New-York tribune., 1842-03-01

intelligence OF the murder OF Hon oHARLEs
P.ARSDT, member OF the Council from the Coun-
tv of Brown hy James K. Vineyard, member OF
the Council from the County OF Grant.
Correspondence of one OF the Eto-z
MADlsoS Feb. H. 1872
-Dr.p SrR-Our Capitol TO-DAY witnessed amost
,r,oica1 and lear t-rending occurrence Hon. G.
p Arndr member OF the Council from Brown
County was shot on the floor Of the Council b.. ].
r. Vineyard member OF the same BODY The
sho. took Immediate effect. Mr. Arndt uttered no
.ound-slruggled none. but expired within very
ie,r minutes after he was shot need not tell you
the effect has had upon the public mind here
deep and universal sorrow Is et-and while that
sorrow is general, need not tell you what is the
feeling among his more immediate acGunin,ances
and friends. |, is with difficulty cun command
my feelings whilst pen this recital. Since
nv arrival in the Territory M acquaintance with
Mr.. Arndt, with his family and relatives. has been
intimate the relation between us has been of ul-
interrupted friendship; and my part of the high
est esteem You viii believe ne then when | tell
YOU, witnessing as did. his death at the hands of
& base villain feel We, scarcely able to pen this
recital But while the grief of the friends has
been such how shall | detail that OF relatives
II ow can picture the agony Of his aged and dot
ing father who in the room and within few
feet Of his son. when theevent occurred. No
words can tel the agony Of soul with which his Ia
!nenta,ions were uttered And he is now plunged
in the deepest grief. which no lapse of time can
efiace. The deceased left at his home, short time
/ since, devoted wife and several lovely and prom
/ sing children: MOTHER aged. with the deepest
affections centcred upon cr son; Brothers and SIS
tiers, who felt all the affection that brothers and
sisters could feel.
| had been in friendly converse with the deceased
I b,.fn sed the
the drawing the pistol, the fash and the report.
! | saw The countenance pale, the limbs relax and
! the victim reel toward the iloor-but could rot
realize the truth of what | witnessed. ed.Zlnuscd Is
| | am TO scenes Of the kind. (and who is not2 it
seemed like Il dream Or pan,omimc. or q scene got
up for effect. II ,vns only whenI listened TO the
agonzing cries of the father, and witnessed the
tears coursng upon the echceks of those arousd me.
that | could believe the pale form upon the floor
before me to be the htclc1s remains of him whom
| | sat beside but moment before. and who
then flushed witt. health and buoyunt with hope
and chccrfuness. What years of grief had birth
| in that fatal minute.
i will state briefly the particulars connected
with the matter. A few DAYS ago, the nomination.
of Enos S. Baker for Sheriff of Grant County came
before the Council for its action. II rejected
both of our Racine members voting for the
lection The next day reconsideration of tic
vote moved, and the motion for reconsdera-
ton laid on the ta4le which left the matter
open for action by the Council at any time. To.
day it up. Mr.. Bulicn in his place,
nnd, for himself and colleague, stated that they
had found good and ample reason for changing
their vote upon the question: There had been
no charges made against Mr. Ba kert he was hon
fesst and capable and they had gone against him
before because they thought a majority of the pco-
of Inci rhnru
ment. They since took different view of their
relation TO the nomination Of the Governor, and
believed that their duty called upon them 10 nd
wise only IA ia the character and qualifications of
nominees, and they should therefore now vote for
the confirmation of Mr.. Baker. Vineyard took II
deep interest in the matter rs he wanted the APP
poin,ment for his BROTHER and hi. brother would
have got it, could Mr.. Baker have been got out of
the way, therefore when it became evident how
the matter was going he at once got into pas
sion. and made violent speeches in which he de-
nonced several members in no measured
| ,eous language. He finally moved that the nomi-
nation be postponed until Tuesday next as he
thong gh by that time he could d=provc charges
against the moral character of Mr.. Baker
Pending that question, Mr.. Arndt arose, and
hoped the nomination would not be postponed
for upon MIR Vineyards testimony, previous
ly given, Mr.. Baker an honest man. Vine
yard, in violent language, pronounced the state
lnent talSchoo1. Of this Mr. Arndt took no
notice. but continued his remarks He was inter
rupted by Vineyard, who commenced talking
Mr. Arndl remarked if the gentleman would per
nit him, he would explain; Nineyard was silenced,
and MIR. Arnd went to state, lInt Vineyard
had mentioned To him some rumors against the
character Of Baker, but stated that he himself did
not believe them and requested that nothing
b,- ,.arj aJ
dorsed Bakers integrity more than once and |
| presume half a dozen different people could have
testified directly to the fact. The motion to post
ponc was carried. y motion then made to
adjourn and by the voice il thought I'M nd
| iournmcnl had been had. Mr. Arndi then stepped
up,o Vineyard and some angry words passed be-
tween them. The Speaker called order, The
House had not yet adjonrncd; the Scrgennt-at-
| Arms interposcd and the two men went 10 their
seats. The ayes and noes were had and the Eousc
adjourned. MIR. Arndt again steppsd up to Vino
yard, and asked him to retract, when Vineyard
reiterated the charge of falSehood Mr.. Arndi
then struck NJ him, when Vineyard rclrealcd II
.Isrrlre ,wo drew his pistol and shot him dead.
Whatever the techniculilics Of the aw may make
of this there is bu, one opinion here. and that is,
that il is OF wiiiul, deliberate and cowardly
murder. Vineyard deliberately nsuitcd Arndt bv
charging him with alsehood, when he knew in his
own conscience That trndt was telling the truth.
He stood before him with his murdcrons weapon
in his bosom. and reiterated the charge of false
hood, knowing thai the insul, would be repeIled
and knowing that the individual he im>ulted had no
deadly weapons about him, and was. in fact. hi-
superior in strength; and when the result
hroushtab for which he aimed he stepped back
and accomplished his murdcrous design by shoot
ing him dead. Vineyard had his weapon loaded
and concealed about his person and 50 quick was
his action, that i, thought he even had his