The Anaconda standard., 1890-08-04
A PARTISAN REPORT
Republican Members Of the Senate CON-
mittse on Elections Speak.
They Find No Evidence That the
Democrats Encouraged Crime
In the Contest. But Declare
the Democrat Unseated.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-Representative
Lacey Of Iowa, has prepared for submis-
sion to the house, the majority report OF
the elections committee upon the Clayton
Breckenridge contested election case, and
the murder Of the republican contestant.
Commenting on Clayton's murder, the
report says: Rewards were offered, and
the community OF Morrilltown passed an
appropriate resolution, but no earnest at
tempt to bring the murtierers 10 justice
had been made by the local authorities.
The effort Of the government had been in
vain."
The next report refers TO the killing of
Smith, the negro detective who was inves-
tigating ballot-box theft, and George
Bently, brother of the Bently who was
suspected Of being one OF the thieves.
George Bently, at the time, was
dence and expose the guilty parties when
he was said TO have been accidently shot
by his brother. The report says there Is
no direct evidence to show any criminalty
I'm the killing Of Bently, but declares it
was unfortunate that these two killings
occurred, while the men were about to
give evidence TO the detectives.
The theory that Clayton's murder was
due to the enmity of one Hooper is
taken up and the report says il clearly APP
pears that Hooper was not only in Cali
fornia when the murder occurred. but i'll
with disease. This theory, says the ma
jority, was naturally pleasing TO the con-
testee, tBreckenridge) though the friends
of Colonel Clayton very naturally COM
planned that SO important clew should
have been concealed for 10 months from
them and only made known when the
congressional investigation began.
The report continuing says: mo rea-
sonable explanation OF the murder APP
pears except that some OF the ballot-box
thieves, finding the taking of testimony
progressing, killed Clayton To suppress
the investigation. No other motive was
possible" The necessity OF the enact
ment of home laws, which will prevent
ballot-box stealing and murder from con-
ferring q prime facie title to the seat i'm
congress, is evident from the result OF this
contest. Had such laws been I'm force as
would have prevented the contestee from
taking his seat with such title, no one
would have attempted to confer such title
by stealing the ballot-box.
Evidently the ballot box stealing was
looked upon as a joke m that commun-
ity until the awful consequences that re-
suited have appalled, the good people OF
the country. No doubt some OF these men
would have been deferred from taking the
first step in crime il they had realized
that murder would be the end, but they
naQ cfOsscu tDelr huDicofi,
got a seat in congress and one crime
followed in the footsteps of others. The
least guilty of the criminals dare not ex-
pose the more guilty, lest the fate OF
Clayton should overtake them.
The murderers of Benjamin, the well
known Little Rock republican who was
killed while comforting with local repub-
licans with regard to bringing the ballot
box thieves to justice. must be well known
for a large number of persons were pres
ent; but they are not indicted. No indict-
ments have been found under the state
election laws for the ballot box crime.
The murderer Smith was discharged with
out a trial.
The killing of Bently is not investigated
and the only man whose crime is punished
is Wahl, n federal supervisor, who was
indicted for playing cards when he was
shot. That men can be found lawless
enough to commit these crimes is TO
be derlored. But when men of high
character and standing complacently
avail themselves of the fruits of such
crime, aud the control OF the national
house of representatives is made to turn
upon such methods, Il no longer remains
q mere matter of local concern, but arises
to the magnitude of a national calamity.
The present case, continues the report.
has attracted national attention. Never
before has "a contest for seat in congress
been terminated by the bullet of an
assassin.
The resolution accompanying the re-
port declares the seat vacant.