The Van Buren press., 1875-08-03
Wolf Scalps,


Offering premium for wolf scalps This
law was enacted in 1888. Every person
killing a wolf is entitled to such compea.
sation as the county court may fix
usually five dollars The passage ofthis
law is associated with one of the blood
lest tragedies ever enacted in the state
The legislature of 1886, the first convened
after the state was admitted into the un-
ion, had met, enacted many laws, and adj
ionrned. Among other things, the real
i estate and state banks had been incorpo-
rated In the fall OF 1897, Gov. James s.
Conway convened the general assembly
in extraordinary session II was at this
session that the law in reference to
wolves was enacted. The bill was intro
duced IN the senate, and, after various
amendments. passed on the 4th of De-
cember, 1897. 1t was Immediately after
reported to the house. Of which John
Wilson of Clark was speaker, Mr.. Will
sou was also the president OF the Real
Estate bank, created at the first session
Of the general assembly. Immediately
after the bill was reported to the house it
was read first and second time, under
a suspension Of the rules After several
amendments had been voted upon, Mr..
Davies, of Chicot, submitted the follow.
ing as an additional section:
And be it further enacted, That all sealps
80 taken and secured shall be good currency
throughout the state, and be receivable for all
dues to the state. #Es #
Mr.. c. +. Nj holland, one of the repre-
sentatiyes from independence, offered
the following as a proyiso =
Provided, The certificate OF the magistrate,
before Mhom they were proved, accompanies
them.
Mr. J J. Anthony, representative from
Randolph county, here offered an amend.
msnt which cost him his life few min
utes afterward. He moved to amend the
amendment by striking out the word
magistrate ana inserting "the presi.
dent of the Real Estate bank y in its
place.
The speaker, Mr., Wilson, was presi
oenI Of tue Real Estate bank, and there
had been an i'll feeling between him and
Mr.. Anthony for some time. He con-
siderea Anthony's amendment as an in
suit which called for resentment on his
part, then and there. He declared An.
thongs amendment not in order and or
dered the member from Randolph to take
his seat. This Mr.. Anthony refused to
do. Then will make You, " replied
the speaker, who descended from his
stand to the foor and directed his steps
toward that part of the hall where An
thony was standing. The latter was
standing near the first window on the
cast side of the hall, next to the speak
cr's stand. He advanced toward Wilson,
and both men met about midway be-
tween the speakers stand and the window.
Wilson had drawn large bowie knife as
he advanced. At this point Gen, Grand-
son d. Royston, who was then repre-
sentative from Hampstead county, en-.
dcavorcd to get between the two, and did
succeed in holding up a chair between
them. ,'"::!!scn, however, with his long
knife, reacne,, under the chair and stab.
bed Anthony to The heart, who fell to the
floor dead man.
This episode, of course, ended the pro-
ccedings Tor that day Mr. Smith, of
Arkansas county, was called to the chair,
the wolf-sealp bill was laid on the table
Till the following Saturday, and the house
adjourned. Next day resolutions of SYM
pathy were adopted, and the dead mem
Der was appropriately buried. On the
morning of the 9th Mr. James Smith, Of
Arkansas county, was temporarily called
to the chair and presented to the house
the resignation of Mr. Wilson as a mem
Der of the house. This resignation was
then, on motion Of Mr.. Fowler, laid on
the table, and Mr.. r. c. Bird, of Pulaski,
offered resolution that Mr.. Wilson be
expelled as q member ofthe house. This
resolution was adopted by vote of SO
to 4, and Mr. Wilson was thcreupon de-
clared expelled.
| Thus, it will be observed, the present
"wolf scalp law" was dear one to this
state. To this day the bloody tragedy
in the 1all of the house of Representative
on the 4th Of December, 1887, is pointed
to as IN evidence that this is the "land
of bowie knives. "-Erenino Star.