User:Wmdarrow

The notion that the killer of James Hinds "was drunk at the time" is found in some Arkansas reports (without source citation), but is undercut by contemporaneous information recited in local newspapers. The killer, George Clark, stated hours before the killing that if he had the opportunity, he would "put daylight through" Hinds and the other Republican unionist leader travelling with him at the time, Joseph Brooks. Clark shot both men with a shotgun, killing Hinds and wounding Brookes. The most detailed version of his demise, written in Indian Bay immediately afterward, states that shortly before the shooting Hinds and Brooks paused in Indian Bay and asked Clark for directions to an area political event. They did not know Clark, but he recognized them. Earlier that day Clark reportedly discussed the arriving Republican speakers with an associate, declaring “God damn them, if I see them they won’t speak today, for I shall put daylight through them.” Clark followed the two visitors out of the village and shot them. “Men passing and returning soon found Mr. Hinds lying in the road still alive and rational, but conscious of the fact that his wound was of such a serious nature that but a few moments more remained of his earthly career. Mr. John Hilliard arriving at once, sent for a team to convey the sufferer to a hospitable shelter. In the interim, waiting the arrival of the team, Mr. Tim Cartwright received from Mr. Hinds directions concerning his wife’s whereabouts, and a few words of parental solicitude for his two little daughters, which Mr. Cartwright wrote in Mr. Hinds’ hat. Dr. Trask arrived at once, pronounced the wound positively speedily fatal, and before the team . . . could reach Mrs. Hathoways’ place, the spirit had flown -- a lifeless corpse alone remained.” Narrative written in Indian Bay, October 25, 1868, published in Little Rock's October 29, 1868 “Morning Republican.” Sympathizers of Clark later attempted to claim (absent any evidence) that Clark was very drunk at the time, or that someone else shot the two politicians. However, a Coronor’s Jury concluded that: “James Hinds came to his death by wounds inflicted on him by shot discharged from a double-barreled shotgun in the hands of George W. Clark.” I have found no record indicating that Clark was prosecuted. Important to understanding these events is historical context: in late 1868 the Klu Klux Klan was very active in Arkansas, and was attacking unionists, black and white, who favored reconstruction and black suffrage. Hinds was the principal advocate of full citizenship and suffrage rights for freedmen in AR at the time.