. new element would be in
| trod uced in our form of government
| The resolution accompanying the re-
| port declares the seat vacant
! Clippings.
A New York woman, who is suing 10.