The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-08-13
ARK ANSAS' DISGRACE.
Report OF the House Committee ON the
Clayton Breckinridgs Case.
Washington dispatch.l

Representative Lacey, OF Iowa, has
prepared for submission 10 the House
the majority report OF the Elections
Committee upon the Clayton-Breckin-
ridge contested election ease and the
murder Of the Republican contestant.
Commenting on Clayton's murder, the
report says:
The State and nation were Mortified. Re-
wards were offered, and the community OF
MOrrillton, near which the murder occurred.
passed appropriate resolutions, but no ear
nest attempt In bringing the murderers To
justice has been made by the local authori-
ties. The efforts OF the Governor have been
i'm vain. Much of the work done has been
upon a mistaken idea. and due weight has
not been given To the suspicion that should
naturally attach To the ballot-boX thieves
Next the report refers 10 the killing
of Smith, a negro detective who was in
vcstigating the ballot-boX theft, and of
George Bentley, brother OF o. Il. Bent
ley, who was suspected of being one of
the thieves. George Bentley at the time
was negotiating with the detectives 10
give the Government evidence and ex-
pose the guilty parties when he was said
20 have been accidentally shot by his
brother. The report says there is no
direct evidence 10 show any criminality
i'm the killing OF Bentley, but declares il
unfortunate that these two killings oc-
CURED while the men were about TO give
evidence 10 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
was i'll at the time. The report, con-
tinuing, says:
No reasonable explanation Of the murder
appears except that some OF the ballot-box
thieves, finding the taking of the testimony
progressing, killed Colonel Clayton To sup
press the investigation. No other motive Is
possible.
The necessity OF the enactment OF some
( laws which will prevent ballot-boX stealing
and murder from comforting a prlma facia
| title To seat in Congress is evident from
/ the result i'm this contest. Had such laws
| been i'm force IA would have prevented the
I contestee from taking his seat with such a
title. no one would have attempted 10 con-
fer such title by stealing the ballot box.
Evidently ballot-box stealing was looked
upon as n joke I'm that community until the
awful consequences that have resulted have
appalled, the good people OF the country.
/ The murdereFs OF Benjamin, the we'll
/ known Little Rock Republican, who was
killed near Morrillton while comforting with
local Republicans with regard to bringing
the ballot-boX thieves 10 Justice. must be
well known, for a large number OF persons
were present, but they are not indicted. No
indictments have been found under the
state election laws for the bailOt-boX crime
the murderer OF Smith Is discharged without
trial; the killing OF Bentley Is not investi-
gated. and the only man whose crime Is
punished j. Vail, the Federal Supervisor,
who was indicted for playing cards when he
was shot.
In Cleveland County one Dansby APP
peared bringing two shotguns, and an
nounced his intention of taking an active
| interest i'm the proceedings. He was under
the influence OF liquor. Dansby IS n strong
Democrat and partisan of the contestee.
| For this offense he was fined $500, portion
II which fine was paid by the contestee.
The present case has attracted national
attention. but not because it stands alone
as a startling and striking incident OF dan
| gers ahead of our form OF government.
| But never before has contest for seat in
| Congress been terminated by the bullet OF
an assassin. II such methods are submitted
! 10 I'm silence the party benefited by the
crime OF his partisans quietly and without
| dispute retaining the benefits of the death
| of his competitor, new element would be
! introduced into our form Of government.
The resolution accompanying the re-
port declares the seat vacant.