The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-08
CUB PUGNACIOUS LEGISLATORS.
Fracas Between Assemblymen Irving and Weed
A Head in a Handkerchief and an Eye in
Mourning-Intense Excitement Among
the Law Breakers and the Law Makers.

ALBANY, April TO P. M.
The Assembly was thrown into great excitement
tonight by dispute between two of the members
Of the Railroad Committee, Messrs. Irving and
Weed, which finally ended in q personal encounter
and for q time put stop to the regular business or
the House 1t Will be remembered that bill was
introduced some time ago which virtually repealed
the charter of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com
pany, and ii was rumored at the time that the New
York Central ar the bottom OF the
scheme, With view Of ultimately getting
full control Of the roads now In possession
OF the Canal Company From the start there was
considerable feeling manifested about the bill, and
especially as 1t was once rec0mmltted to the Rail-
road Committee after had been before the House.
This evening MIR. Flaeg, the chairman or the CON-
mittec, asked for q suspension OF the order Of bus
ness, that he might introduce resolution taking
the bill out Of the hands Of the committee, and
ordering it to third reading. or course the
friends OF the Canal Company in the House were on
the alert. and q good deal OF excitement ensued.
While the vote was being taken by ayes and
noes q large number or members con-
gregated about the Clerks desk, Weed among
others. Irving, one OF the members OF the
committee, between whom and Weed there
exists very little friendly feeling, finally made his
way to the desk and called out to the Speaker (Mr.
Fields being In the chair) to make the members
take their seats, eXClaimng:-"The Clerk can take
this vote without being prompted; these members
are prompting him.n He. then turned towards
Weed ana charged him with being one OF the
prompters and at the same time made use OF an
epthet something like 'You sucker" which Weed
resented as Irving says. by calling him "A damned
th.efn This Weed denies emphatlcally, contendlng
that he merely told Irving 10 keep away from him.
he didn't want to have any difficulty. At any
rate tina two talked in such loud tone or CO that
the attention OF the whole House attract ed TO It,
and the two took hold OF one another by he lapel
OF each others coat. Weed says he put his hand
out TO push Irving away from him. while the latter
claims that Weed attempted to strike him. BY the
exertions OF other members the tnmut was auell ed
for awhile and the two went back into the Clerks
room, followed by crowd Of their colleagues. The
door then shut to prevent any further
interference OF the business Of the House,
as Irving and Weed Kept talking in o
loud tone Of voice, the former being very much ex-
cited. The friends OF both parties did their best to
put on end TO the row BY getting the two away from
ono another; but before they could do so Irving
struck Weed powerful blow with his fist over the
left eye causing very bad wound. Weed was stand
ing ut the time with his back against tile doorway
that leads into the House; and. as Flanagan stood
between him and Irving endeavoring to paciy the
latter, he did not expect the blow. After he mad
been struck Weed made an effort to get at Irving,
while the latter, now excited TO the highest pitch,
was making ready to strike again.
Through the exertons OF Flanagan and others the
into the House and take his seat Weed came in
shortly afterward with a handkerchief bound over
his eye, took his seat and to ask for the ap-
pontnent Of committee to investigate the matter,
but sat down on being Informed that COM
mittee had already been appointed This committee,
which was appointed shortly after Weed ana Irving
had left the House ana entered the Clerks room ana
the door had been shut behind them. consists OF
Mcssrs Frear. Alvord, Littleohn, Fields and NIcho.
las. They VIII meet tomorrow morning before the
business OF tue House begins and will probably at
once make their report.
II is needless 10 state that the House was IN no
frame OF mind TO transact business after what had
occurred and soon alter the fracas adjourned In
great confusion. The affair Is the town talk to.
night, and speculation Is rife as TO what course the
investigating committee VIII pursue. Irving's
friends claim that rs he struck Weed when not
within the bar OF the house, nothing moro than
ccnsure can result 10 him from IL; but the row
which occurred az the Clerks desk was OF such n
nature that II Is quite likely that the committee VIII
consider the encounter which followed n us though
II had actually taken place nj the desk. The friends
OF both parties are In terribly excited state of
mind over the thing, and what the upsnot viii be
before the adjournment would be hard 10 iorctcll