Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-04-23
FEUD IN ARKANSAS.

Advices from Arkansas show an unpleasant
condition of affairs in that State. Two sworn
Governors are in office-Brooks and Baxter,
the former having forcibly elected thelate in
cumbent, Baxter, who has established bis
headquarters at St. Johns College, and
threatens to gain possession of his Office by
force of arms. The history of the case is thus
given:
Joseph Brooks, who claims to have been
elected Governor in 1872, took the oath of Of.
flee about eleven o'clock last Wednesday
morning before Chief Justice Mcclure, and
within FIVE minutes from that time took forci.
BILE possession of the Governors Office and
elected Governor Baxter by force. About one
year ago Brooks commenced suit in the
Circuit Court of Pulaski county for the Office
of Governor, and about the same time the at
torney general commenced suit against Gov.
Baxter by quo ,OarrantO in the Supreme Court.
The latter court rendered verdict that the
courts of the State had no power over con-
tested election for the office of Governor, and
it was generally regarded that the matter was
settled so far as the courts were concerned.
The Legislature in 1873 opened the returns
and declared Baxter elected. Nothing more
was thought of the matter particularly until
few days ago, when the attorneys of Cover
nor Baxter desired that the case in the Cir
cult Court be taken up on demurrer, with
the object of disposing of the same. An un-
derstanding was then had that the demurrer
should be submitted and argued next week.
On Monday, during the absence of Judges
English and Compton and the attorneys of
Governor Baxter, Mr. Whipper, the attorney
of Brooks, arose and stated that it had been
agreed between himself and the counsel of
Governor Baxter that the demurrer to the
jurisdiction of the court should be submitted.
This, although in the absence of Gov. Baxter's
attorneys, was thought nothing of at the time,
but Wednesday morning, about II o'clock,
when there were but few persons in the court.
room, and neither Of the governors counsel
present, Judge Whytock announced his de-
cision, overruling the demurrer, and none of
Baxter's counsel being present to answer or
move for an appeal, a judgment Of custer was
issued and the writ placed in the hands of the
sheriff. In five minutes from that time an
armed band, headed by Brooks, were in the
governors office demanding possession. The
governor declined, whereupon forcible posses.
sion was taken, and guards placed at all en-.
frances to the office. In the meantime, Gen.
Catterson, who claimed to act as Brooks's ad-
jutant.general, broke in the door of the armo-
ry, in the same building, and took possession
of about one hundred stand of arms, Adjutant
Gen. Strong, of Gov. Baxter's staff, refusing
to give up tie keys, although surrounded by
armed me1. Gov. Baxter refused to be eiec-
ted except by force, when some of Brooks's
men took hold of him and led him out. Since
that time, Brooks has had possession of the
Statehouse. Gov. Baxter has established his
headquarters at St. Johns College.
On the following day, Baxter issued the
following proclamation declaring martial law
in Pulaski county:
Whereas an armed rebellion exists in the
county of Pulaski against the State govern
ment, and it becomes necessary to employ all
the force at my disposal to suppress; there.
fore, by the authority vested in me by law,
hereby proclaim the existence of martial law
within said county, and command all persons
capable of military duty to assist in the put
ting down of said rebellion. During the time
that martial law shall thus prevail every in
fringemept Of the rights of peaceable and we'll
disposed persons will be severely punished, by
whomsoever it may be committed. The ut