The Forrest City times., 1895-12-20
Four important Arrests.

1nree new b0arderS were received
at the county bastile Saturday evening.
They were Ben Thomas, Bill Williams
and Dave Williams, the latter a negro.
They were arrested in Prairie town
Ship Saturday. On Sunday, John
Swartz, a stave man, was arrested, and
likewise placed behind the bars. The
latter was captured at the home of Mrs.
Campbell. LAnguille township.
The quartette were deprived of
their liberty on warrant is
sued by Squire Nelson, charging them
with the assassination of Grant Nc
Gowan, which brutal and cold-booded
event occurred on the 23rd day of last
October, while he was peacefully sleel-
ing beside his wife and children in
their home near Palestine.
Bill Williams and Ben Thomas were
brothers-in-law of the victim of this
black plot, and it was generally known
that they, and SWartZ also, were on I'M
friendly terms with McGowan. The
negro was probably inveigled into the
cowardly affair as a hired tool.
Detective j. w. Paul, the man who
affected the capture of the negro rapst,
JEFF Ellis, in Tennessee, several months
ago, the negro being subsequently
lynched, has been working on the Me-
Gowan case for several months, and
these arrests are the outcome of his
labors.
The preliminary examination OF the
above mentioned persons was set for
Yesterday, in Squire Nelson's court,
but was postponed until Monday.
There seems 10 be little, if any,
doubt of the outlines of the prison.
ers, except, perhaps, AS to Thomas.
He comes of a good family, his father.
in his life time, being a preacher, and
many are loathe to believe that Ben
has SO far FORGOTTEN his fathers teach
ings and training as to be guilty of
such a hsnOus crime. On the other
hand, there is said to be strong evil
dence that he planned and plotted to
have McGowan killed, and that be was
killed IN a manner satisfactory to
Thomas.
A CONFESSION.
Just as we were closing up the forms
this morning rumor reached US that
two of the prisoners had made con-
fession. 1t required considerable
search TO find some one to verify the
rumor. but the sheriff was finally loca-
ted at the Bank, where he was busy
with his papers. We inquired if the
rumor that confession had been made
WAS true?
Yes" replied Sheriff Williams,
but the newspapers ought to let this
thing alone until after the trial, then,
| want you to publish the whole thing"
We remarked that it was matter
of street conversation, ana that 1t
seemed to be our duty to give our read
ers the facts in the case aS nearly as
we could ascertain them.
well" said he Ego ahead and pub
lish 1t if you want to-" and he then re-
lated very briefly, that Bill Williams
aud Dave Williams had confessed to
the whole affair, detailing to him the
plot, and their subsequent participation
i'm the assassination. Bill Williams
says he stood guard on this memorable
night THAT SwartZ tapped on the win
dow to arouse McGowan aud cause him
to raise his head SD that they could get
"A dead shot at him without harmlng
his wife or children, and that as he
raised up, the negro Dave Williams
fired the fatal shot.
Dave Williams account differs some
what from that of his fellow assassin.
lie claims that Bill did the shooting,
and from his manner and consistent
story. there seems To be considerable
ground for the belief that Bill did pull
the trigger.
Thomas is not implicated by The con-