The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-04
MURDER IN POLITICS.
Report on the Arkansas Con-
tested Election Case.
sREckINRIDoE's HANDS RED.
Efforts to Trace Clayton's Slayers
Cause More Bloodshed.
sREckInRIDcE's HANDS RED.
House viii Have Hard Time KeepInw
Quorum This wcek-Tarfn Bill In
senate Till Friday. Then Rivers and
Harbors.

WASHINGTON Cry, Aug. 3.-Representa-
tive Lacey OF Iowa has prepared for sub
mission to the House the majority report
of the elections committee upon the Clay
ton Breckinridge contested election case
and the murder of the Republican contest
ant. Commenting on CIayton's murder.
the report says:
Rewards were offered and the community OF
Morrtiiton passed appropriate resolutions, but
no earnest attemp: 10 bring the murderer to jus-
fice has been made by the local authorities. The
enorfs OF the government have been in vain.
Next the report refers TO the killing of
Smith, negro detective who was investi-
eating the ballot-box theft, and OF George
Bentley, brother of the Bentley who is sus-
pec,ed of being one of the thieves. George
Bentley was negotiating with the Pinker-
tons to give evidence and expose the guilty
parties at the time when he was said to
have been accidentally shot by his brother.
The report says there is no direct evidence
to show any criminality in the killing of
Bentley, but declares that it is unfortunate
that these two killings occurred while the
men were about to give evidence to detec-
tives.
The theory that Clayton's murder was
due TO the enmity of one Hooper is taken
note of. and the report says it clearly ap-
pears that Hooper was not only in Cali
fornia when the murder occurred but was
Ill with disease. The story, says the ma
1ority, was naturally pleasing to the con-
testee (Breckinridge), though the friends
OF Colonel Clayton very naturally COM
planned that so important clue should be
concealed for ten months from them and
only made known when congressional in
vestigation began. The report, continu-
ing, says:
No reasonable explanation of the murder an
pears, except that some of the balIot-box
thieves, finding the taking of testimony pro-
gressing. xii ed Clayton to suppress the inyesti-
gaion NO other motive is possible. The me-
cessity OF the enactment of law which win
prevent ballot box stealing and murder from
comforting prime facie title to a seat In con-
grsss 70 evident from the result of this contest.
Had this law been In force it would have pre-
vented the contestee from taking his seat with
such title, and no one would attempt to confer
such title by stealing q ballot-box. Evidently
paiiot-rox stealing was looked upon a
joke In that community until the
consequences that have resulted 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 If they had
realized that murder would be the end, but thev
had crossed their Rubicon. Breckinridge rot
bis seat in congress, and one crime followed In
the footsteps Of the other. The least guilty of
the criminals dare not expose the more puiltv.
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 Republicans with regard
to bringing ballot-box thieves to justice, must
De well known. for large number of persons
were present, bat they are not indicted No In
dictments have been found under the state
election laws for ballot-box crime The mur-
derer OF Smith is discharged without trial. The
killing OF Bentley is not investigated, and the
only man whose crime is punished is Wahl the
federal supervisor, who was indicted for PLAYING
cards when he was shot That mea
be found fawless enough to commit these
crimes is to be deplored, but when men of high
character and standing, complacently avail
themselv es of the fruits of such crime. and con.
troll the national House of Representatives in
made to turn upon such methods, 1t no longer
remains mere matter of local c. nccru. hut
arises to the magnitude of q national calamity
The present case has attracted national atten.
tion. Never before has the contest for a seat In
congress been terminated by the bullet of the
assassin. If such method was submitted tn in
silence, the party benefited by the crime, his
partisans guilty and without dispute retaining
the benefits of the death of his competitor. a
new element would be introduced into our
form of government
The resolution accompanying the report
declares the seat vacant