Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-06-10
A Scene in Westminster.

in the early political history of this State
was Mathew Lyon. He was coarse,
rough-minded man, constantly engaged
in broils and provoking enemies on all
sides. During the session of Congress in
1868, at which time Lyon wasa men,
ber of the House, he got into trouble
with Mr.. Griswold, member from Conn.
the story of which runs thus:
During the sitting of the House of
Representatives January 80, 1898, while
the teller was engaged in counting the
ballots for managers in the impeachment
against William Blount, the Speaker
and the members left their seats accord
ing to practice on such occasions. The
Speaker sat by the bar of the House,
Mr.. Griswold being near, while Lyon
stood without the bar, leaning on it and
talking in a loud voice with the Speaker.
The subject of his conversation was the
conduct of the members from Connecti-
cut, which he denounced in the severest
terms, accusing them of seeking private
ends alone. He would like to 60 to Con-
necticut and manage the press there for
awhile. He would agree torevolutionize
the State in six months and get the pres
ent members turned out.
Mr.. Griswold on hearing this laid his
hand on Lyons shoulder and remarked !:
:" Ii you come there You had betterwear
your wooden sword" alluding to Mr..
Lyons having been cashiered in the ar
my. Thereupon Lyon spat in his face.
The committee of privileges recon-
mended that Mr.. Lyon be expelled from
the House for this conduct but the mo-
tion did not prevail. During the debate
in the House on Lyons expulsion he un-
dertook defence of himself and in vim
dication of his character as a brave man
stated that once in Vermont when he
insulted by Mr.. Chapman, then Sena-
tor from this State, he had cnastised him
To this Mr.. Chapman replied by letter,
Indignantly denying the statement Nor
did he KNOWN fact what event Mr.. Lyon
was alluding to, unless to ludicrous cir
cumstance which took place once upon
time at Westminster. In the begin
ming of the 1880 the legislature of Ver-
mont we're in session at that place. Mr..
Lyon attended as member; Mr.. Chip
man was there on business. The House
of Representatives requested Mr.. Chip
man, though not member, to examine
and report concerning certain debts due
! from persons whose estates had been con-
fiscated. He accordingly made report
at some parts of which Mr. Lyon was Sc
riously offended.
One morning, soon after, Mr.. Chapman
was occupied in Mr.. Bradley's room,
which he was then making his place OF
business, No one was in the room ex-
cept these two gentlemen, who were seat
ed on opposite sides of the same table,
busily employed. Mr.. Lyon walked in
and took seat at the table beside Mr..
Bradley and began talking about the
report above named. He was not long
in showing how deep was his irritation,
nor could be restrain it but burst out
with the rude declaration that no man
with spark of honesty in him could
have reported as Mr.. Chipman had done.
Incensed at such insoence, Mr.. Chip
man retorted with calling Lyon an iigno.
rant Irish puppy. Lyon bounded from
his seat and grasped at Mr.. Chipman's
hair, which was turned back with comb
crushing the comb in his grasp. Chip
man at the time was mendinga pen, and
as Lyon assaulted him he started up
from his chair, knife in hand, prepared
to avenge the insult. But just at this
moment Mr.. Bradley grasped Lyon
from behind around the arms and drew
him back little. Lyon was rendered
comparatively helpless by this; but his
wrath was unabated, and his feet were
free, and though held tight in Bradley's
arms, he raised his legs and kicked across
the table with all his might at Mr.. Chip
man. As he lay sprawling and kicking
in this fashion, his eyes glaring and his
whole face distorted with anger, the awk-
ward figure the man cut caused Mr..
Chipman's anger to vanish and he burst
into loud laugh. Instantly dropping
the knife, he seized Lyons feet, and with
the help Of Mr.. Bradley, who had not
relaxed his grip, carried him across the
room and laid him ON his back in cor
ner. The two gentlemen then returen2
to their seats laughing heartily over the
scene. But though it might be fun for
them it was anything but fun for Mr..
Lyon, who rose from his recumbent pos
ture and stood for awhile speechless, as
if overwhelmed at the catastrophe which
] had befallen him. Then turning away