Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-07

LIVELY SCENES IN a LITTLE ROCK
COURTROOM.
An Outcome of the MISUNDERSTANDING
Inyestigatlon-An Angry Woman
in the Case
rBy telegraph to the DisDatch.l

LITTLE Rock. Ark. MAY G.--About 200
witnesses Yesterday testified before the
Clayton Breckenridge investigating CON-
mlttee. Tho majority of them were negroes
and swore they voted for John NJ. CLAYTON
for Congress rs Of them lived IN RIVER
side township. Woodruff county, and the
remainder in Cotton-Plant and Augusta,
woodruff county. and IN Howard town.
ship. conway county.
The greatest sensation that ever took
place IN a Federal courtroom in this city
occurred about O'Clock last evening.
Mrs. Thomas Hooper bad just finished
giving evidence. in which she testified that
she was acquainted with safer, when
Hon. Carroll Armstrong arose and address
ed the committee rs follows Mr.. Chair
man, There have been some foul charges
made against the people OF MOrrillton and
CONWAY counties by the mouth OF Powell
Clayton. ] desire to enter an appearance
for the people OF. Conway county.
" Note that Mr.. Armstrong desires 70
enter an appearance for Conway" said
Major Lacey 20 the stenographer.
II Understand this committee intends
60 adjourn within short time after having
received testimony here that would cast a
cloud upon the people OF Conway county,
and retire to the city of Washington for
the purpose of making their report
- think that Is quite possible said
Lacey.
pGna witnesses from the people of Con-
way-from among the good people OF
Conway county-to retute the charges that
have been made by an infamous and vile
slanderor.'
No sooner had Armstrong uttered these
words than Judge Mcclure sprang from
his seat and struck the attorney in the face.
The courtroom was packed and everybody
was on his feet. Colonel ". II. Clayton
reached for his pistol.
Hold on Hold on" exclaimed Powell
Clayton. I'VE don't want any of that
Friends caught hold of Armstrong. who
was struggling desperately 70 get at the
Judge TO resent the blow.
stop that right here. Stop it," shout.
ed Mr.. Breckenridge.
THAT won't do. Seize him and see # he
is armed. -" cried Colonel Clayton.
Why don't the committee arrest him "
exclaimed Powell Clayton. That would
put an end 10 this"
moment afterwards Mr.. Armstrong
was led out Of the room. and quiet being
restored the Investigation proceeded
without further interruption.
There was O great deal Of excitement
caused in the courtroom about O'Clock
bv Mrs. Hooper. She was seated by
the side of her daughter on the
east side of the room. when sud-
denly she got mp and went over To
the opposite side where Safer was seated
near Governor Eagle. and IN rear of the at
t0rncys for the contestees. There was a
vacant seat next TO the one occupied by
Safer. and Mrs. Hooper threw herself into
it and commenced a conversation with the
man who accused her husband of murder
| ing CLAYTON.
"Why did you want TO swear those lies
against my dead husband. Satcr:'
"Oh. / don't know Of any lie. Mrs:
Hooper, swore against your husband,
Safer replied.
| band had no more 20 DO with killing John
/ II. Clayton than you did
"Your husband told me every word /
| testified here that ne said 20 me-
! "Sater. you know better than that. You
| know he never said anything IN bis life
against John NJ. Clayton, and | want to
| tell you right now that you had better not
say anything against me-"
Il have never spoken i'll Of you in my
life
"wen, 1 just dare you to do it, that's
all"
! lf You Will read my testimony given last
| SATURDAY you will find that / spoke very
highly Of you, and you ought 70 be proud
of the compliment paid YOU
Mrs. Hooper about this time was begin
ming 20 elevate her voice, and Safer, TO
! prevent a scene, got mp and hurried to the
! rear OF tho room. As sOOn as he left Mrs.
| Hooper sprang from her seat and strobe
across the room, laughing and clapping
/ her hands, 20 the great amusement OF the
spectators.
APOLOGIES FOR THE STRONG LANGUAGE.
The CLAYTON Breckenridge Investigation
| committed listened to the evidence of over
one hundred witnesses to-day. the majority
Of whom were negroes, put upon the stand
for the purpose of proving how they voted
at the presidential election. Shortly aiter
the committee assembled in the morning
Hon. Carroll Armstrong arose and made an
apology for the strong language ne used
| on the evening before III denOunclng
SANDERS against the people OF Con-
way county His apology was made
| ~ the committee. Before Adjournment
this afternoon Chairman Lacey announced
that II was the intention Of the committee
T. conclude its labOrs to-day. The most
| important witness called TODAY was Ollver
! l. Bentley, the man whom Clayton sus-
poets Of having killed his brother Bent;
| lev is deputy sheriff of Conway county ana
night that CLAYTON was killed al Plummer-
vile. To-day he handed the committee
papers in the divorce case of Luther Us.
I Luther. which he served on Lydia Luther
| and Others on Tuesday afternoon, Jahu-
arv % 1888. across the river from
Morrillton. lie returned from across
the river about o'clock in the
afternoon. About dark that night he
served notice on John Hlnkle, attorney 20
take dispositions IN the case on FEBRUARY
sth. Hinkle appeared before the commit Z
tee and cOrroborated tho testimony gNen
on this point By Bentley. The witness IS
prepared 10 prove that after he left Hink-
lev he went to supper and from there at;
ended A dance. After the witness had
,iven this testimony hewas asked II he had
any objection to giving the committee q
specimen Of his handwriting, to which he
/ made answer in the negative. chairman
Lacey then requested the witness 70 write
the following letter, which he did very
rapidly:
STATE OF New HAMPSHIRE, June, 1889.
- Tom Marshal, MoI7i2on, arkansas:
"You may soon prepare your coffin and
bid adieu TO your friends, as You shall sOoL
take the road that Colonel Clayton took.
am little sorry Of the killing of Colone
CLAYTON, asswe thought 1t was old Powell
CLAYTON. He is the one we shall Kill 6efort
many suns set over his head, and, you
Yourself. Cd d-n your soul Z
the depths Of -. You, too, shall
soon bite the dust. You passed q
great insult TO me on the street.
If Morrllton once and l have not.forgot Il
nor never shall till shoot your brains out
Thig Is no fooling, you rascal, and you neet
not doubt it. / shall kill you in spite of
and -. You seen me awhile ago and die
not know it. You will soon see me, but il
viii be too late for You to live. Respect
fully, JACK lHE RIPPER, NO, /.
Al soon as Bentley concluded writing the
above CORY article he handed the sheet Of
paper to Major Lacey, who compared the
writing with that Of the original, There
uns no similnritY NhateYer IN the chlrogra