Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-09-22
Sheriff Breathes Easier with
Johnson and Corpnreau in
Pulaski Jail.
BELIEVE ALL THREE
MEN ARE INVOLVED
Belief Grows That Bob Rutherford
Was Victim of at Least Three As
sassinS, and Talk Of Aycnging
Crime Continues.

With Aaron J. johnson and Joe
Corpureau, two of the negroes impli-
Gated in the murder of Robert L..
Rutherford on the Rutherford farm
Tuesday forenoon, safely in separate
cells in the Pulaski county Jail,
Sheriff II. II. Williams and members
of his force breathed easier yesterday
after a night of unusual activity
After taking Johnson, who was
captured at the home of George Ash
ley, a negro farmer near Ladd, to the
Pulaski Jail Tuesday night the Of
ficers returned to Pine Bluff, took
Corpureau from the prison here ald
began another trip to the capital, ar
irving there about 6 o'clock.
With the two prisoners charging
each other with the murder of Mr..
Rutherford, whose funeral took place
yesterday forenoon opinion grows
that the victim was attacked by both
the prisoners and by Charles Corpu-
reau, son of Joe Corpureau, whose
capture is likely to be effected at any
time. There are discrepancies in the
stories of both Johnson and Corpu-
reau, and the belief prevails that all
three, possibly more, had actual part
in the assassination.
Ashley's Wound Slight.
George Ashley, the negro wounded
by Eeputy Sheriff j. L.. McBurnett,
was only slightly hurt. The bullet
passed through his left side, near the
waistline. DR.. ,Patten of Laid, who
was summoned by the officers, said
yesterday evening he expects the
negro to recover rapidly. Ashley re-
ceived his wound when he attempted
flight after the house was surrounded.
Sheriff Williams and Chief Of Police
Deputy Mayberry in the front yard
and Deputy McBurnett on the porch.
Instead of opening the door as COM
manded, Ashley dashed out, both Nc
Burnett and Mayberry opening fire.
Johnson was chased by Mr. McBur-
nett into a closet, where the negro
threw down his gun and pleaded for
quarter.
After capturing Johnson, the Of
ficers started to Little Rock, turning
off the Tamo pike at Clements place
to avoid possible crowd. They had
not proceeded far before tire blew
out, and this was the beginning Of
their troubles. They successfully COM
mandeered the cars of Porter POw1sell,
deputy sheriff of Lincoln; DR.. Pat
ten and Bob Reynolds of Woodson,
Mr.. Reynolds taking the sheriff, po-
lice chief and prisoner from his place
to title Rock, while McBurnett and
Mayberry patched up the Patten car
and followed. These delays prevented
the return to Pine Bluff until far in
the morning. and none here knew of
the capture until they arrived to re-
move Corpureau, fearing that when
Johnsons story became known at at
tempt to lynch the negro would be
made.
The Graphic's regular edition was
off when the officers reached here, but
an extra" was quickly put out and
was eagerly obtained, the edition
being exhausted long before the de-
mand ceased.
Crowds We're Active.
The Judgment of Sheriff Williams in
quickly removing both accused ne
groes outside Jefferson county would
seem to be indicated by reports in
circulation yesterday that at least two
crowds were out Wednesday night.
1t was said that one of these just
missed the sheriff's posse with john
son.
Those who hold to the belief that
all three negroes were implicated in
the actual gilling, if not prearrang-
ed plot, point to the manner in which
Mr.. Rutherford was shot, the differ
ept stories told by the accused, and
Johnson's wound 1t is thought not
unlikely that Johnson fired upon Mr..
Rutherford with a pistol, young Cor
pureau with the shotgun, and that
Joe Corpureau used the dying mans
pistol OF inflict the two bullet wounds
in the back as the victim lay face
downward upon the earth.
1t was learned that Corpureau had
frequently displayed resentment to-
ward Mr.. Rutherford, and this is in
terpreted as another reason to be-
lieve that he was involved more than
he admitted.
The hunt for Charles Corpureau is
being prosecuted vigorously, county,
township and city officials exerting
every faculty to obtain trace of the
fugitive. Several reports led to quick
dashes yesterday, but none of these
were fruitful. The officers have
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