New-York tribune., 1890-04-30

man. had been unsatisfactory OF an
attempt to trace the possessor of the new
gtoloshes in the town of Plummervlle. not the
slightest evidence. When the friends OF the
murdered man arrived from Little Rock TO take
away the body, the leading citizens OF Plum,
mervlile stood aside. and "A few nIggcrs carried
the coffin 10 the station. As for expressions OF
sympathy for the Clayton family. or OF lndlgna-
u0n that midnight assassin was able to 90 ms
deadly work in the midst of community OF
alleged rcspcctability. not a sign. not "a word.
As for that pistol, it carried to Morrlllton
and there deposited in the Sherihs vault. where
II still remains.
And now word as to the Sheriff of Conway
County. His name is Shelby. and he testified late
yesterday evening. As an officer OF the law
sworn to maintain the peace and protect the
lives and property Of people within his oaiIlWick,
he is probably unique specimen Not an OF
what he has to say for himself has been heard
is enough TO warrant the peiief mat II
will surprise people outside of Arkansas.
When Sheriff Shelby heard Of the the
miles distant from Plummerville, engaged in col
lecting taxes. Did he hasten to Plummerville TO
lend the assistance of his presence III the dis
c0very of the assassin? Not he. lie went on
collecting taxes twenty-five miles north OF
Plummervile. and turned up AT inns interesting
spot three days after the murder had pecn per
petrated Collecting taxes was much i more MOI I'M I'D,
pOrtant than an attempt To Vlnd'catc The Sood
name of his county and his reputation as an ell
cient officer of the law. Sheriff shelby didnt say
So but his testimony leaves 1t 10 De inferred Anu
after unconcernedly proclaimng IN tins manner
his indifference. the Sheriff added that " it was
then too late TO do anything. wen II might
be.
Recurring now to Pate and Bentley, it is asserted
hy the prosecution that they were the principal
participants in the raid on the ballot-0oX. II
hopes TO prove this by stlmonY 10 DE INTRO
duced hereafter. II was at any rate. shown
pretty conclusively in the trial Of the fraudulent
election judges in this same precinct before the
Federal courts which sat at Little Rock last
i' sgTi'ng and and convicted them 1t syiI Wni
pending that an attempt was made
by representative and leading citizens Of Plum
merville. who had been engaged IN the theft Of
the balot-bOX, TO have the indictment against
them quashed In return for this they were gen.
crOus enough to promise 70 concedc 10 'iaN'",
the vote cast for him. The vote they promised
10 prove. through two of the election !udee,s
prosecution OF these criminals explained 10 tnenl
through a go-betwcen. the same Cohicn,z: WHO
picked up the aforesaid band-new pislol ID ulc
yard of the house where Clayton was
murdered that ne had no authority
10 drop criminal prosecution in a Federal court.
but he promised 10 use his influence IN behalf n,
the ballot-boX snatchcrs. This OF course, dlo
not suit the latter. What they wanted was I'M
munity for themselves But in addition I" tr,r, TINS
Little Rock for Pummervillc on The afternoon
train. arriving there about o'clock, dd not
report altogether correctly what Judge Me- ilr'
had said. but made the halloi-poX thieves
think thI that Stmnrohiss 1ns1e Sis was n'
January 90. On that same evening Clayton was
killed. The bcnefciarics, so TO speak, Of his
Which Of them killed him Suspicion points 10
men, hut il is feared that nothing vii ever hc
proved 1t is the intention however. Of the prose
cution 10 weave net Of circumstantial cvifcnc"
about the guilty men which will leave the question
Of their guilt or innocence a comparatively easy
one to solve TO everybody outside of Arkansas.