New-York tribune., 1890-05-01

his speeches asserted to a neighbOr that he knew
something about the manner in which j. VI. Clay
ton came to his death Yet this $3.50 and the
silly papers in the California story represent.
according to the Governors own showing, the
net result of his best and most conscientious efforts
and the "eflorts of the executive, judicial and
legislative departments of the Government of the
State of Arkansas" to find out who assasslnated
Clayton. Still another point is TO be noted, to
wit the Governors conversation with Sheriff.
Shelby, of Conway County, regarding the Clayton
murder. Both talked about 0. T. Bentley, the chief
deputy sheriff, upon whom, according TO the
conversation between the Governor and the Sheriff
rested suspicion of being the assassin They
talked about removing him from Office. on ac-
count of this suspicion: but finally decided TO
retain him, and TO the present day Bentley hold'
his official post His testimony given yesterday
speaks for itself. Comment seems superiiuous
In the morning hours the committee heard the
testimony of c. G.. Reed lie is one of the men
indicted last year for participating in the theft
of the Plummerville ballot-boX. He is a young
lawyer at Morrillton. not yet twenty-three, with
an engaging countcnance and an air OF funknesS
at variance with the crime charged against him.
At the outset it may be stated that on the trial
last year he was discharged because the evidence
against him was not sufficient. This explains also
that much of what he had TO say to-day was
strangely inconsistent with the exercise of
mon-sense on the part of bright young lawyer.
Briefly, according to his story, he was made
deputy sheriff Oh the day before the election.
On the morning of November he rode before
sunrise, with half dozen companions, toward
Plummcryilc, seven miles distant, in order to
see that the peace was preserved at The polls,
though the law of Arkansas directs the Sheriff to
appoint deputies on election days only residents
Of the township in which they are to serve.
Plummcrville and Morrlton are in different town
ships, though i'll the same county. Ids prl2ht
disciple of the law admitted 10 the committee
that he ignorant of this provision oil the
State statutes at the time, but that he had since
learned the illegality of his appointment. lie
also confessed frankly tnat the township IN which
Plummerville is situated is ordinarily Republican
by at least 500 majority. while at the same time
he gave as a reason for going there 10 preserve
tie peace, tnat it was feared that the uIeecTs
would make an attempt 10 Iun away WIN ule
tallot-bON. The ridiculous incOnSruty OF thls
proposition aid not seem 10 strike the witness
torcibly. At least if it did, he showed no signs
Of mental responsiveness. lie arrived in Plummcr-
vile before the polls opened attempted to settle
the dispute over tue organization OF
the rival boards OF election Judges and iIally clt
the place after sundOwn without informing any
of his friends of his departure ArrNlnS IN Nor
rilton he met George Bentley, the brother oi g. |.
BENTLEY who expressed great surprise at his lcaN-
ing his post of duty just AT the time wheh, as ne
inssluated, the music might begin, referring no
doubt, to the counting OF the ballots Thus rpr-
uanded Reed, after taking supper and resting,
decided to return to Plummervlle.
1t was then dark and raining, bat he GOV 70
Plummerville, accompanied by his superior. ifnt-
ley, about p. III. He hltched his horse, whAc
Bentley disappeared to get drink. Everything
seemed quiet After waiting about fifteen min
utes Reed decided to return 10 MorrlIIton. al
though it was raining hard. 1t was pitch dark
and the mud in the road was knee-decp. This Is
Reeds own statement. lie had ridden by TINS
time twcnty-one miles on the same horse, had
been up since before sunrise and yet was ANXIOUS
to pile another seven miles upon thc record, only
for the purpose as he says, of learning what the
returns from New York, which he hoped 10
get at the Morrillton depot. were. lie
rode away without his superior. lie rode SLOWLY.
so slowly IN fact that Lc overlook one oi his
friends, who was riding smy.tly on the road
toward Morrillton. He also lost slOucI hat
which he had borrowed because II raIncd' bc-
fore starting on his second errand of duty 10
Plummervillc but he rode slowly that hr h'd
DO time evidently 10 make a prolonged search Tor
IT, for he arrived without hcadgcar ~ Morrill,
ton As for those returns he was 80 anxious
about he neither saw nor heard Of them That
night He turned IN, hc SAYS. c1rly. and slept
the sleep Of the just. Hard indeed Is me WORK
of the officer of the law in the person ~ Young
lawyer in these parts. TO bc suspected OF haF-
ing hand in the stealing Of balloi-boN, ana
10 have the charge come so close 80 being proved.
is worse still The young lawyer is not oIt oi
the woods yet