The Green Forest tribune., 1893-04-13
HICKEY AND HIS ACCUSER.
Bnrkhardt Tells Attorney Clayton the
Story OF the Murder OF His
Twin Brother.


Clayton of Ft. Smith, brother of the
late John NJ. Clayton, arrived here to-
day to confer with Governor Fishback
and Attorney-General Clark, relative
to the arrest Of Frank Hickey, the al
legged assassin.
Later in the day Sheriff White of
Morrilton, accompanied by Detective
Werner of Butte City, and Witness
Burk hardt arrived. Burk hardt and
Werner were in close consultation with
leading Republicans the entire after
noon. COL Clayton had a long con-
ference with Burk hardt, the witness
against Hickey, today, and after much
persuasion he made the following state
ment:
"Thave had a talk with Buokhardt, the wit
ness against Hickey. and have obtained from
him, as far as he is willing to impart to me, the
facts in his possession. He seems to be labori G
under a very intense state offear and excitement
since his arrival at Morrilton, to which place he
came as a witness with the official assurance,
before he left Montana, that he should be prop
erly treated and that he should not be placed un-
der arrest. He has been arrested upon a warrant
based upon bad faith look upon this action of
the authorities as being unwise and without
foundation. The fact of his arrest, together with
some other circumstances which have transpired
since his arrival, has produced i'll his mind a fear
and apprehension that he will rot be treated
properly and that some violence may be done
him if he tells all he knows.
cit was with the greatest difficulty and much
persuasion and the most solemn pledges of pres
ent secrecy on nay part, chat he was induced to
impart this information. propose to keep faith
with him, aud. therefore, cannot now give to
the public his story, but will say that am i'm
pressed with the belief that he is in possession of
facts and was himself so far connected with the
killing that, If the proper course shall be pursu-
ed on the part of the officers having this matter
in charge, developments may be had which may
result in the arrest and conviction of the real
sassins.
:The papers are not treating Burkhardt fair
ly. He may not be an exemplary character: it
he had been he would not have consorted with
persons bent on assassination. The killing was
done at Plummerville, in Howard Township,
Conway County and it would be proper for a
Justice of the Peace of that township to conduct
the examination trial, but instead of that, for
some reason unknown to me, the examination is
to be conducted by o. L. Bentley, Justice of
the Peace of Morrilton, in another township.
However earnest the State and people OF Arkan-
sas in the matter, and however much they
nay desire to see this crime expiated, and be-
lieve that they do, trust that may be pardoned
for saying that think thereis sufficient truth in
the statement of this man, who comes from Mon
tana, to have it investigated before officer
who himself has not been suspected Of q crime.
When Burkhardt went to Plummerville to point
out certain matters in connection with tn e muir
der and corroborating his statement, it was de-
manded by Mr.. Werner, who accompanied him
and who is unquestionably man ofhonor and
intelligence, that some good citizens of Morrill,
ton should attend him. Two men who also had
been charged with the theft of the ballot box
were chosen for that purpose, who am inform
ed, subjected him to many indgnities and in
suits and did all in their power to discredit his
testimony. From my investigation. of the case
/ believe that if Burkhardt, his arrival at
Morilton, had been met with kindness and con-
fidence and had been encouraged to make clear
and full statement OF the facts in his knowledge,
much light would have been shed upon this dark
subject, which ultimately inlshU lead to the
punishment Of men whose hands are red with the
blood of a murdered man. w
Burkhardt was in Little Rock in 1888.
and is reported to be the biggest swim
dler that ever entered the boundaries
of Arkansas. There are plenty of men
here to identify him and should he
turn out to be the Old Burkhardt it will
then be clearly shown that this arrest
of Clayton's S alleged murderer is fake
of the first water. -
In 1889 Burkhardt, alias Landers, a
LEGGED Nan, was employed as tele-
ciaph operator at the union depot.
While here be got several hundred dol
lars worth of jewelry from Lewis G..
Bernays, who still has his books to
show that the money was never paid
him.
Burkhardt. or Landers. both are be-
lieyed to be assumed names-was the
station agent at Malvern for some time,
but was discharged by Manager j. C.
Brown for stealing the company's mon
ey. After leaving Little Rock he went
to Texarkana, where some months later,
he WAS ridden out OF town on rail for
committing some low crime.
lie was heard of at Greenville. Miss,
shortly afterward. lie swi. died some
man there out of $500. He was arrest
ed, but refused to give up the money
and kept it until the citizens organized
anN sfrnnp him I'D to a tree. when he