The Van Buren Press

"When Rogues Fall Out."

The Fort Smith Patriot, of the 6th instant contains an affidavit of one Thomas M. Fishbourne, sworn to before J. A. Lockhart, Clerk of Crawford County, that charges Jas. L. Hodges, of Little Rock, with offering him (Fishbourne) $1000 to assassinate, in 1868, Hon. J. H. Barton, brother-in-law of Senator Clayton. And further charges Mr. Hodges with destroying the votes of Democrats, at the election in Pulaski county, and substituting Radical, at the election in 1868.

The first question that is asked is, who is Thomas M. Fishbourne?

It is barely possible, that what Fishbourne makes affidavit to, is all true. And it is rather singular if this man is so incorruptible and extremely honest, that he should have waited three or four years before he made the expose.

There is not a doubt, in the mind of any observing man, that the Constitutional Convention in 1868 was carried by fraud and corruption on the part of those in power in the State and in fact every election held since then stands in the same category.

We copy the Patriot's remarks and affidavit:

Honest (?) Hopkins.--We have been handed the following strange document by the gentleman whose name is attached, and we give it for what it is worth not vouching for its truth, or responsible for its grave charges. If these things are true, as stated in Mr. Fishbourne's affidavit, the grand jury should get after this partner of Joe Brooks, and give him a chance to serve the State a while in the penitentiary:

STATE OF ARKANSAS
County of Crawford.

Thomas M. Fishbourne being duly sworn deposes and says that he is a citizen of Arkansas, and has been such since 1865; that he is well acquainted with James L. Hodges of Little Rock; that in 1868 he, deponent, was clerk of the board of election created by the constitutional convention. That, while he was so employed, the said James L. Hodges was one of the judges of election in Pulaski county, at the same polls with deponent. That the said Hodges desired deponent to check by a particular mark all the names of those who cast votes against the Republican party, for he intended to destroy their votes or substitute others in their place. That Hodges did do so with a number of Democratic votes, until this deponent refused to permit it to be done and threatened to expose him for his rascality.

This deponent further says that in January, 1868, in front of the State House in Little Rock Hodges made propositions to this deponent to assassinate Hon. J. H. Barton brother-in-law of Gen. Powell Clayton, and offered $1000 to have the job done. He said "he could be easily knocked on the head by some of your men," referring to the State guards, of which deponent was then an officer. He said that Barton was injuring his prospects for getting pay for State arms, and was also injuring his influence with Clayton, and if Barton was out of the way there would be no difficulty. Deponent was shocked at the proposition, and threatened the said Hodges, that if he ever made such a proposition again, he would shoot him.

Hodges never approached deponent again on that subject, but was informed that he (Hodges) had made the same proposition to two other parties, whose names can be given if desired.

THOS. M. FISHBOURNE.

Sworn and subscribed to this 12th day of December, A. D., 1871
JAMES A. LOCKHART
Clerk.
Per W. W. Orrick, D. C.

A special dispatch to the St. Louis Republican of January 9th from Washington, speaking of the charges against Senator CLAYTON, says:

The charges made in the evidence taken by the Ku-klux committee and submitted to both houses to-day showing in detail the corrupt practices by which Senator Clayton of Arkansas was elected seem unanswerable, and it is not improbable that Clayton will be ousted from the Senate by the house, though the latter's seat is already in contest. Clayton read a long defence in the Senate, which failed to create a favorable impression. At its close, Wright of Iowa moved for a special committee of which he will, of course, be chairman, to investigate these charges. Wright is said to be a relative of the chief justice of Arkansas, who is also mixed up with Clayton.