Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1892-12-20
POISONED CoNvIcTs.
Much Excitement at Helena, Ark,
Over the Death of Four Convicts'

The convict question is given great
prominence in this State, over an out
rageous occurrence at Helena yestcr-
day, resulting in the death of four
State conyicts, coupled with the pro-
bable fatal sickness of a dozen others,
supposed to have been caused from
poison, administered them by unknown
parties who bitterly oppose the work
ing of convlcts in conflict with honest
| labor.
4 batch of about 10 convicts were
carried to Helena on the 18th inst, un-
der the charge of Capt Dudley, who
is boss for the contractor, ), Nj. Ap-
i person The men, udder the escort of
u dozen armed guards, have been at
work all the week throwing up the
roadbed for the tra' Ks of the railroad,
There are large number of unem-
ployed laborers in and around that
CITY, and they protested very strongly
against the introduction of conviets to
do this work, when they were all idle
Eighteen of the convicts were stricken
yesterday morning with disease
which is said to present strong evil
dence of arsenical poisoning. Four
of them died yesterday, and others
will die DIS. G. Linthieum and
Montague Fink were summoned by
Capt. Dudley and administered to the
wants of the sick, but without avail.
Mr.. Apperson was wired for and up
Oh arrival at once had the stomach of
The first man who died removed and
will subject it to chemical analysis
to determine whether death was
produced By poison. Conversation
with the convicts reveals the fact that
two theories are entertained by them.
The first is that the kettles in which
their daily food is cooked and which
are just outside the guard line and
near public road have mad arsenic
thrown in them by some dissatisfied
negro laborer of Helena or by a con-
federate in the camp. The second is
that impure water improper food,
miserable sanitation and the bad
weather of the past few days has
brought on contagious disease
All of the convicts are colored except
three or four and they are terribly
excited over the trouble. The men
have been working in mud ankle deep
for the past week, and are housed at
night in four or five box cars fitted up
with hunks and provided with stoves.
! Another box carscrves as store room
and still another as kitchen. Meals
are served on an improylsed table Of
boards, which stands on the ground
in the mud alongside the cars. The
food is coarse but plentiful, and is
said to be very poorly cooked. So far
as the means provided go, Capt.
Dudley appears to have made his men
comfortable as possible. But the sur
roundings, rs they presented them
selves yesterday afternoon in a fear
ful downpour Of rain, were such as to
appeal to the sympathy of the most
calous hearted. The names of the
dead convlcts are: Robert Lane, sent
up from Monroe county for nine
years, on charge of rape; Riley Hays,
Louis Lawrence and Henry Wicks, all
negroes. The Coroner went down to
Investigate he cause Of the deaths,
and impannelled jury, but adj
journed.
Secdless raisins and Washed cur
rants for sale at J NJ McGill II Co.'S.
12-15-10t
\ The best stock Of shoes in the city
at the Racket Store. 11-2-tf
For souvenir spoons, gold headed
canes, plain, gold and diamond rings
at lowest prices, call at FL. Schuster's'
12-19-5t e Jft UH
Call at the Racket Store aud exam
inc those lovely holiday goods
which are being opened for display
in large quantities. 12-S-tf
Go to E. M. Williams for
| your Xmas presents, cups and
saucers, shaving mugs, tea
sets, iron banks. 12-l7-tf
Twenty-Five cents buys a
pound of butterine at Turner
Bros. If
Bargains IL small diamonds at Louis
lleilbron's. tt
| - A a IL.