The Green Forest tribune., 1893-04-20
Both Behind the Bars,

Both Behind the Bars.
Ehe preliminary examination of
Frank Hickey, the alledged murderer
Of Hon. John M. Clayton, which was
in progress at Morrilton last week, came
to close Thu rsday afternoon, and the
great mystery seems to be no nearer
solved than before.
Burkhardt, the leading witness against
Hickey, is man of very bad repute,
and his evidence alone is of but little
force. His story has been corroborated
in but one instance, one other witness
being able to identify Hickey as being
in Arkansas about the time of the
Clay ton murder.
After considerable wrangling it was
decided best to hold the prisoner and
Burkhardt over for an investigation be-
fore the Grand Jury. Hickey was COM
mitted to Jail, while Burkhardt is con-
fined in the State Penitentiary for safe
keeping.
Burkhardt was very angry at this de-
4 cision of the Court and he swore that
he will not open his mouth in court
in the case again.
On reaching Little Rock Burk hardt
declared that if he was not released be-
fore Sunday morning he would make a
statement that would paralyze the en-
tire world.
When asked if he did not state on the
witness stand in Morril ton that he had
told all he knew, he said: "But you
must remember that was before Justice
Bentley committed me to the peniten-
tiary. That statement does not go
now."
Hickey's attorneys at Morrilton will
in a few days attempt habeas corpus
proceedings, tits generally believed he
will be released from custody if such an
application should be made.
Col. w. H. IL. Clayton, after an eX-
animation of the evidence. has arrived
at the conclusion that it would take
stronger evidence than that of Burk-
hardt's already adduced to convince him
of Hickey's guilt as to his brother S
murder.
Werner, the detective who worked up
the case against Hickey, has returned
to his home in Montana.
| HOW CLAYTON MET HIS DEATH.
| Col. John M. Clayton was shot to death On the
night OF January 20. 1889, in his apartment in a
private boarding house in PIummerville, about
forty-fve miles from Little Rock. Col Clayton
had been defeated in a hotly contested election
in the second congressional district by the Dom
0 ocratic nominee, Clifton Il. Breckinridge. The
Democratic and Republican factions had been
aroused to such a state of animosity by the.canl-
paign that the baiioting was III several sections
carried on in most dsreputable manner.
A ballot box, believed to have contained q
majority Of votes in favor OF Col. Clayton, had
been stolen at Plummeryille, aud it was for the
purpose of investigating the theft that he Went
there lie had been adv ised that personal yio-
lence would be offered him. but he refused to ac-
cept al armed escort, saying that such aprecau-
tion would only fan the flames. He was re-
minded how the Republican supervisor who had
declared his ability to run down the persons I'M
plicatad IL the election frauds had been Jared to
a room and his assassination attempted.
He had made considerable progress in his ins
vestgations and it is supposed that the guilSs
parties, becoming fully awakened to sense of
their danger, decided upon his death. WAife
preparing to write letter to his 1nothe1tess
children on the night OF January %, his ssss in
took q position close to the window near which
he was sitting AID aiming at the profile on the
cambria window shade fred both barrels Of a
; shot qua loaded with buckshot into his head.
The wouaded man died almost Instantly
Two frieEds were with him at the time of the
tragedy, and though they gave the alarm no
effort was made by the authorities of the town
to apprehend the perpetrators.
The death of Col. Clayton created the greatest
CONSERVATION The best citizens CT our State
held meetings of sympathy and offered rewards
aggregating $4,000 for the capture of his assas-
! sin.