The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1893-01-06
ARKANSAS STATE NEWS.
The Convict PoisonIngs.


The Convict PoisonIngs.
The following was sent out from Lit
tie Rock on the night of the 29th:
Three more convicts are lying at the point OF
death at the penitentiary, two OF whom VIII
lie before morning The death OF thess men
wiIl make sixteen since the sickness broke out
at Helena Two OF the men were not in the
Helena gang. but still il is insisted that
"arsencal poison" caused their death. me
coroner's inquest in each case has utterly
failed to enlighten the public as to the cause
of death All sorts OF rumors are afloat ON the
streets Of Little Rock some of the most sensa'
tional nature 1t is generally believed that
conta gious disease is rampant among the IN
mates OF the prison. DR. Robertson, the peni-
Tertiary physician. who went to st. Louis with
the stomach Of one of the untortunates. to con-
suit expert authority, is expected home to-
morrow.
The following was sent out from Lit
tie Rock on the 30th:
One more death occurred at the penitentiary
TO day, making total OF fourteen. The con-
vict was taken sick yesterday afternoon
and he died at noon to-day. The cor
oner's inquest found that he died from
"some epidemic disease unknown to
the Jury Late this afternoon Coroner
Bond filtd report with the board OF peni-
&
the sanitary condition OF the place was horrible
in the extreme and calculated to breed an
epidemic in it's worst form. He cited at some
length the amount of filth piled up in different
quarters of the Enclosure, etc. The commis-
sioners consisting of secretary OF state,
attorney general anil Private Secrstay
Files representing Gov. Eagle. Immediately
drove out to the prison and made personal
inspection Tat contagious disease IN its
worst form has taken held OF the inmates now
admits of no dispute. The poison theory is
fast fading away. The man who died to- day
was not in the Helena group. an1 had not been
outside the walls in number of days. He
was in perfect heath yesterday at dinner.
Big Failure at Pine Bluh.
Altheimer Bros, wholesale and re-
tail dry goods dealers and planters,
have failed.
The direct cause OF the failure was the de-
stluction by fire Of their establishment about
two wears ago when n stock of goods valued at
10000 was lost They carried only $1,000 in
suraEce, which the insurance companies
refused to pay. Tho lower courts
gave Judgment in favor of Althe-
inner Bros. The com panies appealed 10
the state supreme court, where the cas- will
be heard in Al ril The overfiows of last sum
m err destroyed two thirds of the cotton crop
which Aliheimer Bros. were raising on 40
acres of land. They replaced tho 1a1s twice,
but the early frost, ice, snow and rain ruined
the crop The bad season had disastrous
effect the cash in their dr. goo Is establish
ment. forcing hem to carry over $4,000 worth
of goods after The holidays The a'sets are es-
timatod at about SN00O0; liabilities sl00 900
Used the Money in Church Work.
Rev. Dr.. i. :. Buchanan, Cumberland
Presby terian. dcfaulting treasurer of
the Arkansas insane asylum, is out in
his own defense.
He has written u circular letter to leading
members Of the CHURCH of Littls Rock. The
letter bears date OF Deco 81, and
written at Clarks vile. lie admits in the let
ter that he Is short in the neighborhoOl OF
S. COO, and slys he used the money in church
work gnd in building thu Cumberlln Prssby-
/ terrain college in this stat. He Appeals to HI,
brethren to buy his book which he recently
/ published whcl funds he will pay ovar to the
+ state authorities to mako good bis shortage.
+ He says he will b. ruined man if the people
/ of his church fail to come to mis- rescue a. once
Uedspeth Pays the Penalty.
A. j. TIedspcth was hanged at iar'
rison, Boone county. on the 30th.
This closes one of the most celebrated cases
ever tried in the criminal courts of Arkansas
Hedspsth was working for Geo. Watkins near
( Yellviiie, Marion county, aud in 1885, killed
Watkins. Hedspeth and Mrs. Watkins were
arrested. Mrs. Watkins soon took fatally ill,
and lust before she died she confessed that
I Heispeth killed her husband, and THAT she and
Redspeth were lovers AMI wanted Watkins ont
OF the way. After several ttrials, and the
taking OF tho case to the supreme court, al ap.
peal to the governor who resussl 10 interfere.
Hedspeth who was found guilty Of murder in
the first degree, paid the penalty.
An Ex-Convlct Secures "A Verdict.
In the United States district court al
Little Rock James Fisher, IA colored
man. was awarded $3.50 damages.
Fisher was a convict and leased to Cook
& Reinman. contractors. He was I'M
mercifully whipped by agents of the
contractors, whom lie sued after being
liberated from prison.
Federal Authorities to Investigates.
The United States marine hospital
service viii investigate the illness
among the convicts at the penitentiary.
There have been rumors afloat for some
time to the effect that the disease is
cholera. but the marine authorities
place little reliance in the rumor, as
no one outside those about the peni.
tertiary has been affected.
Dry Goods Dealer Succumbs.
A. Bach. dealer in dry goods and no
TONS Little Rock, has failed. Judg.
ments in favor of the following cred.
itors were confessed Exchange Ma
tional bank, Little Rock, $500; VIM.
Wolf. 81, 1870; II. b. Clafflin & Co, OF
New York, Sl,314.03.
a Hardwood Company.
Artic1no of ton b,-a hoo,