Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-10-26


Little Rock and Pine Bluff, left his
train at Pine Bluff and brought the
passenger train into this city. says
The Democrat. When he took charge
O! the passenger the coach that was
locked by TIA" negro had been broken
open and the passengers were very
muoh excited
The negro was in the baggage
coach, guarded by the deputy sheriff
,,hen took charge Gt thr train said
Mr.. Willis in The city today. The
r&ssen2ers were very much excited
at first aud some of The ladies thonghl
o. leaving the train. | explained to
them that the negro was safely guard
ed and that We were taking him to
Little Rock that he might be kept in
the penitenliary until his trial"
Trial Must Be at Benton.
The trial must be held in Benton
Saline county, as the killing occur
red in that count%. and an ettort Will
he made to have Judge Dufiie call a
special grand jury to sit in the cas-.
Sheriff Browns Statement.
Deputy Sheriff W. H. Brown OF
v oodson. who made the arrest. said
to a Democrat reporter in relating his
experiences:
My wife and | We're going to Far
rell. and | saw the train stop about a
quarter of mile north OF Farrell
The train was standing still when we
drove up. 1t blew three whistles, and
said, That means to back up, as
they have probably run over a COW or
something The train then backed
UP about a hundred feet and stopped
Ia second time, blowing three whis
up to Farrell When we reached the
station | ran up to see what was the
matter. The freight conductor asked
III | was an officer, and | replied that
Il was deputy sheriff of the county.
He then told me that Houston Hook
or, the porter had shot and killed
Conductor Atwood and had locked
himself in the baggage car, refusing
any one admission. I went to the car
and called his name asking him to
step to the door, as | wanted to see
him. He came 10 the door with his
pistol in his hand and thrust it
| through the glass of the door break
! ing the glass, and said: "Mr. Brown,
don't come up here. | think a heap
of you. l have killed the old man. and
/ know | am going to be mobbed for
lit. l had just as we'll die in this car
as anywhere else"
Hooker Afraid of Mob.
81 told him that if he would let mo
| come into the car | would Suarant ec
that no mob should get him, and that
/ would take him to Jail safely I'm
der this pledge he let me into the car,
and when entered he told
ME to lock the door, which
l ulu IlS lleU Sdl uOW ii
at the rear end of the coach with the
pistol in his hand and forbade me
come any nearer When saw could
not get the pistol away from him. |
thought it best to run up to Wood
son. When we reached Woodson, |
prevailed upon him to let my broth
er, T. J. Brown who is also a deputy
sheriff come into the car. When ho
J came in he said: you all are south
ern white people. and know the mig
ger. and for Gods sake don't let
me be mobbed"
after we reached Sweet Home
coming to Little Rock, persuaded
/ him to give up the pistol, then we
handcuffed him, and brought him to
the union depot, from which place we
took him to the penitentiary. He will
be taken to Benton at 3:45 p. m. to
day. We wired Sheriff George kel
w to come to Little Rock at once.
81 have known Houston Hooker for
eighteen years, and he has always had
a good reputation. He is not crazy
but | don't know what possessed him
to kill Atwood"
| -O-