New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-27
PLEADING CITIZEN" TRICK.
HOW II WAS WORKED By DEMOCRATS IN
ARKANSAS.
CONVENIENT ARRANGEMENT BY WHICH BULL.
D0zER, WHILE BULLDozING, RETAINS HIS
POSITION IN SOCIETY, BUT WHEN HE
is TRIED FOR THE CRIME BECOMES
AN IRRESPONSIBLE DRUNKARD.
,BY TELEGRAPH TO THE THIBCNE.I


Little Rock Ark, April 26.-The Congressional
Investigation Committee held only brief session
to-day, and in the afternoon started for the Hot
Springs to spend the Sunday there in quiet The
members were compelled to do this, not because
they were unwilling to proceed with the business
in hand, but because it was found impossible to
bring witnesses to Little Rock from some of the
back counties, owing to the swollen condition Of
the rivers. The testimony taken to-day covered
the budozing methods employed by Democrats
in Prairie Township. Cleveland County. and they
were the time c-honored and we-lSnown methods
g. often described. The witnesses examined were
lew in number, but decidedly more intelligent
than the men who were heard yesterday in re-
gard to the frauds committed in White River
Township, Woodruff County.
The principal witness proved to be A. K. Will
iams. full-blooded negro. who in the fall cleo
tons OF lsso had acted, or, more properly speak
ing, would have acted, II he had been permitted
TO do so. as United States supervisor of elections
HIS testimony and that of several other men
pointed TO one Dansby the ringleader in all the
hnlldozing that was INDUCED In by the Democrats
of Prairie Township on November 6. 1855. The
language used by this man Dansby picturesque
and forciblc. according 10 the witnesses: so
picturesque a-i forcbc, in fact, that 1t would
hardly do to reproduce II here except by dashes.
II WAS backed up Significantly enough by dis
play of double barrcllcd sotguns and dogs, and
by tie ostcntatious handing about Of an alleged
telegram. clumsily forged that it could deceive
ignorant negroes only. in which John NJ Clayton
purporcd 10 announce withdrawal from the con
test. The cheerful promise extended amiably b.
number Of colorcd voters. that they would find
themselves dead nlegers' in the morning if they
persisted in voting as they pleased, and not rs they
were told by this genial ireeater, was among the
more pleasing prospects held out to voters In this
township. and occasionally there was the fash
Of n knife introduced at opportune moments to
strengthen tie DansbY argument. hut this was
wresed from him before bodily harm beell any
one There was also polite invitation extended
hy Dansby to colored voters 10 step up and vote as
they ID pleased It would make no difference.
tin. exemplary citizen Of Prairie Township
assured them. the balot-boX would be- fixed
in tic evening anyway, AS it had been done
before The defence tried its best, under the
leadership Of Judge Mccain. to prove through
these witnesses that Dansby WAS a common drunk
ard and that the antics ne INDUCED in on election
DIV were in the main harmless ones. and non
productive as to results anyway. as far as pllng
I'D an exaggerated majority FOR Mr. Breckenridge
was concerned Not one Of the witnesses. how
ever. could be got to admit that Dans'y was any
thing but sober on November o. loso. whatever
his normal condition may have been at other
times.
Failing in their attempt 10 prove that Danspy
was not leading citizen of fIalrie loWlshp'
and failing moreover, 10 show that the harm'
less antics" aforesaid had led to a single protest
on the parf Of other leading citizens of Pralre
Towuship. counscl for Mr.. Breckenridge next
turned their attention 10 the payment oi -"
t. tie witness Williams after some testimony
given by him last year before the me"
States Court which convicted DahsoS
Of intimidatlng voters and impose"
fine upon him Of $500 There was good deal
Of incsse displayed by the learned counse SAVIOR
ing Of the cross-cNaminatlons which are 10 ~
lizard daily in the police courts OF large '''N'
Tie name Of Senator Quay mystcriousN
introduced and as mystcrousH Withdrawn, LOT
no other purpose apparently than that OF show
ing that the National Committee had entered
through it, chairman into vote Of conspiracy
to convict leading citizens Of Arkansas VINO
milht indulge occasionally in lr innocent pas'ime
OF huldoAng
The truth regarding this $50 transaction was
NOT fuuv brought out by Mr. Brecklnridses
counsel 1t was. IN their opinion. most likely
case where "a half truth serves infinitely more
the purpose than full-lcdgcd H.. but the matter
can bc briefly stated b. saying that the kepup-
lean State Central Committee through It's chalr-
man Henry VI. Cooper. offered reward oi GOV
to anybody whose testimony would lead 10 ''e
conviction Of "A bulldozcI iIcSc oilers were
MADE IN all parts OF the State The testimony
ot l.. Williams convicted Dams
by. and having earned the reward. Williams
got the money. That is all theTe
is about this mole-hill transaction. when the
astutc counsel for Mr.. ErecHlnndsc endcaVorcd
To turn into a mountain. All TINS tcstihlohy'
however is only 10 be regarded as preliminary |
and rs such it is incrcstine but IL disc1oscS
no new methods of buldozins, nor can IL DC Ie,
qardcd AS showing a procedure which. AS compared
with the od-fashioncd Mississippi pan, |
would he called Improvement even ny I."u
ing citizens" In Arkansas. The more l!hp".l'.ii'
task OF the committee will begin when tne .fSc' |
rnony is offered connecting the assassihuuon VI
Colonel Clayton with the theft oil ihc o"lio. -uVN
~ plnmmcrvile What has been done so far Is |
merely the foundation for future worh, ~ ih"N'
the against Mr.. Breckinridge c'a' o'''