The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-05-30
THE ARKANSAS IMBROGLIO.

The Supreme Court Declares Brooks
Sent Ssrant Proposes an AmieabIe
observation-disclosures Will and Bax-
ter WOnst-Then Baxter Will and
Brooks Won't
Four of the five Judges of the Supreme
Court of Arkansas met at Little Rock on the
7th, and delivered an opinion on the relation
of Joseph Brooks vs.. Harry Page, State
Treasurer, being an application for man
danlus to compel said Page, Treasurer, to pay
warrant drawn by the State Auditor in
obedience to requisition duly made by said
Brooks as Governor. The Supreme Court
decided that the Circuit Court of Pulaski
county had jurisdiction in the matter of de-
Gliding who was legal Governor of the State,
and that its decision in favor of Brooks was
regular and valid.
1t is stated that the same question came up
before full bench of the Supreme Court, on
the 7th of October last, who decided that un-
der the Constitution the question as to
whether person exercising the office of
Governor has been duly elected or not, is
vested exclusively in the General Assembly
of the State, and that no other tribunal or
court is competent to decide thereon.
Both sides were again being reinforced, and
Brooks had organized cavalry company to
do scouting duty. The friends of Baxter
claim that the decision of the court amounts
to nothing, and the danger of another mortal
collision was considered imminent.
On the night of the 7th, a party of Baxter
men, under command of Captain WEIGH, went
up the river on the steamer Halle, for the
purpose of intercepting lot of arms which
were being transported from Fort Smith
to the Industrial University. Soon af-
ter the departure of the Baxter expe-
dition, Colonel John Brooker with his reg
iment of two hundred colored men of
Brooks's command, started on a special train
fo into lNn Palermo
miles above the city. They arrived there
ahead Of. the Baxter party and got into posi-
ton on the bank, and when the boat came
along volley was fired at her, killing
one man, Frank Timms, and wounding
several others, among them Captain Sam
Houston, commander of the boat, who died
of his wounds in a few hours. John Myers, a
pilot, was also thought to be MORALLY wound-
ed. The Baxter men returned the fire from
the boat, wounding some of their opponents,
but only one seriously. The boat became dis
abled by the bursting of steam pipe, and she
f1oated down the river to the opposite bank,
where the Baxter men left her. She was then
taken possession of by the Brooks men, who
brought her back to the city. Captain Welch
asserts that after the boat was disabled, he
held up white flag, which was rid
died with bullets, several shots also
passing through his clothes. A detachment
of Brooks men was afterward sent out to
capture Captain Welch's party, who escaped
from the boat, and squad of Baxter cavalry
also went out to their comrades assistance.
There was great activity on both sides, and
railroad communication with the city was Sc
riously interrupted.
The above is the Associated Press agents
account. Special dispatches to the st. Louis
Globe give essentially the same statement,
with the important exception that the Baxter
party on the boat are charged with firing the
first shot-one account says two volleys were
fred from the boat before their fire was re-
turned from the shore.
Another street fight occurred between the
partisans of the rival Governors at Little
| Rock on the 9th, resulting in the killing OF
one of Brooks's adherents, a colored man.
| Some forty shots were exchanged before
peace was restored. The origin of the out
/ break is obscure, each side charging the fault
| upon the other. Business throughout the
city was entirely suspended, and the women
and children were removed from the vi
einity of the State-house for safety in case of
general fight.
| During the 10th Sunday everything re-
manned quiet. The steamer Halle, which
was in the hands of the Brooks party, was
seuttled and sunk.
bers of the Legislature, was sent to the Presi-
dent, asking the protection of the General
Government during their session.
4 A copy of an agreement made in Washing
ton and signed by the respective attorneys OF
Baxter and Brooks was telegraphed to each
of these gentlemen for their confirmation: