The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-04
RUIJETS VERSUSBALl0TS
p1ooDY SHIRT REPORT IN THE
a CLAYTON CASE.

destinations Descanted On-breck-
-. Dsclared Not Entitled to His
Seat
w,sv1NaroN, Aug. 3.-Representative
lacey of Iowa has prepared Tor SUBMISSION
60 the House the majority report OF the
lions committee on the Clayton
peoo,,inridge contested election case
- tbe murder of the repub-
- contestant. Commenting on
CoI clavton's murder, the report says: "The
-, ond nation we're Mortified. Rewards
800 offered. and the community at Nor
.;l1+or in which the murder occurred,
rassed appropriate resolutions, but no
aornast attempt to aid in bringing
40 murderers to justice has been made
h., tho local authorities. The efforts of the
rrovornor have been in vain. Much OF the
York done has been upon mistaken idea,
and due weight has not been given to the
snspicion that should naturally attach to
the ballot box thieves"
OTHER KILLINGS.
Next the report refers to the killing OF
Smith. a negro detective who was lnvestl-
rating the ballot-box theft, and of George
RnQtiV, DrOJucT VI VI L DChSAJp VIZ ''NS
snsoected of being one of the thieves. George
Rently was negotiating with the govern
ment to give evidence to expose the guilty
narties. when he was said to have been
accidentally shot by his brother.
The report saws there is no direct evidence
m show any criminality in the killing of
Bentlv. but declares it unfortunate that
these two killings occurred while the men
we're about to give evidence to Plnkerton
detectives.
THE HOOPER THEORY.
Tne theory that the murder was due to
the enmity Of one Hooper is taken up, and
tue report says 1t clearly appears that
Hooper was not only in California when the
murder occurred, but i'll with dropsy. This
theory. saws the majority, was naturally
pleasing to the cOntestee (Mr. Breckinridge),
though the friends Of Col. Clayton very
naturally complained that so important
cew should have been concealed for ten
months from them, and only be made
known when the congressional inveshga-
ton began. The report, continuing, says:
"No reasonable explanation of the murder
appears, except that some of the ballot box
thieves, pending the taking of testimony,
killed Col Clayton to suppress the investi-
CATION. No other motive is given.
NEED OF NEW LAWS
which will prevent ballot box stuffing and
murder from comforting prima facie title
to seat Ill congress is evident from the
result 10 this contest. Had such laws been
in force as would have prevented the con-
teSCee from taking his seat with such a title,
no one would have attempted to confer
such title by stealing the ballot-box.
Evidently ballot-box stealing was looked
upon as joke in that community until the
aIgful 70 hax, fa1 ba1
appalled, the good people of the country.
No doubt some of these men would have
Deen deferred from taking the first step in
the crime If they had realized that murder
would be the end
POLITICAL RUBICoN.
But they crossed their Rubicon, Mr..
brecklnrldge got seat in congress and one
crime followed in the footsteps of the other
Ihe least guilty of the criminals dare not
expose the more guilty lest the fate of Col
Clayton should overtake them.
THE KILLING OF BENJAMIN.
The murdererS of Col. Benjamin, a we'll
known Little Rock republic IN, who was
Killed near Morrillton while comforting with
Iocal republicans with regard to bringing
uallot-cox n thieves to justice, must be
wen known, for large number
OF persons were present. but
they are Tot indicted. No indictments have
1eeh found under the state election laws
e 6or the oalot-box crime. The murderer of
on4Vn Is discharged without trial, the kill
Ae u bently Is not Investigated, and the
WY ViY man whose crime is punished is
"enl' the federal supervisor. who was
'eu apuc'eu Tor playing cards when be was
shot. "'"0
sLUR ON ARKANSAS.
u. aAe contention of Mr.. Breckenridge and
LIS counsel that the acquittal of the Judges
and others charged with frauds in this eiec-
uon should bind the House. and that this
aaludlcaion should be accep: u bv congress-
as PROOF that frauds did not exist" the re-
doai;sy 5oaI says Is surprising, aud the majority
ueCilne 10 be bound by the action of an
NtAahSaS u, jury in criminal case"
@ lue report also disagrees with other legal
PROPOSITIONS brought forward by the counsel.
DANsBURY UNDER ARMS.
I'll, III CieVeland county one Dansbury ap-
toaiou' sIt' says the report, "bringiug two
,uovsuhS' as showing his intention of taking
a. acVlve lnteresy in its progress. He was
% onuer the influence of liquor. Dansburv is
onS 4n8 democrat partisan of the contestee
tra1t tau uaS nigh co nections. Instead of being
isti"' ''o1 as an aggravation of the gross vio-
facts facts" I'D ul ooth state and federal laws these
bi were urged as cause for shielding
from .al rom punishment. For this offense
aalisoury ana was fined $500, a portion of which
''Ne was paid by the contestee.
. NATIONAL CALAMITY.
nor.,. ueV no member of great political
r. H. y snould accept certificate of election
ejoo,oJ oeau 70 which he was clearly not
naT..'5' ana at the same time aid in fine
yj3IatonV jI,orV 20 1l tine imposed upon another
Say b,o'alor OF the law; and that such conduct
6-u 6It hot be met with ANYTHING
his IIi;,lienuatlon raI;.ie and approval bY
state polltlcaI followers, shows a
Of t'ye 1o-Il OF disregard for the PRINCIPLES
1nako tGlSr tGL government which may well
with al aue luture Of the country looked upon
found appre1ension. That men NAV be
crnos : ia"iess enough to commit these
birh bi9J ohS ID 10 be deplored, but when men of
aTsir I'talacter ttA-ter and standing complacentlv
ard IVleliiseives Of the fruit of such crime
Pa1nane ne control of the national Honsa ~
rnatt osS oa tatlves is made to turn unon snch
Cf I"ogiS IL no longer remains mere matter
tu5s af oouuonence, but arises to the ma0ni-
d national calamity.
..r, DUELTNG NOT COMPARABLE
has o+eent .e present case, continues the ranort
bacoI,' ',i acled national attention bnt 80
stril,ia II stands alone as an assartino r,S ,,o
onr Tug fals incident Of the dangers shaSed 1-n4 of
of ~ II OF government In the ola 10 ~
ouists eoue OF honor political antay
eva oi'eh met face to faca asa
ssrv,s "a. eye and sought their adna.. u
politio.i ne. Ibis method az sat.,i.ae-
a.d Sa Ilnerences had become ohsoIa.1s
we frequently cor,a1s'Jine obsolete,