The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-22
CLAYTON.BRECKISRlDuE lNyESTlG lTIoS
A Witness Tcstl'ies to the Stealing Of the
MANLY w Ballot EOx. e-.a.

A Witness Tcstl'les to the Stealing of the
NIhNn Nf Ballot Eox. ,-.aoI
WASHINGTON, May ol.-Represcntative
Lacey's subcommittee OF the House
Elections Committee, investigating the
Clayton-Breckinridge election case, was
called together this morning to take the
testimony Of young man named Tay-
lor, Of Indian Territory. He said he had
cast his first vote ut Morriltown, Ark,
in 1883. He said that it was understood
on the night of4the election day that
Howard township had gone Democratic,
and that the negroes were going to raise
a low. Upon tho invitation OF Oliver
Bently and Walter Wells, witness, with
about q dozen other young men, started
about dark from the nciyhborhood OF
Wells store on horseback for Plummers.
vile. 1t was the intention to stop any
row the negroes might raise. They got
within quarter OF q mile Of the polling
place, where tho main party rested,
while Wood, Bentley aud Wells, rode
Into town and examine the situation. It
was found that all was quiet and the
party turned back to Morrilltown. Wit
ness saw that 0. p. Bentley and W. P.
Wells had ballot box. ,--
Whey carried it into Wells store, and
when witness asked them if they were
going to burn it. they did not answer.
Jim Earl had told witness that George
Bentley was going TO turn States evi.
dencc. He was killed within two weeks.
he had just left witness and had gone
up the street with Oliver Bentley to ex.
amino a new hammerless pistol. After
examining it, George turned his back
when he WIS shot through the back by
Oliver Bentley, who asserted that it was
an accident. F,
Witness was with George Bentley part
Of the night Of the Clayton murder.
Witness described the horse tina. George
Bentley rode that night, and said that
he had broken his legs and had been
killed within two weeks after the mur.
der.
Ex-Attorney General Garland, who
appeared MS Representative Breckin.
ridges counsel, cross.examined the wit.
ness. Hesaid that he had lived in Orc.
gon since leaving Arkansas. There were
seventeen or eighteen in the purity
which went down to Plummersvillc
The names he could remember were
Wood, DurnoId, Reed, Heard, Hardcas.
tie, Hanes, Will Ward, Oliver end
George Bentley, and Thad. and Wal
ter Wells. Witness did not know thi
nature Of the trouble as Plummersville
1t was said that Howard township luG
gone Democratic, and the "niggers were
fussing about it." l.i'tg. SI5!5 l+
On the night that Clayton was killed
| witness was at a dance with Oliver Bent
ley and Walter Wells. They, had frs
stopped at the court house about dark
and had gone into the dance in a few
minutes, and stayed there until th
news came OF the killing OF Clayton
Witness missed Bentley during the da,
and Wells told. him that he had gon
home. Witness had been arrested a
Pine Bluff, Ark, for intimidating
supervisor, but had been at Pine Blul
on election day. n
In answer to Mr.. Lacey the witncs
admitted that he had been arrested IL
Pine bluff by the United States authori
ties to prevent him from being arreste,
and carried to Morrilltown, where h
was to be turned over to Sheriff Shelby
"Why don't you 80 back and answe
that warrant?" Queried Mr.. Lacey.
Witncss-"I might get killed, and
might not; might be sent to the pen
itcntiary; there is no telling. Before
left there they did anything they please.
Witness said he wanted to get into
new country where he would not hav
to steal ballot boxes. He would retur
to Morrilltown If Shelby were not Sheriff
as he feared he would be killed.
The subcommittee adjourned unit
Friday, when it will meet with the iu
committee and decide upon the iurthe
order Of prosecution, when Mr.. Garlan.
} for Mr.. Breckinridge, desires to presen
, some evidence in rebuttal.