Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1889 — AN ARKANSAW AFFAIR. [ARTICLE]

AN ARKANSAW AFFAIR.

Great Excitement Over an Alleged Political Murder. A dispatch from Little Rock of the 81st [31st] says. “There is the greatest excitement all over the State over the mysterious assassination of C. M. Clayton yesterday, and it is believed that it was purely a cold-blooded murder for political purposes. A telegram from Pine Bluff, Ark., the home ot Colonel Clayton, says that place was thrown into a fever of excitement upon the receipt of the news of the assassination. The scene at the victim’s home, when the news was conveyed to his family, was a terrible one. A public meeting was held in the Court House Thursday afternoon. There was an immense attendance. After the adoption of appropriate resolutions, a committee was appointed to request business houses to close, and to have church bells tolled when the remains arrived in the morning and when the funeral takes place. A committee of twelve citizens was also appointed to go to Little Rock and act as an escort to the remains, Damascus Commandery No. 8. Knights Templars, also sent an escort. The Oourt [Court] House is draped in morning and flags are flying at half-mast. The funeral will take place on Friday afternoon. Prominent Democrats referring to the outrage, say: “The only way to reinstate our state in the good graces of the North is to catch the cowardly assassins and punish them summarily.” Governor Eagle sent a message to the Legislature Thursday stating that he had offered a reward of $1,000 for the arrest and conviction of the assassin, and asking the authorities to increase the reward. The Senate has passed the bill, by a vote of 27 to 7, authorizing the Governor to offer a reward of $5,000. Mr. Clayton was a brother of Powell Clayton. He was a defeated candidate for Congress at the last election, and proposed to contest the election.