Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-18
THE CLAYTON MURDER.


Surviving IL was MOI loilticNis
LITTLE Rock, ARK, Dec. l2.-Some de-
! cldedlN interesting revelations have Just
been made concerning the assassination of
John NJ. Clayton, brother of Powell Clay
ton, at Plummerville, The Pinkertons
| sent Arthur Wood to Arkansas to work IN
the case. Wood died few days ago in
Chicago. From the Pinkertons now comes
the revelation.
When Wood entered Plummerville,
where the shooting occurred he was recog-
nized and forced to leave the town He
secured, however, some important facts
before he left and then established him
self at Little Rock. While there he found
in the penitentary member of q noted
band of safe blowers, and he learned, too,
that some members Of the gang were at
Plummeryille and were implicated in the
killing of Clayton. He induced Governor
Eagle 70 pardon the convict, who, working
under Woods direction; went to Plummer-
vile and told the rest of the gang that he
had escaped from the peritentiary.
lie was liarbOred at the house Of one of
these men, who was the actual slayer of
Clayton, and, in the course of time, secured
the gun used, with ether important evil
dence Wood was kept advised of the safe
blowers operations, and before he left that
country had in his possession overwhelm-
ing proofs against all the parties to the
crime.
This was year and half ago, but
nothing has vet been done with the evil
dence for the simple reason that the evil
denee was not what was wanted. 1t is said
20 be positively known that Detective
Wood made Il written report of his re-
searches, and gave it to Judge Mcclure and
Powell Clayton. These gentlemen We're
requested to lay the report before the Con-
gressional committee that came b. Little
Kqek TO investigate the Clayton-Breckin
ridge contest, but declined TO hayr Wood
summoned before the committee or even
to submit Woods reportl
The detective is said to have completely
established the fact that politics had moth
ing whatever to do with the assassination
Of John NJ. Clayton, but Mcclure and
Powell Clayton had views to the contrary,
hence neither MIR. Wood nor his report
were wanted by the Congressional COM
mittee. Strong efforts were made by
Brccklnridge's attorney to get HIM before
the Lacey Congressional committee but
without success. 1t will be remembered
that Major breckenridge, on the evening of
adjournment Of the committee, made
personal appeal to the committee for
subpoena for Wood, but the committee re-
fused to issue il. Chairman Lacey stated
at that time that he (Lacey) would see that
Wood WAS brought to Washington TO testify
before the committee. It is Il well-known
fact that the committee reported to the
House without hearing what the detective
had to say on the subject.
Governor Eagle this evening said, after
reading the dispatches in to-day's Republic;
Yes, what Wood has to say is true, did
pardon the convict and he was taken to
Plummerville and placed under the de-
tectiye's orders | had several converse
tons with Wood, and he promised me be-
fore he went back to Chicago to give me
detailed statement of his work, but. for
some reason, he never kept his word.
understood he gave a long report of his re-
searches to General Clayton or Judge
Mcclure. have never seen it, When the |
congressional committee was here invests |
eating the Clayton-B recknridge election
Major breckenridge asked the committee
to subpoena Wood, but they refused to do |
50 unless he CBreekinridge) personally paid
all his expenses