Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-02
DEAD-SHOT TOM.
Or, How Old Man Hooper Avenged the
killing of His Father.

LOUISVILLE, May 2-The south-bound Lou
isvillc and Nashville train last night carried
toward Little Rock, Ark. probably the only
remaining witness who is able TO throw any
light on the mysterious murder OF John NJ.
Clayton. 1t was Jared Safer. who lives in JEFF
fersonville. Mr.. Safer makes the trip at the
request of the Arkansas legislature.
The man who killed the Hon. John ~
Clayton" he said, Il am firmly convinced was
Thomas Hooper. who died IN Los Angeles Cal,
October 10, lsS9." lie then proceeded TO tell
about how in 1857 he had removed from JET
fersonyille TO Los Angeles and how while
there chance had led him to AN ACQUAINTANCE
with Hooper.
Hooper was a poor old man. who drove q
team and who was barely able TO make a living
for himself and wife. Misfortune came heavily
upon him until one day he Was eylcted for
non-paymont OF rent. II was in tins
condition that Safer found Hooper and
took HIM 20 has home According to
the story Hooper told Safer he tHooperD
was born in Arkansas near Plummersvile, i'm
Conway county. Hooper's father owned n coll
ored man. VINO remained with the family after
his freedom had been granted. who worked for
an interest in the CROPS. The season OF 1867
brought a bountlful yield. One day Jack
son. negro man. was found muir
dered, and for some reason suspicion
alighted on the Hooper family. A mob was
organized to ayengc the negro's death Old
capped with his life. Hooper thus continued
his story 10 Safer: Among the men who did
the bloody work he recognized John VI. Clay
ton, Capt. Matthews and another neighbor.
When they were satisfied that life was eK-
tinct they mounted their horses, jeered at nv
mothers grief and made away IN the darkness.
Then yentUred from my retreat and with the
assistance Of my mother / cut down tie body
and the next day buried il. BY the
grave at the time OF the funeral I
t,aDh a hat
rest until had hunted down his murderers
and slain them. knowing that l could not
accomplish my object while / was laboring un-
der excitement, | resolved TO bide my time and
doing without detection. Ii came in
the following fall. Capt Matthews and the
other man (~hose name Safer does not remem-
ber) were riding through woods TO inspect
some corn they thought OF buying. L was hid-
ing behind tree with my rifle inmy hand, and
just as they reached me [ took aim. fired and
Matthews feu with bullet IN his heart.
Before The other could recover from his aston
ishment had also shot and killed him. For a
wonder suspicion was not directed 20 me and
the mystery OF the killing never solved.
but Clayton never came near enough TO enable
me 10 draw bead ON him. and the
years went by, each successive year
seeming 10 take him out of my reach
Then / came TO California, and here am.
owe you go. Now | am making arrangements
to mortgage my little farm TO j. A. White, who
has gone oct TO look at it, and when he comes
back will pay Your money. Then will go to
Arkansas, aud If you hear Of John NJ Clayton
being killed you may charge il to old Tom. for
he helped to hang nay father. would rather
be hanged for killing him than die a natural
death
Safer says that Hooper left California and
twenty days later he read of the killing Of
Clayton. Af;erward Hooper returned and
Safer mentioned 10 him the fact Of the killing.
He says Hooper replied that he had done the
work and recounted how he had gone 10 Arkan-
sas, found Clayton reading a newspaper and
shot and killed him.
Safer says he told the officials OF the affair.
but they did not take hold of the case because
they thought the evidence was insufficient.
This is the story he will tell the Arkansas legis-
lsture. Ii is widely at variance with the testl-
mony offered by Hoopers wife Wednesday.