Van Buren Press Van Buren, Arkansas - Crawford County August 17, 1889 ANOTHER SHORT CHAPTER Walnut Ridge Telephone: Powell Clayton pretends to be greatly outraged at the murder of his brother John at Plummerville. While we deplore the death of John M. Clayton, and while we condemn the cowardly assassin that killed him, yet we do not see why Powell Clayton should be surprised or shocked. It was Powell Clayton's militia that raided Conway County, and burned beautiful home, fences, and barns. It was here that Clayton's men too old man Cosey from his home and killed him without trial or clergy, and then they robbed and burned his property. It was near Plummerville that Clayton's militia too Tom Birchfield, Joe Jackson, and Cal Hooper from their beds into the swamps at midnight and executed them without show of a trial. And in the face of this murderous history Powell Clayton talks about the people of Arkansas and especially of Conway County, as if he had not caused the death and destruction written upon the pages of Arkansas' history. When the fair name of our people is slandered and traduced, it is but just that the crimes and characters of our traducers be made public. Fran Alverson Warren

Hello Fran, ( love to read all your posted articles...keep it up!) Do you have any record of a hanging by the Jayhawkers of a William RING? I have heard this, but do not know what county....in Arkansas/Missouri this would have happened. The RING families lived in Lawrence/Independence counties Ar. Also some of this RING family lived in TN. during the civil war....anything appreciated on this if possible to find. Thanks, ginny ginnymae@bright.net